Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2145 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-29
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 113 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review

The prestigious film-making trio of producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala had made other critically acclaimed films before A Room with a View was released in 1985, but it was this popular film that made them art-house superstars. Splendidly adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster, it's a comedy of the heart, a passionate romance and a study of repression within the class system of manners and mores. It's that system of rigid behaviour that prevents young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) from accepting the loving advances of a free-spirited suitor (Julian Sands), who fears that she will follow through with her engagement to a priggish intellectual (Daniel Day-Lewis) whose capacity for passion is virtually non-existent. During and after a trip to Italy with her protective companion (Maggie Smith), Lucy gradually gets in touch with her true emotions. The fun of watching A Room with a View comes from seeing how Lucy's thoughts and feelings finally arrive at the same romantic conclusion. Through an abundance of humour both subtle and overt, the film rose to an unexpected level of popular appeal. The Merchant-Ivory team received eight Academy Award nominations for their efforts, and won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction and Costume Design. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Description

A Room with a View is a part-love story, part-attack on the English class system and manners of Edwardian times. Based on E.M. Forster's 1908 novel of the same name, the film adaptation was directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant. One of three Forster novels adapted by Merchant Ivory Productions, A Room With A View has enjoyed more popular success than any previous Merchant Ivory film. Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala received an Academy Award for her screenplay, and the film itself--which also features Judi Dench and Simon Callow--was nominated for Best Picture. The A Room With A View (Special Edition) DVD contains many extra features, including: BBC Breakfast Time special appearances and reports; a tribute to E. M. Forster (hosted by James Mossman); a Film '96 Merchant/Ivory tribute profile; and additional commentaries by Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, Tony Pierce Roberts and Simon Callow.

Synopsis

When a young Englishwoman named Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and her spinster chaperone Charlotte (Maggie Smith) travel to Italy, they become acquainted with a free-spirited and unconventional Englishman named Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliot), and his enigmatic and romantically unhappy son, George (Julian Sands). After George makes the grievous mistake of kissing Lucy during a picnic in the Florentine hills, Charlotte rushes her back to England. Safely home, Lucy becomes engaged to her stiff and very proper fiancé Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis), however, after finding out the Emersons have moved close by she has a hard time ignoring her attraction to the unsuitable George.

Customer Reviews

Hurray! A Digitally Remastered DVD Version At Last!
Having played my VHS tape of this wonderful film until my VHS player broke, and having followed other customers' advice about the previous, poor DVD editions, I am so glad that I am now able to watch a flawless version of this classic - the picture and sound quality is as crystal clear as is possible for a film produced 22 years ago, making visible the precious details of this meticulous production: the lacey costumes and beautiful sets, the authentic interiors and coiffures, and even minute facial expressions that I had missed so far.
Among the extras are interviews with Simon Callow and Daniel Day-Lewis. The most interesting extra for me was a 1970 BBC tribute to E. M. Forster, featuring footage, photographs and quotations of himself and interviews with some of his friends, critics and contemporaries, including Frank Kermode, Christopher Ishwerwood and George Steiner.
Priceless!

Is this film really over 20 years old? Once banned for nudity, it's an example of how literary adaptations should be done
The happiest of all E M's novels, the story of Lucy and George's cross class love affair is beautifully captured by Merchant Ivory in this film. A fantastic cast - with outstanding turns by the likes of Judy Dench (before we'd decided she was a British thespian 'Grand Dame'), Simon Callow, Daniel Day Lewis (Cecil in prissy perfection), Denholm Elliot (scene stealing beautifully)and Maggie Smith - is led by the inspired casting of ingenue Bonham Carter, as she was at the time, and Julian Sands as Lucy and George. Added to the wonderful cast is a beautiful score and oscar winning art direction to create that sumptuous view. The kiss in the poppy field is one of cinemas most beautiful and romantic moments and a fantastic example of how music and cinematography can be combined to create real artistic beauty.

Is this film really over 20 years old? Once banned for nudity (on UK television, I remember it showing in C4's groundbreaking 'banned' movie season), it's an example of how literary adaptations should and can be done. This is a personal favourite, however a warning - those who are not fans of Miz Bonham Carter, of Forsters novel or of Merchant Ivory would be better off steering clear, you won't enjoy this film.

Terrible
This DVD is rubbish!!! It is the only time a found my old video copy of a film to be 3 times better than the DVD. The DVD has a washed out colour that makes this super film listless and dull. Wait for a new release!