Synopsis
In Boston in the aftermath of the Civil War, Verena Tarrant (Madeleine Potter), a gifted young orator, has attracted the attention of Olive Chancellor (Vanessa Redgrave), who wishes to nurture Verena as an inspirational force for the Women’s Movement. But ranged against her is Basil Ransom (Christopher Reeve), a handsome male chauvinist who wants Verena as his wife. Against a backdrop of luminous New England landscapes, battle is joined, and for Olive the struggle will prove an odyssey that forces her to acknowledge her true nature. Merchant Ivory Productions’ acclaimed screen adaptation of the Henry James classic charts the struggle between two charismatic forces to gain control over the destiny of a spirited young woman.
Cast
| Olive Chancellor | Vanessa Redgrave |
| Basil Ransom | Christopher Reeve |
| Verena Tarrant | Madeleine Potter |
| Miss Birdseye | Jessica Tandy |
| Mrs. Burrage | Nancy Marchand |
| Dr. Tarrant | Wesley Addy |
| Mrs. Tarrant | Barbara Bryne |
| Dr. Prance | Linda Hunt |
| Mr. Pardon | Wallace Shawn |
Credits
| Director | James Ivory |
| Producer | Ismail Merchant |
| Screenplay | Ruth Prawer Jhabvala |
| From the novel by | Henry James |
| Cinematography | Walter Lassally |
| Music | Richard Robbins |
| Executive producers | Michael Landes and Albert Schwartz |
| Production Design | Leo Austin |
| Costumes | Jenny Beavan and John Bright |
| Editing | Katherine Wenning and Mark Potter |
Disc Features
- Digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions
- Conversation with the filmmakers, part of a new series of interviews with Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
- Original theatrical trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
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