Sunday 17 August 2014

The Age of Innocence (1993 Martin Scorsese)

Marty shows us his New York of the 1870s. Not really known for being an emotional director, he certainly conveys the hypocrisy and insidious sadness of Edith Wharton's story, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 (adapted by the director and Jay Cocks). Daniel Day Lewis (excellent) is to marry Winona Ryder, but falls for (literally) scarlet woman Michelle Pfeiffer. With Miriam Margolyes, Richard E Grant, Alec McCowen (Travels with My Aunt, Frenzy), Geraldine Chaplin, Norman Lloyd (Saboteur).

Marty sets up many intricate shots and details, giving Thelma Schoonmaker the material to develop sequences made up of elegant dissolves, matching the mood of the piece. Shot by Michael Ballhaus (with son Florian assisting) with a handsome score by Elmer Bernstein, film is a great success.


Features probably the only fade to yellow in film history.

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