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DramaRomance

The Bostonians

- An intimate and exquisite probe of the feminist heart.

A bored lawyer and a suffragette vie for the attention of a faith healer's charismatic daughter.

Release Date : 1984-05-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Merchant Ivory Productions

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Christopher Reeve

Character Name : Basil Ransome

Original Name : Christopher Reeve

Gender : Male

Vanessa Redgrave

Character Name : Olive Chancellor

Original Name : Vanessa Redgrave

Gender : Female

Jessica Tandy

Character Name : Miss Birdseye

Original Name : Jessica Tandy

Gender : Female

Madeleine Potter

Character Name : Verena Tarrant

Original Name : Madeleine Potter

Gender : Female

Nancy Marchand

Character Name : Mrs. Burrage

Original Name : Nancy Marchand

Gender : Female

Wesley Addy

Character Name : Dr. Tarrant

Original Name : Wesley Addy

Gender : Male

Barbara Bryne

Character Name : Mrs. Tarrant

Original Name : Barbara Bryne

Gender : Female

Linda Hunt

Character Name : Dr. Prance

Original Name : Linda Hunt

Gender : Female

Charles McCaughan

Character Name : Music Hall Policeman

Original Name : Charles McCaughan

Gender : Male

Nancy New

Character Name : Adeline

Original Name : Nancy New

Gender : Male

Jon Van Ness

Character Name : Henry Burrage

Original Name : Jon Van Ness

Gender : Male

Wallace Shawn

Character Name : Mr. Pardon

Original Name : Wallace Shawn

Gender : Male

Peter Bogyo

Character Name : Mr. Gracie

Original Name : Peter Bogyo

Gender : Male

Martha Farrar

Character Name : Mrs. Farrinder

Original Name : Martha Farrar

Gender : Male

Dusty Maxwell

Character Name : Newton Tarrant

Original Name : Dusty Maxwell

Gender : Male

J. Lee Morgan

Character Name : Music Hall Official

Original Name : J. Lee Morgan

Gender : Male

De French

Character Name : Patient

Original Name : De French

Gender : Male

Maura Moynihan

Character Name : Henrietta Stackpole

Original Name : Maura Moynihan

Gender : Male

June Mitchell

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : June Mitchell

Gender : Male

Lee H. Doyle

Character Name : Mr. Filer

Original Name : Lee H. Doyle

Gender : Male

Janet Cicchese

Character Name : Irish Washerwoman

Original Name : Janet Cicchese

Gender : Male

Scott Kradolfer

Character Name : Tough Boy

Original Name : Scott Kradolfer

Gender : Male

Jane Manners

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : Jane Manners

Gender : Male

David Beyer

Character Name : Organist

Original Name : David Beyer

Gender : Male

James Huston

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : James Huston

Gender : Male

Timothy J. Richard

Character Name : Delivery Boy

Original Name : Timothy J. Richard

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-23

There's a lovely line in this otherwise unremarkable adaptation of the Henry James novel from Vanessa Redgrave who announces something along the lines of being eternally grateful for not having the vote! It did make me smile. That, sadly, is about all that did as we trudge through this stylish but turgid story of the embryonic American suffragette movement. Amidst this struggle for enfranchisement, the bright "Verena" (Madeleine Potter) is facing the affections of the more traditional "Basil" (Christopher Reeve), himself a man who she ought to have little time for. Might there be the slightest chance that something might develop between them? Initially, there is some sparky conversation amongst the well-heeled citizens and there is potency in some of the dialogue, but boy - after about half an hour the whole things slows to a glacial pace; is seriously over-written and even the usually charismatic Jessica Tandy ("Miss Birdseye") struggles to breath life into what ought to have been a sharp and wittily constructed dramatisation of a story about politics, empowerment and - yes, romance too. Reeve is as wooden as a washboard which doesn't help and though Potter does give it her all, the film just lacks spark, pace or oomph. As ever with Merchant Ivory films, the things looks a million dollars, but there's no excusing the weaknesses all around here and it takes for ever, too.