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The Bostonians

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5.5/10 • 42

1984-05-012h 2m

DramaRomance

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.

Directors
James Ivory
Editors
Katherine Wenning

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Christopher Reeve

    Christopher Reeve

    Basil Ransome

  2. Vanessa Redgrave

    Vanessa Redgrave

    Olive Chancellor

  3. Jessica Tandy

    Jessica Tandy

    Miss Birdseye

  4. Madeleine Potter

    Madeleine Potter

    Verena Tarrant

  5. Nancy Marchand

    Nancy Marchand

    Mrs. Burrage

  6. Wesley Addy

    Wesley Addy

    Dr. Tarrant

  7. Barbara Bryne

    Barbara Bryne

    Mrs. Tarrant

  8. Linda Hunt

    Linda Hunt

    Dr. Prance

  9. Charles McCaughan

    Charles McCaughan

    Music Hall Policeman

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

May 23, 2024

6/10

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.

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
boston, massachusettslawyerfeministpost civil war19th century