Review of A Room with a View (1986) by Jaykumar B — 09 Jun 2011

This was the film that really got me hooked on the Merchant-Ivory phenom, though I'd already seen "A Passage To India". Something about this film, even when in Florence, Italy, is so COZY, so English, that it's almost impossible to describe, as so many of the characters (except George Emerson [Julian Sands] of course!) have trouble doing.

Aside from the sumptuous costumes, perfect scenery and accurate interiors, the acting is simply stunning. Helena Bonham-Carter is incandescent as the luscious, confused Lucy, both enamored of wild George, but too frightened NOT to settle for the close-minded prig, Cecil (Day-Lewis).

Though the plot is rather serious, there are so many moments of fun and hilarity, such as Mr. Beebe, the vicar (Simon Callow), Freddie Honeychurch (Rupert Graves) and George "having a bathe" in what Lucy later dubs "The Sacred Lake", a pond formed mostly by rain. They doff their clothes and for a few brief minutes are like satyrs in an ancient forest, until Lucy, Cecil and Mrs. Honeychurch stroll toward them and chaos ensues. Only George refuses to be humbled or embarrassed (well he IS bare-assed!) and darts out in front of them, waving his arms and shouting wildly.

What girl would NOT fall for that? But then, she'd already been kissed by him amidst a field of flowers in Tuscany. This guy seems to REALLY know how to woo a girl!

Still, Lucy obstinately sticks to her guns and eventually, "Lies to everybody" (about her feelings) and we're never exactly sure why, nor is she.

Only George's father, Mr. Emerson (the wonderful Denholm Elliot) is able to call her out and say "You love the boy, body and soul!" and urge her not to give up such a feeling to maintain propriety.

Maggie Smith is beguilingly annoying as "Poor Charlotte", a cousin of Lucy's, who constantly preys on the Honeychurch's good will, borrowing money and asking to stay with them when her pipes are broken. She is at once infuriating and pathetic, as only a single woman of dubious conscience could be, I suppose.

Judi Dench (not yet "Dame") does a giddy turn as the sleazy, gossip-mongering Eleanor Lavish, who (deliberately?) takes Charlotte's confidence about the Lucy-George kiss and puts it in a book. If only we could ALL get published so quickly!

The final scene, with George and Lucy in a Florentine window, with a view, is so sensuous, it makes all other love scenes seem superfluous. Except for those two kissing scenes!