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The Europeans

Play trailer Poster for The Europeans 1979 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
An adaptation of the novel about the Countess Eugenia and her brother Robert, expatriate Americans who have grown up in Europe. Returning to prosperous relatives in New England, she hopes to make an advantageous marriage with one of their wealthy cousins. While Eugenia encounters obstacles, Robert finds his suit bearing fruit.

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The Europeans

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele Los Angeles Times 12/20/2019
But what's attractive about revisiting "The Europeans" now is how it's more indie-flavored, its pleasurable finery and delicate ironies... befitting a novel whose lightness of tone James himself recognized when he subtitled it "A Sketch. Go to Full Review
Time Out Staff Time Out 01/26/2006
Staged with affection, insight, a whole fistful of superb performances and exquisite settings. Go to Full Review
Vincent Canby New York Times 05/09/2005
The achievement of Mr. Ivory and Mrs. Jhabvala is their preservation of so much James, so purely, in what's thought to be a hostile medium. Go to Full Review
Tom Huhn Washington Blade 05/31/2022
The best material is the astounding landscape, which provides as colorful and contrasting backdrop for the dreariness of the family -- and the picture -- as one can imagine. Go to Full Review
Joshua Brunsting The CriterionCast 01/09/2020
The first of three Henry James adaptations produced by the Merchant Ivory team, this is an entrancing entry not just in their partnership but in the career of Ivory himself. Go to Full Review
Hunter Lanier Film Threat 01/02/2020
7/10
There is a certain allure to a movie that plays hard to get. The Europeans expects you to meet it halfway. When you do, you're rewarded with a story that's rich with complicated emotions, despite its self-confident exterior. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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02/04/2012 Beautiful settings, scenery, music, storyline, dialogue, acting - everything! See more 09/09/2011 another lavish costume drama from the masters though not quite as filled out as their later efforts. See more 09/08/2011 Impeccably filmed and acted drama with beautiful autumn scenery and period costumes... Unpredictable, as well! See more 07/27/2011 TCM gave this 4 stars, & based on the Name, the fact that it was a Period(19th Century)Film, & that Lee Remick was in it, I DVR'd this with great anticipation.It's a story about an Upper Class New England Family who's life changes by the arrival of their Expatriate Cousins who grew up in Europe.Lee Remick plays the Countess Euginia, a Countess who married for title, but now seems to be of Pending Divorce & looking for a new financial sponsorship or Marriage by way of Feminine Whiles & Cleaver Trickery.Her Brother,Robert(Robin Ellis),woos & wins the hand of his Cousin who is repressed by the Puritanical Lifestyle her family has imposed on her, & is badly in need of adventure & change.You are always quite aware of the Countess Eugenia's objective,it drives the film & gives it all it's color, but you never are quite sure if Cousin Robert actually even cares for the young cousin he pursed with such intent for her money.I had high expectations that may have influenced my view of this film a bit, but generally I was disappointed by the lack of luster & slow pace. See more 04/14/2011 Unstimulating and overly wordy costume drama. The costumes are actually the most interesting aspect of the film. See more 04/27/2010 "The Europeans" is a dry Henry James adaptation that comes off as more of an A&E special than a feature film. I found its mannered period style passable, but the acting was definitely not there to breathe a bit of life into the stilted New England it spends too much time gilding. See more Read all reviews
The Europeans

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Movie Info

Synopsis An adaptation of the novel about the Countess Eugenia and her brother Robert, expatriate Americans who have grown up in Europe. Returning to prosperous relatives in New England, she hopes to make an advantageous marriage with one of their wealthy cousins. While Eugenia encounters obstacles, Robert finds his suit bearing fruit.
Director
James Ivory
Distributor
Levitt-Pickman
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 8, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 7, 2020
Runtime
1h 30m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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