Release Date: October 1, 1993

After a tense, assured remake of Cape Fear in 1991, Scosese did another U-turn. When it was released in 1993, The Age of Innocence seemed like a radical departure for the director; he took time out from chronicling New York's gangsters and loners to craft a lush period piece about the city's society life of the 1870s. However, like many of Scorsese's other films, The Age of Innocence, based upon Edith Wharton?s novel, explores the social codes of a time and place that govern ? and restrict ? people?s behavior; Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer) are as bound by the conventions of their environs as Charlie and Johnny Boy were in Mean Streets. They may not have the outlets for emotional release afforded Scorsese?s other protagonists, but their passions run just as deep. The result is the director?s prettiest film, and a deeply poignant one.

Archer is an upstanding (but questioning) member of New York?s upper crust at a happy point in his life ? he?s engaged to beautiful socialite May Welland (Winona Ryder). However, May?s cousin Ellen has just arrived in town, causing a scandal -- she was unhappily married in Europe, and rumor has it she had an affair with a commoner. Seeking a divorce from her husband, she consults Archer, an attorney, for advice. Though he?s sympathetic to Ellen and feels she shouldn?t be shunned because of her marital status, Archer asks her to consider the social ramifications of her decision. What follows is a delicate dance between Archer and Ellen, who are powerfully attracted to one another; Archer sees possibilities for happiness with this new woman beyond his humdrum marriage.

Scorsese's pacing is stately, but The Age of Innocence succeeds where many period-pieces fail, showing impeccable period décor as well as passion and, ultimately, bittersweet longing.