Howards End (1992)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Steven C

  
  The Merchant-Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster's "Howards End" is a flat out masterpiece. It's the perfect storm of literature, production design, ensemble acting, costumes, lavish cinematography and beautiful dialogue. The film is emotionally resonant,… More
  The Merchant-Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster's "Howards End" is a flat out masterpiece. It's the perfect storm of literature, production design, ensemble acting, costumes, lavish cinematography and beautiful dialogue. The film is emotionally resonant, existentially complex, and profoundly thrilling at times. For a two and a half hour film, the pacing is engaging and lively thanks to the precisely placed camera and magnetic performances. This is tremendous filmmaking.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Howards End is so stunningly beautiful it's like looking at a 140-minute long postcard. It's also just as slow-paced, though. And quite talky. But watching these incredible characters talk, quarrel and love is what makes this film a pleasure. The cast is impeccable: Emma… More
  Howards End is so stunningly beautiful it's like looking at a 140-minute long postcard. It's also just as slow-paced, though. And quite talky. But watching these incredible characters talk, quarrel and love is what makes this film a pleasure. The cast is impeccable: Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa Redgrave, Samuel West, Nicola Duffett and Anthony Hopkins deliver top-notch performances.

• Candy R

  
  Good movie with insights into different classes.

• jay n

  
  perfect for the anglophile

• Byron B

  
  Another Merchant and Ivory production of an E.M. Forster novel. But, oh, don''t forget the third less well known partner in this film making team, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wrote most of Merchant and Ivory's screenplays. So, it's England in the 1910's again… More
  Another Merchant and Ivory production of an E.M. Forster novel. But, oh, don''t forget the third less well known partner in this film making team, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wrote most of Merchant and Ivory's screenplays. So, it's England in the 1910's again and a story about the division between the social classes. Howards End is a house, a mansion, an estate. In a special feature it was described that Forster meant the property to represent England, the country. The Schlegels, Helen, Margaret, and their quieter brother Tibby had been born at Howards End. Their family later had financial difficulties and lost the house. It was bought by the Wilcox family. Anthony Hopkins as Henry Wilcox, who is in the highest of the upper classes will not give the property to the slightly lower Schlegels. In fact, he refuses to let any of his family live there. He would rather let it sit and go to waste. Now all grown up, Emma Thompson as Margaret seems passive-aggressive (much more on the passive side) in her plan to get Howards End back in her family's name. I kept expecting her to use a surprise double-cross move in order to tear down the Wilcox family and grab the estate out of their hands, but she is the image of kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness. It is through befriending the dying Ruth Wilcox (Redgrave) and marrying Henry that she keeps her family close enough to the estate for it to fall in her lap when the Wilcox family self-destructs in their own snobbery and hypocrisy. The other main storyline involves Helena Bonham Carter as Helen Schlegel who is very impulsive. By chance, she causes Leonard Bast (West) to come into their lives. Bast is a man of much lower social class who has tried to work his way up. The Schlegel sisters come to care for him and try to help him, though fate and the status quo prevent them. Helen begins to have deeper feelings for the married Bast. She becomes pregnant with his illegitimate child, which of course is a huge scandal in high society. Anyways, the times are a-changin and it's more the downfall of the corrupt rich than the meager efforts of the poor that lead to things turning around in the end.

• Mark K

  
  Arguably the best of the Merchant-Ivory collaborations, this adaptation of the EM Forster novel is impecccable in its portrayal of relationships that try to cross class lines in Britain during the early 20th century. Outstanding performances and pairings of the couples in this film, a… More
  Arguably the best of the Merchant-Ivory collaborations, this adaptation of the EM Forster novel is impecccable in its portrayal of relationships that try to cross class lines in Britain during the early 20th century. Outstanding performances and pairings of the couples in this film, a literate and subtle script, and the story draws you in. If you see one period romance with real character work, great technical and art direction, terrific script, and beautiful locations, this is it. It's not for action junkies, but its very compelling. It makes you want to know what's going to happen. See Emma Thmpson and Anthony Hopkins at their best, and the excellent romance of Helena Bonham-Carter and Samuel West. There's so much in this, you can watch it again and again just to see the details and character tics from all the actors. Amazing work, and deserved its Oscars. Recommended.

• Audrey L

  
  Amazing adaptation with a stellar ensemble cast. I need to see this again-been way too long...

• Daisy M

  
  James Ivory is known for his skill in adapting classic novels. Without doubt one of his best is 'Howards End', based on a famous book. From the opening credits, showing Vanessa Redgrave's skirt sweeping through the wet grass and flowers around her beloved Howards End,… More
  James Ivory is known for his skill in adapting classic novels. Without doubt one of his best is 'Howards End', based on a famous book. From the opening credits, showing Vanessa Redgrave's skirt sweeping through the wet grass and flowers around her beloved Howards End, till the final image , the cinematography was perfect. The costuming was amazing, the screenplay masterly, and the acting was brilliant. To have Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa Redgrave, and Anthony Hopkins in one movie together, was like to see a film of true talents. I recommend this film to anyone who loves artistic cinematography. Also it was full of the finest performances by all of the actors involved.

• Sunil J

  
  Good period movie that had some great performances.

• Lea L

  
  Good movie..

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