Review of The Wings of the Dove (1997) by Madeline S — 17 Nov 2006
Love and money: No one twists and turns the two together any better than Henry James. He really is a kind of TV soap opera precursor. It must be, at least in part, due to his real fascination with and passion for opera.
I have to say that I was surprised to learn the costumes were nominated for an Academy Award. My initial gut reaction was that the clothes looked 1) too modern for the turn of the century, and 2) like a kind of mix-and-match hodgepodge of older and newer.
But what do I know about clothes? I think Charlotte Rampling's is the most memorable performance. But then I always like the darker characters : ) As an aside, from an old English major, James is a challenging read.
If you are inspired to read Wings because of this movie -- which would be great : ) -- don't be discouraged if the reading is a tough go. Don't give up! To get used to his style, maybe you could check out his short stories, or if you know The Turn of the Screw, probably his most popular work, give that a shot.
This review of The Wings of the Dove (1997) was written by Madeline S on 17 Nov 2006.
The Wings of the Dove has generally received positive reviews.
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