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The Bostonians (1984)

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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

May 5, 1998

Cast

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

absorbing drama

May 28, 2005 Comment
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
Spirituality and Practice
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Audience Reviews for The Bostonians

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
jjnxn
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
Hal
Hal Morris

Super Reviewer

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