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The Bostonians (1984)

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Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 990

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Movie Info

Adapted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the novel by Henry James, Merchant/Ivory's The Bostonians is set among the Back Bay uppercrust of the 19th century. Basil Ransom (Christopher Reeve), bored by his opulent lifestyle and his "proper" friends, is fascinated by his cousin, outspoken suffragette Olive Chancellor (Vanessa Redgrave). Basil and Olive's mutual friend is likeable, gregarious Verena Tannant (Madeleine Potter). Soon a triangle develops, albeit an unorthodox one: Basil and Olive both find

R, 2 hr.

Drama, Romance

Directed By: James Ivory

In Theaters: Aug 2, 1984 Wide

On DVD: May 5, 1998

Cast

Christopher Reeve
Basil Ransome
Vanessa Redgrave
Olive Chancellor
Madeleine Potter
Verena Tarrant
Jessica Tandy
Miss Birdseye
Nancy Marchand
Mrs. Burrage
Wesley Addy
Dr. Tarrant
Linda Hunt
Dr. Prance
Nancy New
Mrs. Adeline Luna
Wallace Shawn
Mr. Pardon
Maura Moynihan
Henrietta Stackpole
Martha Farrar
Mrs. Farrinder
Barbara Byrne
Mrs. Tarrant
Charles McCaughan
Music Hall Policeman
John Van Ness Philip
Henry Burrage
Jon Van Ness
Henry Burrage
Peter Bogyo
Mr. Gracie
Lee Doyle
Mr. Filer
June Mitchell
Party Guest

Critic Reviews for The Bostonians

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (1) | DVD (3)

Merchant Ivory screen adaptation of Henry James' novel is handsome, but suffers from the miscasting of Christopher Reeve and Madeleine Potter, though Vanessa Redgrave is decent.

June 12, 2005 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

absorbing drama

May 28, 2005 Comment

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

A literary work with exquisite production values and a vivid portrait of class differences in Boston social life at the turn of the century.

July 23, 2003 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

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Audience Reviews for The Bostonians

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Christopher Reeve is good if a bit stiff and Vanessa Redgrave is exquisite as always but the pace is slow and the central character and lead actress lack a radiance and fire that is essential for the story to engage.

April 14, 2008

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

Awful. A poor script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, woefully miscast, and poorly directed. True, the basic story line from the Henry James novel is intriguing. Not good enough. And it's not even worth my explaining in detail the many deficiencies of this picture.

December 19, 2011