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Howards End (1992)

tomatometer

92

Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 3

A superbly-mounted adaptation of E.M. Forster's tale of British class tension, with exceptional performances all round, Howard's End ranks among the best of Merchant-Ivory's work.

100

Average Rating: 9.8/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0

A superbly-mounted adaptation of E.M. Forster's tale of British class tension, with exceptional performances all round, Howard's End ranks among the best of Merchant-Ivory's work.

audience

80

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 12,224

My Rating

Movie Info

One of the best Ismail Merchant/James Ivory films, this adaptation of E. M. Forster's classic 1910 novel shows in careful detail the injuriously rigid British class consciousness of the early 20th century. The film's catalyst is "poor relation" Margaret Schlegel (Emma Thompson), who inherits part of the estate of Ruth Wilcox (Vanessa Redgrave), an upper-class woman whom she had befriended. The film's principal characters are divided by caste: aristocratic industrial Henry Wilcox (Anthony

PG, 2 hr. 23 min.

Drama, Romance, Art House & International

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Jun 18, 2001

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (36) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (3) | DVD (13)

It's time for legislation decreeing that no one be allowed to make a screen adaptation of a novel of any quality whatsoever if Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala are available, and if they elect to do the job.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film serves Forster by taking to heart the book's epigraph: "Only connect."

May 12, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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Merchant and Ivory have regathered many of the cast and crew from their earlier films to work on this reproduction to exquisite effect.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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A film seething with anger, passion, greed and emotional violence. That the characters are generally well-behaved says less about their manners than their inhibitions.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

British class conflict; ok for older teens.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Not my cup of tea. I don't even like tea.

November 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

Say "Merchant-Ivory" to most cinephiles and watch their eyelids sag.

November 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment (1)
Slant Magazine

The pairings of Margaret and Henry, and Helen and Leonard, attempt to cross fault lines widened by class, and the tragedy of Howards End is in the absolute necessity and absolute inefficacy of doing so at their moment in history. [Blu-ray]

October 19, 2009 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

Along with Room With a View, this films represents the best of the Ismail-Merchant literary adaptations, one in which contents and style are congruent and harmonious.

October 27, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment (1)

The performances are impeccable, but honours go to Thompson, who manages to make Margaret's saintliness actually seem seductive.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Hopkins and Thompson are so perfect together it's hard not to buy them as a couple

February 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

The best of the countless Merchant Ivory productions - and arguably the most appreciated by those who don't even like Merchant Ivory movies.

February 16, 2005 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | Comment
Creative Loafing

Marvellously well done like its predecessors, but here teetering toward prestige.

June 16, 2004 Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Howards End

The Merchant-Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster's "Howards End" is a flat out masterpiece. It's the perfect storm of literature, production design, ensemble acting, costumes, lavish cinematography and beautiful dialogue. The film is emotionally resonant, existentially complex, and profoundly thrilling at times. For a two

July 27, 2011
stevenecarrier
Steven Carrier

Super Reviewer

Howards End is so stunningly beautiful it's like looking at a 140-minute long postcard. It's also just as slow-paced, though. And quite talky. But watching these incredible characters talk, quarrel and love is what makes this film a pleasure. The cast is impeccable: Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa

July 4, 2011

    1. Margaret Schlegel: Discussion keeps a house alive.
    – Submitted by Chad E (56 days ago)

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