The House of Mirth (2000 film)
| The House of Mirth | |
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 Film poster |
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| Directed by | Terence Davies |
| Produced by | Olivia Stewart |
| Written by | Edith Wharton (novel) Terence Davies (screenplay) |
| Starring | Gillian Anderson Laura Linney Dan Aykroyd Anthony LaPaglia Terry Kinney Elizabeth McGovern and Eric Stoltz |
| Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
| Editing by | Michael Parker |
| Studio | Granada Productions |
| Distributed by | FilmFour (UK) Sony Pictures Classics (USA) |
| Release date(s) | 2000 |
| Running time | 140 min. |
The House of Mirth is a 2000 film version of Edith Wharton's 1905 novel The House of Mirth. The film was written and directed by Terence Davies and stars Gillian Anderson.
[edit] Plot
It is New York City, 1905. Miss Lily Bart is a young, witty and beautiful socialite. Along with her quiet cousin, Grace Stepney, Lily lives with her wealthy aunt, Julia Peniston. Lily, a beauty raised in comfort and always admired, soon learns that there are bitter societal consequences for a single woman of age without family, and the harsh reality of a world without wealth.
Lily meets Mr. Lawrence Selden, a lawyer. At his flat she points out how seldom he comes to see her at her aunt’s house, and he argues that the reason might be that she won’t marry him because he is not rich enough. When she leaves his apartment, she runs into Mr. Simon Rosedale, who owns the building. On the train to Bellomont, she invites Mr. Percy Gryce to sit next to her. Another acquaintance, Mrs. Bertha Dorset, takes the seat next to Lily.
Back home at her aunt's estate, Bellomont, Lily is further encouraged by Judy Trenor to attract Percy Gryce. Lily and Mr. Gryce arrange a date for the next morning to go to church, but Lily misses it on purpose; she waits in the park for Mr. Selden. They take a walk, and while weighing the disadvantages of both marrying for money or for love, they share an aroused moment and kiss. Mr. Gryce had been watching and leaves abruptly because of Lily’s behavior. In the carriage home, Lily sits with Gus Trenor, and he agrees to help her make money through an investment. When Lily is alone in her room the maid lets in a woman who found letters Bertha Dorset wrote (showing Seldon as her lover) that Lily might be interested in and sells them to her.
At a wedding, Lily receives a $5,000 check from Gus Trenor, who claims to have also reinvested another $4,000. He wants to see her alone, but she suggests he see her at her aunt’s house. He invites Lily to the opera, where she also meets Lawrence Selden and Simon Rosedale. Late that night, Selden tells Lily that he loves her. They kiss, but Gus Trenor is watching them. Later, Lily goes to the opera with Gus Trenor and Sim Rosedale. Lily later leaves with Gus, but he lures into his home and tries to kiss her. Lily flees but she still owes Gus money, over 9,000 dollars. At home, her aunt Julia tells Lily she won’t give her any more money and how much she disapproves of Lily’s behavior. Lily is devastated.
Lounging in her parlor, Lily longs for Lawrence Selden to come to her. Instead loud, coarse Simon Rosedale comes to call. He has been eyeing her for quite some time. His wealth could free Lily from danger, yet his marriage proposal makes her shudder with disgust. Later that day, Bertha Dorset invites Lily to the Dorsets' yacht for a cruise in the Mediterranean. Lily is desperate to escape New York, the whispers and the constant criticism. Bertha slyly describes the tranquil cruise in glowing terms, with a French chef, a masseuse, and every conceivable form of luxury. Tempted by images of tranquility and bliss, Lily gives in and agrees to go.
In Monte Carlo, Mrs. Carry Fisher meets Lawrence Selden, who just arrived from London. They are both very worried about Lily. Meanwhile Lily herself is having a massage on the yacht, her eyes growing heavy, while George Dorset is snoring nearby. A young man is reading French poetry to Bertha. The two of them soon slip away together. Hours later, Lily and George awake and look for them in vain. Next morning, an angry George enters Lily’s cabin, blaming her for everything. When Bertha finally arrives, Lily confronts her, but Bertha viciously accuses Lily of adultery with George. Lawrence Selden arrives on the scene and is shocked. Lily is barred from returning to the yacht.
Back in New York, Aunt Julia has died. Lily is cut out of her will in favor of mousy little Cousin Grace. A dazed Lily is now homeless and adrift. Carry Fisher invites her to stay with her and the Gormers for the summer at her house. Carry believes Lily must get married, and there are two only two possibilities left, George Dorset and Sim Rosedale. Vengeful George asks Lily to tell the truth about his wife Bertha, since Lily witnessed what happened on the cruise, but she denies any knowledge. Simon Rosedale knows about Bertha’s letters and advises Lily to use them against Bertha. He offers to marry Lily once Bertha has been disgraced, but Lily refuses.
Lily starts to work for Mrs. Hatch as her social secretary. Mr. Selden tells Lily how he thinks this isn’t appropriate, but she defends herself saying she needs the money. Lily frequently goes to the pharmacy to get Mrs. Hatch’s sleeping medication, and after a while begins taking it herself. After Mrs. Hatch fires Lily, Lily takes up millinery piece work, but gets fired because she works too slowly and poorly. Lily goes to see Grace Stepney and asks for a loan, but is coldly rejected. When Sim Rosedale invites Lily to tea, she tells him everything, but refuses his help because it would again put her in debt to a man.
The next morning, Lily decides to confront Bertha Dorset with those letters she once wrote to Mr. Selden, but finds that the Dorsets have left town. Lily goes to Lawrence Selden and breaks down desperately, telling him she knows she lost his love. When Lawrence isn’t looking, she throws the letters in the fire. Lily goes home and receives an envelope containing her inheritance at last. She writes two checks, one for the bank, the other one for Gus Trenor, and takes the sleeping medicine once again. She lies down in bed, loses consciousness and dies. Selden discovers the burnt letters in his fireplace, but when he hurries to Lily’s apartment, he finds her and cries at her deathbed, telling her he loves her.
[edit] Cast
- Gillian Anderson ... as Lily Bart
- Dan Aykroyd ... as Gus Trenor
- Anthony LaPaglia ... as Sim Rosedale
- Laura Linney ... as Bertha Dorset
- Eric Stoltz ... as Lawrence Selden
- Terry Kinney ... as George Dorset
- Eleanor Bron ... as Mrs. Julia Peniston
- Jodhi May ... as Grace Stepney
- Elizabeth McGovern ... as Mrs. Carry Fisher
- Penny Downie ... as Judy Trenor
- Pearce Quigley ... as Percy Gryce
- Lorelei King ... as Mrs. Hatch
- Morag Siller ... as Mary Lee
[edit] External links
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