The Europeans

Released Oct 8, 1979

1h 31m

Drama

List

80%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

38%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Audience Member

Beautiful settings, scenery, music, storyline, dialogue, acting - everything!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

another lavish costume drama from the masters though not quite as filled out as their later efforts.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Impeccably filmed and acted drama with beautiful autumn scenery and period costumes... Unpredictable, as well!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unstimulating and overly wordy costume drama. The costumes are actually the most interesting aspect of the film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

"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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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James Ivory

Director

Lee Remick

Eugenia Young

Robin Ellis

Robert Acton

Wesley Addy

Mr. Wentworth

Lisa Eichhorn

Gertrude

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

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.

Dec 20, 2019

Full Review

Time Out Staff

Time Out

Staged with affection, insight, a whole fistful of superb performances and exquisite settings.

Jan 26, 2006

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

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.

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Tom Huhn

Washington Blade

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.

May 31, 2022

Full Review

Joshua Brunsting

The CriterionCast

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.

Jan 9, 2020

Full Review

Hunter Lanier

Film Threat

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.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 2, 2020

Full Review

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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 31m

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