The Wings of the Dove

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The Wings of the Dove

R

Released Nov 7, 1997

1h 41m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

78%

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5,000+ Ratings

Kate (Helena Bonham Carter) is secretly betrothed to a struggling journalist, Merton Densher (Linus Roache). But she knows her Aunt Maude (Charlotte Rampling) will never approve of the match, since Kate's deceased mother has lost all her money in a marriage to a degenerate opium addict (Michael Gambon). When Kate meets a terminally ill American heiress named Millie (Alison Elliott) traveling through Europe, she comes up with a conniving plan to have both love and wealth.

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Critics Consensus

The Wings of the Dove patiently explores class divisions in early 20th century Europe through the well-written and beautifully acted travails of star-crossed lovers.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Instead of piling on distracting historical details and background, Dove trusts the audience to notice behavioral clues and fill in the blanks.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 10, 2018

Full Review

Carol Buckland

CNN.com

The Wings of the Dove flies high in a year when a whole lot of mega-buck movies barely got off the ground. It's exquisite -- and very adult -- entertainment.

Jan 5, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Betsy Sherman

The Improper Bostonian

This adaptation of one of Henry James’s most psychologically rich novels works on its own lighter terms -- although those terms arguably rip away the very forces that motivate the James characters.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 6, 2024

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Sensuous, intelligent and moving, this is one of the best of the year.

Rated: A-

Jan 10, 2023

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

The film, however, keeps your interest and Bonham Carter makes you feel her lust and pain so easily that hers is one of the finest performances of the year.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 7, 2023

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Barry M

A deep exploration of the heart and how it will have its way no matter what.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/02/21

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steve d

I hated the characters and thus the film.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

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Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

A devastating look at fine line that separates money and love and how it could push someone to the very edge of decimation.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

The Wings of the Dove is a perfect example of a film that would've been better served with a less conventional approach that focused on delineating the emotional turmoil these characters put themselves through instead of lavishing in its period trappings. As it stands, it's mostly well-done, although it doesn't get truly compelling until the killer ending that prioritizes the character instead of the visual, pushing its performers to vulnerable territory that yields much more rewarding results.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

ashley h

The Wings of the Dove is a decent film. It is about a strong-willed aristocratic girl who takes drastic measures to marry her lower-class lover. Helena Bonham Carter and Linus Roache give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Iain Softley did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and romance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Iain Softley

Director

Helena Bonham Carter

Kate Croy

Linus Roache

Merton Densher

Alison Elliott

Millie Theale

Elizabeth McGovern

Susan 'Susie' Stringham

Charlotte Rampling

Aunt Maude

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The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - The Canals of Venice

1:51

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - In Love With Her Memory

1:58

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - A Visit With Father

1:59

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - A Letter From Millie

2:19

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - Drenched

2:09

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - Did It Hurt?

1:41

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - Illicit Encounter

1:14

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - The Palazzo Barbaro

2:41

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - Dance With Me

2:36

The Wings of the Dove: Official Clip - How Do You Love?

2:48

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Synopsis

Kate (Helena Bonham Carter) is secretly betrothed to a struggling journalist, Merton Densher (Linus Roache). But she knows her Aunt Maude (Charlotte Rampling) will never approve of the match, since Kate's deceased mother has lost all her money in a marriage to a degenerate opium addict (Michael Gambon). When Kate meets a terminally ill American heiress named Millie (Alison Elliott) traveling through Europe, she comes up with a conniving plan to have both love and wealth.

Director: Iain Softley
Producer: David Parfitt, Stephen Evans
Screenwriter: Henry James, Hossein Amini
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.7M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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