The Wings of the Dove (1997)

An impoverished woman who has been forced to choose between a privileged life with her wealthy aunt and her journalist lover, befriends an American heiress. When she discovers the heiress is attracted to her own lover and is dying, she sees a chance to have both the privileged life she cannot give up and the lover she cannot live without.

Director:

Iain Softley

Writers:

Henry James (novel), Hossein Amini (screenplay)

Stars:

Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Alex Jennings

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Kate Croy
Linus Roache	...	Merton
Alex Jennings	...	Lord Mark
Charlotte Rampling	...	Aunt Maude
Ben Miles	...	Journalist 1
Philip Wright	...	Journalist 2
Michael Gambon	...	Kate's Father
Alexander John	...	Butler
Alison Elliott	...	Milly
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Susan
Shirley Chantrell	...	Opium Den Lady
Diana Kent	...	Merton's Party Companion
Georgio Serafini	...	Eugenio
Rachele Crisafulli	...	Concierge

Storyline

Kate Croy's mother was born to wealth and privilege, but she threw it all away to marry Kate's father, a penniless opium addict who admits to having stolen from his wife. After her mother's death, Kate is offered an opportunity to return to the life her mother gave up. There is a condition, however: Kate must sever all of her old ties, not only to her father, but also to her lover, the muck-raking journalist Merton Densher, whom she has promised marriage. Kate reluctantly agrees to this, and in the meantime becomes friendly with "the world's richest orphan," Millie Theale, an American making the Grand Tour. Desperate to see Kate, Merton crashes a party that she and Millie are attending, and Millie is attracted to him. When Kate learns that Millie is dying, she comes up with a plan to have her cake and eat it too...but all does not go as planned.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | italy | horse drawn carriage | american | journalist | 

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Taglines:

A couple with everything but money. An heiress with everything but love. A temptation no one could resist.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las alas de la paloma

Filming Locations:

Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$183,610, 9 November 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,718,385, 12 April 1998

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,000,000, 22 February 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Renaissance Dove

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The paintings Millie sees in the gallery with Merton and Kate are Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" (1907), and Klimt's "Danae" (1907).

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Goofs

The tile pattern on the Underground stations the train passes through at the beginning of the film are identical in pattern and color for each station. Each station on the Piccadilly line had its own tile pattern and color scheme so that the illiterate could still recognize their station without needing to read the station name.

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Quotes

Merton Densher: She's alive, Kate, more alive than anyone I've ever known.

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Connections

Featured in If We Picked the Winners (1998)

User Reviews

Beautiful and tragic beyond measure, put it on your view list right this very minute

Kate (Helena Bonham Carter) is a young woman in love with a poor journalist, Merton (Linus Roache). Its Edwardian England and, having no money of her own, Kate lives with a wealthy aunt (Charlotte Rampling) who is avid to marry Kate well. Thus, the beautiful lady will not be free to wed Merton or any man of her choosing, if he doesn't have the goods. They meet secretly and passionately, even arranging a clandestine trip to Italy. Once there, the two cross paths with an extremely wealthy American, Millie (Alison Elliott) who casts her eye on Merton. Since neither Kate nor Merton have revealed that they are a couple, a difficult triangle is created, for Millie also chooses Kate as a friend. This becomes even more complex when the British duo learn that Millie, despite being young and beautiful, is incredibly ill with a respiratory ailment. Temptation arrives. What would happen, Kate asks Merton, if HE romances Millie, marries her and inherits her wealth upon her death? Why, the secret lovers would be set for life! Merton is appalled at the idea of making advances on a dying girl but, eventually, gives in. What neither Kate or Merton count on is the young gentleman's growing attraction to Millie, for she is sweet and funny as well as very lovely. Is tragedy in the future for this trio? Unfortunately, yes. This stunningly gorgeous film, based on the novel of Henry James, is a superior piece of movie making that cannot be denied. The three actors, Bonham Carter, Roache, and Elliott are extremely compelling in their difficult roles and all of the lesser cast members do fine work, too. Then, the setting in Italy, mostly, is lovely, with cinematography of the very finest. Costumes, too, are gorgeous, especially Elliott's garments and accessories. But, naturally, it is the powerful story of love and deception, with tragic results, that is the strongest asset of all. It should be stated that there are a couple of explicitly sexual scenes that might upset a few viewers. But, for the majority of film fans, they will be accepted as a necessary part of the story's elements. If you have never picked up this film, don't delay! Wings of the Dove is a soaring achievement that should be seen by everyone who loves great cinema.