Howards End

James Ivory, UK 1992, 140 minutes

Adapted from E M Forster's novel, Howards End is a story of conflicting values within English society reflected in the stormy relationship of two families - the Schlegels and the Wilcoxes. The Schlegels are concerned about civilised living, music, literature, and social welfare, while the Wilcoxes are preoccupied with business distrusting emotion and imagination. With these very different attitudes to life, the two families are wary but also strangely fascinated by the each other.

Howards End is the third of Merchant-Ivory's adaptations of E M Forster's novels and in many ways is their most mature work partly because of the nature of the book which deals with issues of social welfare, hypocrisy, and the extreme tension within Edwardian society. However the excellence of this film is that in many ways Howards End perfects the Merchant Ivory formula. Merchant Ivory's films are formulaic but it is an admirable recipe; perceptive screenplays by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala; beautiful sets; accurate period detail and strong acting by the cream of Britain's thesps. Maybe this formula is history bound and unimaginative yet Merchant Ivory have produced may of the best British films of the last decade. Howards End is reflective of this. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Oscar-winning screenplay subtlety provides many insights into the themes of the book. The film contains many beautiful shots of English countryside and captures the bustle of Edwardian London. Howards End is also a very well cast film. James Wilby captures the arrogance of Charles Wilcox, while Samuel West is excellent as Leonard Bast (the victim of the Wilcox and Schlegel's actions). However it is Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson who give the best performances as Henry Wilcox and Margaret Schlegel portraying not only the different natures of the two characters, but also why they would fall in love with each other and ultimately be happy.

"Perhaps the best film made during the 30-year partnership of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory" - Variety

Review by Alicia Forsyth
Taken from EUFS Programme 1996-97

Lavish, sumptuous, engaging, boring. Merchant Ivory films have been accused of being all of these and I hasten to say there are not many people who don't have an opinion on the matter.

Personally I have to say I side on the “Oh..... another Merchant Ivory film” side. A good evening’s viewing but ultimately a ‘nice’ and ‘pretty’ film rather than a film that leaves an impact on you or even leaves you with a feeling of more than ‘Oh, that was nice’. Perhaps this stems from being force-fed E.M.Forster novels in class, perhaps from the glut of crap American period dramas that forever seem to be cropping up. Whatever the reason I am very glad to say that Howards End more than surpassed my expectations of Merchant Ivory i.e. it turned out to be bloody good rather than nice.

The film opens with the opposition set up between two prominent married families in Britain. The Schlegals; the artists, civilised, polite, thoroughly decent types and the Wilcoxes; industrialised, moneymaking, backbone of Britain types. The story concerns the fortunes of a certain Leonard Bast as he is bandied back and forth between both families as they fight and reconcile between themselves. One family gets him a job, the other gets him fired. This doesn't seem too much of a problem to either family but they fail to appreciate the world Bast lives in, they belong to a different world, a different class. Responsibility and hypocrisy are the names of the game in this film. Social standing and gentility do not free one of responsibility to one's others and this comment upon Edwardian society and its class values cannot help but to comment upon the hypocrisy inherent in the system.

As usual the creme de la creme of the English rose and thesp world are invited to make the film but surprisingly (and frustratingly) they fail to annoy (Bonham Carter excepted obviously). Anthony Hopkins is excellent as Henry Wilcox as is Emma Thompson as Margaret Schlegal. They show with great clarity how different and yet necessarily close their worlds are. Samuel West is the true star though as Leonard Bast becomes just another social crusade to some of the characters and just another name to others. Ultimately he is the victim of this story but the bleak nature of this tale neglects to offer us anything like a real winner.

The story is the real gem in this film though. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala won an Oscar for her wonderful adaptation of E.M.Forster's novel and it shows as Merchant Ivory are forced to get on with the story rather than endlessly muse over beautiful countryside and period detail. The scenery is of course breathtaking, but what did you expect from Merchant Ivory. The period detail and locations are perfect, again what did you expect. The difference here is simple, this is more than just a series of pictures and historical accuracy and thus Merchant Ivory seem to buck a trend that was worryingly starting to define the British Film industry. Those who find films should be more than a series of long deep appreciative sighs do not worry, this film is as watchable and entertaining as any you will see. It thoroughly deserves the reputation it holds, as the best and most captivating Merchant Ivory film made.

Personally I still have reservations though. Somewhere out there Merchant, Ivory, Jhabvala and the ghost of E.M.Forster must still be consorting about their next attempt to convince the world that colonial England is where it's at. Soon the world will turn its head to Merchant Ivory and that's when we'll all turn into Hugh Grant and Bonham Carter and their plan will be complete.

At least that's my theory anyway. Put basically I tried not to like Howards End, I tried to be as prejudiced as possible towards this film and I still found myself captivated and loving every minute.

I can't possibly give it any higher recommendation.

Programme note by Andrew Hesketh
Placed online 27/11/96

The latest in the line of E M Forster novels to be adapted for the silver screen, Merchant Ivory's Howards End is a classic of its genre. The story explores the nature of human relationships through the actions of the Schlegel sisters, Margaret (Emma Thompson, Oscar winning and quite superb) and Helen (Helena Bohnam Carter) and a more intelligent, well-crafted and downright lovely piece of film-making you would be hard pressed to find. Faithful to Forster's wonderful novel, Howards End is a glorious film; it is the book as one would visualise it - and that is surely as much of a tribute as its makers could possibly hope for. The acting is great, the period detail excellent, and the message - kinda life-affirming, really.

Review by Malcolm Maclaren
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94