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The House of Mirth

Play trailer Poster for The House of Mirth PG Released Sep 23, 2000 2h 23m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 101 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Lily (Gillian Anderson) is a ravishing socialite who quickly discovers the precariousness of her position when her beauty and charm start attracting unwelcome interest and jealousy. She seeks a wealthy husband and, in trying to conform to social expectations, she misses her chance for real love with Lawrence Selden (Eric Stoltz). Her quest for a husband comes to a scandalous end when she is falsely accused of having an affair with a married man and is rejected by society and her friends.
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The House of Mirth

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Critics Consensus

Despite being a period piece, The House of Mirth's depiction of social cruelty still feels chilling and relevant for today.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody New Yorker [An] exquisite and anguished adaptation... Nov 21, 2022 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media A very worthwhile adaptation of Wharton's novel. Rated: 4/5 Dec 28, 2010 Full Review Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine Besides his remarkable ability to render a profound sense of past in all his films, Davies can uncannily map out the emotions of his characters via his mise-en-scene. Rated: 4/4 Aug 1, 2003 Full Review A.S. Hamrah The Baffler Society in turn-of-the-century New York shows its harsh, unforgiving, duplicitous face in frozen looks from Anthony LaPaglia, Dan Aykroyd, and Laura Linney, Sep 16, 2020 Full Review PJ Nabarro One Room With A View Lily's downfall plays out as an event of great pathos, because the act of dethroning her occurs without the characters and Davies' own diegesis voicing it at every stage. Rated: 4/5 Dec 15, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Meticulously made with graceful style, Terence Davies' adaptation of Wharton is superior to Scorsese's Age of Innocence, the author's other famous novel. Rated: B+ Aug 18, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B Its a great adaptation of the novel because it so clearly understands that the real tragedy here is that Lily is punished because she is terrible at playing the arbitrary social games of her era and she refuses to be as cruel as everyone else. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/24 Full Review Bill N it was very very tedious and i had to quit after one wasted hour:-( Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/30/23 Full Review Link Literary masterpiece brought to life in this visually stunning motion picture. Romantic and sumptuous. Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz and Laura Linney all shine here. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Steve D Bleak and melodramatic. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review isla s This is a somewhat dull period drama film. The performances are ok and the costumes and setting are good but the story is a bit plain. I suppose it does well at painting a picture of how women were regarded at the time the film is set (the 1920s). I do like a good period drama but there isn't quite enough full blown drama in this. I thought Gillian Anderson and Dan Ackroyd gave particularly good performances and I note that Anthony LaPaglia (of Without A Trace (US crime drama show) fame) also features. These films appeal to me more in terms of enjoying the context their set in - the grand palacial homes and the social commentary side of things. Unlike other films, this one didn't really grab my attention as such - I feel it was rather long winded but its not without any merit. I wouldn't especially recommend this film as such, no. Oh and also this may be called 'House of Mirth' but I honestly can't say I found myself laughing while watching it. I suppose if it tackles any one particular subject, it'd be shame. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review david f The period details are fantastic, and the languorous mood is Whartonesque but the source material is a little bit too interior, maybe, for there ever to be a great film based on it. Nice try, though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The House of Mirth

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Lily (Gillian Anderson) is a ravishing socialite who quickly discovers the precariousness of her position when her beauty and charm start attracting unwelcome interest and jealousy. She seeks a wealthy husband and, in trying to conform to social expectations, she misses her chance for real love with Lawrence Selden (Eric Stoltz). Her quest for a husband comes to a scandalous end when she is falsely accused of having an affair with a married man and is rejected by society and her friends.
Director
Terence Davies
Producer
Olivia Stewart
Screenwriter
Terence Davies
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Showtime Networks Inc., Granada Film Productions, Channel 4 Television Corporation, Kinowelt Filmproduktion [de], National Lottery, Progress, Scottish Arts Council, Diaphana Films, Glasgow Film Fund, Arts Council of England, FilmFour, Three Rivers Productions
Rating
PG (Thematic Material)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 2000, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 29, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.0M
Runtime
2h 23m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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