The Wings of the Dove (1997)

THE WINGS OF THE DOVE is the third Henry James adaptation in twelve 
months, after PORTRAIT OF A LADY and WASHINGTON SQUARE, and boasts 
a juicy premise about a turn-of-the-century love triangle and one 
woman's scheme to get her boyfriend's hands on a dying woman's for-
tune.  The first hour is pleasant enough, with an agreeable cast, 
inventive camera work, and some cool period detail.  (I enjoyed the 
many motorized vehicles riding the streets of 1910 London.)  In the 
butt-numbing second hour, story development slows to a snail's 
pace.  When the three characters take a trip to Venice, that's your 
cue to take a nap.  You won't miss much, unless you snooze for too 
long and miss the coolly climatic (and largely satisfying) finale, 
which includes a nude scene by Helena Bonham Carter.  Now *there's* 
something you don't see every day.  With Linus Roache, Alison El-
liott, Charlotte Rampling, Elizabeth McGovern, Michael Gambon, and 
Alex Jennings.  (Rated "R"/101 min.)

Grade: C+

Copyright 1997 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: November 23, 1997.