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A Room With A View (Special Edition) [1985]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The prestigious film-making trio of producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala had made other critically acclaimed films before A Room with a View was released in 1985, but it was this popular film that made them art-house superstars. Splendidly adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster, it's a comedy of the heart, a passionate romance and a study of repression within the class system of manners and mores. It's that system of rigid behaviour that prevents young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) from accepting the loving advances of a free-spirited suitor (Julian Sands), who fears that she will follow through with her engagement to a priggish intellectual (Daniel Day-Lewis) whose capacity for passion is virtually non-existent. During and after a trip to Italy with her protective companion (Maggie Smith), Lucy gradually gets in touch with her true emotions. The fun of watching A Room with a View comes from seeing how Lucy's thoughts and feelings finally arrive at the same romantic conclusion. Through an abundance of humour both subtle and overt, the film rose to an unexpected level of popular appeal. The Merchant-Ivory team received eight Academy Award nominations for their efforts, and won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction and Costume Design. --Jeff Shannon


Editorial
DVD Description

A Room with a View is a part-love story, part-attack on the English class system and manners of Edwardian times. Based on E.M. Forster's 1908 novel of the same name, the film adaptation was directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant. One of three Forster novels adapted by Merchant Ivory Productions, A Room With A View has enjoyed more popular success than any previous Merchant Ivory film. Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala received an Academy Award for her screenplay, and the film itself--which also features Judi Dench and Simon Callow--was nominated for Best Picture. The A Room With A View (Special Edition) DVD contains many extra features, including: BBC Breakfast Time special appearances and reports; a tribute to E. M. Forster (hosted by James Mossman); a Film '96 Merchant/Ivory tribute profile; and additional commentaries by Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, Tony Pierce Roberts and Simon Callow.

Synopsis

When a young Englishwoman named Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and her spinster chaperone Charlotte (Maggie Smith) travel to Italy, they become acquainted with a free-spirited and unconventional Englishman named Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliot), and his enigmatic and romantically unhappy son, George (Julian Sands). After George makes the grievous mistake of kissing Lucy during a picnic in the Florentine hills, Charlotte rushes her back to England. Safely home, Lucy becomes engaged to her stiff and very proper fiancé Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis), however, after finding out the Emersons have moved close by she has a hard time ignoring her attraction to the unsuitable George.



My favourite film of all time
Review date: 2008-08-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film is so romantic and well acted. If you have not seen it is a must have if you like period drama's, I have watched it time and again and never bored.

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Reviews


My wonderful introduction to Florence!
Review date: 2008-06-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

I fell in love with Florence Italy when I first saw this movie, oh so long time ago - 15 years ago, they say? I watched this movie on TV channel and I found it very enchanting. I have always love British films, and this is one of my favorites. When it came on DVD, I was happy to buy a copy to add to my collection. I don't want to write a lot about the story plot; just that all the actors were excellent, the Italian scenery was fantastic, and the victorian era was quite stiff! This is a great movie to watch again and again, on a lazy summer afternoon with some cool lemonade and yummy pasta!

Fantastic.
Review date: 2008-06-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

I love, love, love this film. It is beautiful, classy, witty, and intelligent.
I bought this film on Video, years ago, and have watched it more times than I can count. Naturally the quality is completely rubbish, so have had to resort to DVD.

This will always be ranking very high in my list of all time favourite films!

Hurray! A Digitally Remastered DVD Version At Last!
Review date: 2007-11-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

Having played my VHS tape of this wonderful film until my VHS player broke, and having followed other customers' advice about the previous, poor DVD editions, I am so glad that I am now able to watch a flawless version of this classic - the picture and sound quality is as crystal clear as is possible for a film produced 22 years ago, making visible the precious details of this meticulous production: the lacey costumes and beautiful sets, the authentic interiors and coiffures, and even minute facial expressions that I had missed so far.
Among the extras are interviews with Simon Callow and Daniel Day-Lewis. The most interesting extra for me was a 1970 BBC tribute to E. M. Forster, featuring footage, photographs and quotations of himself and interviews with some of his friends, critics and contemporaries, including Frank Kermode, Christopher Ishwerwood and George Steiner.
Priceless!



Is this film really over 20 years old? Once banned for nudity, it's an example of how literary adaptations should be done
Review date: 2007-11-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

The happiest of all E M's novels, the story of Lucy and George's cross class love affair is beautifully captured by Merchant Ivory in this film. A fantastic cast - with outstanding turns by the likes of Judy Dench (before we'd decided she was a British thespian 'Grand Dame'), Simon Callow, Daniel Day Lewis (Cecil in prissy perfection), Denholm Elliot (scene stealing beautifully)and Maggie Smith - is led by the inspired casting of ingenue Bonham Carter, as she was at the time, and Julian Sands as Lucy and George. Added to the wonderful cast is a beautiful score and oscar winning art direction to create that sumptuous view. The kiss in the poppy field is one of cinemas most beautiful and romantic moments and a fantastic example of how music and cinematography can be combined to create real artistic beauty.

Is this film really over 20 years old? Once banned for nudity (on UK television, I remember it showing in C4's groundbreaking 'banned' movie season), it's an example of how literary adaptations should and can be done. This is a personal favourite, however a warning - those who are not fans of Miz Bonham Carter, of Forsters novel or of Merchant Ivory would be better off steering clear, you won't enjoy this film.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Rupert Graves
Maggie Smith
Helena Bonham Carter
Daniel Day Lewis
Judi Dench

Creators:
Maggie Smith (Primary Contributor)
Helena Bonham Carter (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Channel 4 DVD
Manufacturer: Channel 4 DVD
EAN: 6867449008899
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-10-29
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985
Language: English (Original Language)

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