Catherine Sloper has found the man of her dreams in Morris Townsend, but her plans to marry him are strongly opposed by her father, who believes Townsend is only interested in his daughter ...
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Title: Washington Square (1997)
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1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jennifer Jason Leigh | ... | Catherine Sloper | |
| Albert Finney | ... | Dr. Austin Sloper | |
| Maggie Smith | ... | Aunt Lavinia Penniman | |
| Ben Chaplin | ... | Morris Townsend | |
| Judith Ivey | ... | Aunt Elizabeth Almond | |
 |
Arthur Laupus | ... | Mr. Almond |
| Jennifer Garner | ... | Marian Almond | |
| Robert Stanton | ... | Arthur Townsend | |
|
|
Betsy Brantley | ... | Mrs. Montgomery |
| Nancy Daly | ... | Maureen (Maid) | |
|
|
Sara Ruzicka | ... | Catherine Sloper (age 11) |
|
|
Rachel Layne Sacrey | ... | Sarah Almond |
|
|
Rachel Osborne | ... | Alice Almond |
| Scott Jaeck | ... | John Ludlow | |
| Peter Maloney | ... | Jacob Webber (Notary) | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Catherine Sloper has found the man of her dreams in Morris Townsend, but her plans to marry him are strongly opposed by her father, who believes Townsend is only interested in his daughter for her money. But Catherine is determined to follow her heart, even if she loses her inheritance in the process. But just what are Townsend's intentions? Written by Mike Myers <mmyers@ucsd.edu>
Plot Keywords:
female protagonist | money | victorian age | reference to william shakespeare | title directed by female |Taglines:
She must choose between her father's fortune... Or the man she loves.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG for thematic elements including some sensuality, a childbirth scene and brief mild language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
10 October 1997 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Die Erbin vom Washington Square See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$14,352, 5 October 1997, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$1,710,693, 11 January 1998Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Dr. Austin Sloper: How does his take his dismissal?
Catherine Sloper: I don't know.
Dr. Austin Sloper: You mean you don't care. You are very cruel, after encouraging him and playing him for so long.
Catherine Sloper: I am my father's daughter.
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Lyrics by Théophile Gautier
Music by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Quartet Version Vocal by Marissa Anna Muro
Orchestra Version Vocal by Marta Boberska
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Did You Know?
Trivia
At one point, Brooke Shields was cast as Catherine Sloper, but dropped out due to her commitment to the TV series Suddenly Susan (1996). See more »Quotes
Catherine Sloper: I have broken off my engagement. I have asked him to leave New York for a long long time.Dr. Austin Sloper: How does his take his dismissal?
Catherine Sloper: I don't know.
Dr. Austin Sloper: You mean you don't care. You are very cruel, after encouraging him and playing him for so long.
Catherine Sloper: I am my father's daughter.
See more »
Soundtracks
L'AbsenceLyrics by Théophile Gautier
Music by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Quartet Version Vocal by Marissa Anna Muro
Orchestra Version Vocal by Marta Boberska
See more »
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I first saw "The Heiress" when it first came out. I was about 12, but old enough to be fascinated by the characters and the basic conflict. Wow! I read the James' book "Washington Square" about 30 years later. I was disappointed. It was a rambling story told by a busybody with none of the dramatic high points of The Heiress; it is Henry James" first novel and has none of the intriguing nuances of his later novels.
This film stays closer to the novel than "The Heiress". Thus, it is much less of a drama. The attempt to do the book is commendable, but it is not necessarily the route to an entertaining film. Here, the characterizations are obscurely unmotivated (Finney), over-the-top (Smith), uneven and sometimes weird (Leigh), and charmless and off-putting (Chapin). The musical score is intrusive. All of this contrasts badly with "The Heiress", in which the characters had far more depth, authenticity, and appeal(certainly Morris and even the minor characters).
This longer version attempts a better exposition of the characters' psychology. Good ambition but it fails. Take Dr. Sloper. A hard working, self-made man who despises Morris Townsend mainly because he is a self-centered loafer. It is not snobbery which motivates him, Morris is a gentleman, but his belief in merit and good works. He does love his daughter but she disappoints him with her shyness and inability to master much of life. He pushes her to manage better, but he is constantly frustrated. For her to marry Morris would be to shatter all he believes about how people should live. A bad guy? A good guy? All of this comes out in Ralph Richardson"s performance in "The Heiress.' Finney just seems like an nasty oaf in comparison.