Howards End – A Pleasant Friday Night Movie…

Cast/Characters:

Anthony Hopkins – Henry Wilcox
Vanessa Redgrave - Ruth Wilcox
James Wilby – Charles Wilcox
Emma Thompson – Margaret Schlegel
Helena Bonham Carter – Helen Schlegel
Samuel West – Leonard Bast


I had absolutely no idea what this movie was about. I picked it up since I saw Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson on the cover; naturally I assumed that whatever movie they’re in, it’s got to be worth it.

Indeed it was. While not the most spectacular movie I ever saw, there was something pleasant to be seen in this film. I didn’t really have any inclination toward the Edwardian period, which this movie was based on or had any idea of what it was about. But I later found out it was based on a book written by E.M Forster (surprise surprise). I thought the movie was well made with quality production and stunning visuals for a low budget film. I usually favor Victorian movies, where we still have that sense of upper class superiority that always fascinates me, but that’s me nitpicking about my own preference.

The story is a very good one. And it’s all got to do with the irony of social class in England. So this movie still gave me what I’m so interested in, class systems and how they work. The time period is around the beginning of the 1900s and aristocracy is beginning to wane in society. The movie depicts there are still prejudices between classes. We see three different social classes represented in the characters. The Wilcox family who are the old fashion rich capitalists, the Schlegel siblings who are the modern thinking upper middle class and the Basts couple who are the lower class. Each of the classes intertwines with one another by accidental circumstances. They still regard one another in the traditional sense. The Wilcox is snobbish towards people beneath them, while The Schlegels are more opened minded. I found the whole story ironic, since forces lead each class to be connected in some way to each other and ultimately change everyone’s thinking about their position. It’s a bit more story to tell, but then I would be giving the whole thing away for new viewers. The lesson to be learned is that the social classes are becoming obsolete and rich and poor itself are intermingling with each other more then ever during the time period. Most of the drama revolves around a country house called Howards End, hence the title.


The whole cast was terrific. I wasn’t disappointed by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. I was also thrilled to see Helena Bonham Carter play the impulsive and excited sister, which she brings out very well. You might have to have a keen liking to period movies such as this or else you’ll be bored. There is hardly any action, saved for one scene, and I think I laughed a little at how it played out. The beginning started off slow but gradually got more and more interesting as the story and the drama unfolds. It’s something that you’ll have to be patient with. I was afraid that I would loose interest until Anthony Hopkins character becomes more prominent later, in the beginning there wasn’t much of him. I really liked how he acted with Emma Thompson. They have great chemistry with each other that makes you relate to their on again off again relationship in the film.



Special Features:

-Building Howards End – Interview with Director and Producer James Ivory and Ismail Merchant

-The Design of Howards End – Interviews with the production artists

-The Wandering Company – A look at some old footage of movies produced by Merchant Ivory Productions

-Original 1992 Featurette – The 1992 promotional behind the scenes look

-Theatrical Trailer


Total Run Time: 2 hrs. 22 mins.