This post was originally published on here
The 1992 Merchant Ivory masterpiece starring Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins won three Oscars
Period drama enthusiasts on the hunt for their next binge-watch should consider a title currently available on Amazon Prime Video that has garnered global acclaim. This recommendation follows others’ enjoyment of a “perfect” TV series, a BBC adaptation of a classic novel, and a “hauntingly atmospheric” series, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The period piece first premiered in 1992 and has since received rave reviews from viewers on IMDb. One reviewer hailed it as a “delicious adaptation from a superb novel”, drawing comparisons to esteemed classics like Return to Brideshead and Gosford Park, thus cementing its place among the greats in the genre.
One glowing 10/10 review asserted: “The screenplay has no lapses of any kind and never falls into the usual traps. Loyal to its source material and yet, cinematic in the most revolutionary traditional sense of the word.”
READ MORE: ‘One of the best period productions aired on television’ is streaming nowREAD MORE: ‘Beautiful’ period drama based on best-selling novel is streaming now
Another top-rated review, titled “close to perfection”, lauded the “masterful performances” which rendered the film a “must-see”. They added: “One of the few good movies that does justice to the great book from which it was taken.”
A third perfect score review commended the film for being “so subtle, yet so very clever”. The reviewer elaborated: “If you love excellence then you’ll love this film, because it it is filled with excellence. It’s not fast paced like a thriller, but not a single moment of the film is wasted.”
They concluded: “This is probably the most nuanced film you’ll ever see, and it is a masterpiece… [sic].”
One viewer passionately encouraged others to see the film, stating: “The literary period piece is a difficult genre to master, requiring a difficult balancing between restraint and flowing emotion. Few films effectively achieve this as beautifully as Merchant-Ivory’s astounding HOWARDS END, making it probably the best period film of the 1990’s.”
Get Prime Video free for 30 days
TV lovers can get 30 days’ free access to tantalising TV like The Boys, Reacher and Clarkson’s Farm by signing up to Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won’t be charged.
Based on E. M. Forster’s 1910 novel bearing the same title, Howards End was set in England at the dawn of the 20th century and followed the intertwined lives of three families: the Wilcoxes, the Schlegel siblings, and the Basts. The Wilcox family were affluent capitalists who amassed their wealth from colonial resources, while the Schlegels bore resemblance to the Bloomsbury Group and endeavoured to assist the impoverished Bast family whilst challenging societal prejudices.
Emma Thompson, known for her roles in Love Actually and Sense and Sensibility, portrayed the idealistic elder sister Margaret Schlegel, with Helena Bonham Carter of The Crown fame playing her younger sister Helen Schlegel. Renowned Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins took on the role of the formidable wealthy aristocrat Henry Wilcox, who found himself at odds with the Schlegel sisters as they sought to alter his views towards those of lower social standing.
The cast also boasted seasoned British actress Vanessa Redgrave as Ruth Wilcox, Maurice’s James Wilby as Charles Wilcox, Doctor Who and Bramwell star Jemma Redgrave as Evie Wilcox, Samuel West of All Creatures Great and Small fame as Leonard Bast, McQueen’s Joseph Bennett as Paul Wilcox, and the legendary British actress Prunella Scales as Aunt Juley.
Howards End (1992) was a product of the renowned Merchant Ivory Productions, a collaboration between producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The trio were also the creative force behind other successful films such as A Room with a View, The Bostonians, The Remains of the Day, and Surviving Picasso, among others.
The film received nine Oscar nominations and clinched Best Actress for Thompson, Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. It also garnered 11 BAFTA Film nominations, ultimately winning Best Actress for Thompson and Best Film.
Howards End (1992) is streaming on Prime Video for a fee now
