- Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, James Wilby, Jemma Redgrave, Prunella Scales
- Directors: James Ivory
- Writers: E.M. Forster
- Producers: Ismail Merchant, Ann Wingate
- Format: PAL, Colour
- Language English, German
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 2
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Merchant Ivory
- DVD Release Date: 15 Feb 2005
- Run Time: 136 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0006Z2NAY
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 169,525 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Howards End is E M Forster's beautifully subtle story of the criss-crossing paths of the privileged and those they disdain--and of a remarkable pair of women who can see beyond class distinctions. Dramatic and tragic but also surprisingly funny, this James Ivory film focuses on a pair of unmarried sisters (Emma Thompson, who won an Oscar, and Helena Bonham Carter) who befriend a poor young clerk (Sam West) and, without meaning to, ruin his life. Meanwhile, Thompson also makes the acquaintance of a dying neighbour (Vanessa Redgrave), who leaves her a family home in her will--which her husband (Anthony Hopkins) destroys. But, ironically, he meets and falls in love with Thompson, even as their paths once more intersect with the increasingly miserable young clerk. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's beautifully economical script also won an Oscar.--Marshall Fine
Synopsis
The dying Ruth Wilcox (Vanessa Redgrave) wishes to leave the deeds to her country home, Howards End, to Margaret Schlegel (Emma Thompson), a modest woman of little means who will soon be forced out of her own home in London. But Ruth's very conservative husband Henry (Anthony Hopkins), an upper middle-class businessman, destroys the will and keeps his late wife's desire secret, even after he and Margaret become romantically involved. Meanwhile, Margaret's sister Helen (Helena Bonham Carter) is disgusted by Henry's snobbish ways and is herself embroiled in a relationship with struggling clerk Leonard Bast (Sam West).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the great film's of the last 20 years. It is perfectly cast - although Vanessa Redgrave's Ruth Wilcox seems an odd choice at first. But, oh, what she does with it! However, it's Emma Thompson's film. She IS Margaret Schlegel! I have watched this film about 10 times, and I seem to enjoy it more and more - like a marvellous wine.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Acting talent alone does not ensure a great film, but when you have a lineup like, "Howard's End", creating a bad film would be a chore. Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, and Joseph Bennett are just the start of a phenomenal cast that brings this EM Forrester story to the screen. When you then have the duo of Merchant and Ivory together with all the talent they attract to create these period pieces, the result is always special. Some of their films are better than others, but all are very worthwhile.
This film explores the results of reasonably small human actions that are greatly magnified, either through indifference or emotions that take control of common sense and a reasoned response to a given plight. The events and the consequences are exacerbated as the players come from 3 very different strata of London Society. And in this tale the three not only meet, they mix, and the results are dramatic at the very least, and tragic at their worst. The differing groups even join when Emma Thompson marries in to the highest level leaving her sister in the middle, while she, Helena Bonham Carter, insists on crashing every convention when she champions the cause of a poor couple whose plight she blames on her new in-laws. The relationship between the sisters that begins the film as warm and humorous, becomes strained, damaged, and nearly severed before the film's end.
This is one of the richer Merchant and Ivory productions as it is not confined to a few picturesque homes, but is expanded to include vast cityscapes full of period transportation people and their costumes. This is not my favorite film they have done, but is certainly excellent when compared to films in general and very good for this remarkable team of filmmakers.
This film explores the results of reasonably small human actions that are greatly magnified, either through indifference or emotions that take control of common sense and a reasoned response to a given plight. The events and the consequences are exacerbated as the players come from 3 very different strata of London Society. And in this tale the three not only meet, they mix, and the results are dramatic at the very least, and tragic at their worst. The differing groups even join when Emma Thompson marries in to the highest level leaving her sister in the middle, while she, Helena Bonham Carter, insists on crashing every convention when she champions the cause of a poor couple whose plight she blames on her new in-laws. The relationship between the sisters that begins the film as warm and humorous, becomes strained, damaged, and nearly severed before the film's end.
This is one of the richer Merchant and Ivory productions as it is not confined to a few picturesque homes, but is expanded to include vast cityscapes full of period transportation people and their costumes. This is not my favorite film they have done, but is certainly excellent when compared to films in general and very good for this remarkable team of filmmakers.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first read the book and became hooked on E. M. Forster and I am now hooked on the cast of Howard's End. It is sure another success with the Merchant Ivory team and the casting director Celetia Fox, A good choice Celestia. Every actor was just how I imagined the characters to be, it was wonderful, I now look forward to seeing them in other things. But this is one Film I never want to Finish I wish it to go on and on.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Felt So Real!!
I bought this recently and watched it last night and although i purchased it purely on ratings and the fact that Anthony Hopkins was in it rather than reading reviews as to what it... Read more
Published 2 days ago by mike1977
Ivory strikes gold again
Merchant Ivory brings together a wonderful cast once again under James Ivory's direction to complete an excellent film of E.M. Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
Howards End
A milesone film for Emma Thompson, and a quality period drama. Certainly one I am happy to have in my DVD film library, and one which I look forward to watching again soon. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Barrie Cronin
Finally I found it
Great that it's possible to find everything on amazon.com. Have searched a long time for this movie. It arrived promptly and very well packed. Just perfect. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Neiska79
3 great actors in one film!!
Howards End is a must see. Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and Vanessa Redgrave, ably supported by Helena B-C are first-rate. Read more
Published 10 months ago by MJDR
Gorgeous cinema
This is the kind of movie that keeps you in love with the art of cinema.
I was surprised to note that fate is palpable in the same way as in The Hours [DVD] [2003], especially... Read more
I was surprised to note that fate is palpable in the same way as in The Hours [DVD] [2003], especially... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Vilmin S
Marvelous evocative rendition of this classic novel
Unusually I had already read the book before getting the dvd. It jogged my memory and seems like most of Ivory Merchant films to be very faithful or at least sufficiently so! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. DAVID Geer
Better than the Novel
Howards End was one of the most difficult books I have ever read. But in the end, I managed to finish it, and when I watched the film, I liked the story even more. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Rochester
Subtle but powerful
Delightful film and well adapted. Merchany Ivory quality production - unrequited love, subtle class behaviours that are both a help and hindrance. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Amanda B
Excellent story about social classes
The story opens in Edwardian England, where we meet Margaret and Helen Schlegel (Emma Thompson, Helena Bodham Carter), genteel sisters who are concerned with the plight of the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kona
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