Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The House of Mirth (2000)
The House of Mirth
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The House of Mirth (2000) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 24 | slideshow) Videos
The House of Mirth (2000) -- A woman risks losing her chance of happiness with the only man she has ever loved.

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   4,111 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 16% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Terence Davies
Writers:
Edith Wharton (novel)
Terence Davies (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The House of Mirth on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 October 2000 (Ireland) more
Genre:
Romance | Drama more
Tagline:
When a woman has the beauty men admire and women envy...it is wise to tread carefully.
Plot:
A woman risks losing her chance of happiness with the only man she has ever loved. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
5 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Film: Review: Of Time And The City
 (From The AV Club. 22 January 2009, 1:00 PM, PST)

Gillian Anderson Postpones Wedding
 (From WENN. 10 July 2003)

User Comments:
A richly painted tapestry of early New York society, Anderson is terrific. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gillian Anderson ... Lily Bart

Dan Aykroyd ... Augustus 'Gus' Trenor
Eleanor Bron ... Mrs. Julia Peniston, Lily's Aunt

Terry Kinney ... George Dorset

Anthony LaPaglia ... Sim Rosedale (as Anthony Lapaglia)

Laura Linney ... Bertha Dorset
Jodhi May ... Grace Julia Stepney

Elizabeth McGovern ... Mrs. Carry Fisher

Eric Stoltz ... Lawrence Selden
Penny Downie ... Judy Trenor
Pearce Quigley ... Percy Gryce
Helen Coker ... Evie Van Osburgh
Mary MacLeod ... Mrs. Haffen (as Mary Macleod)
Paul Venables ... Jack Stepney
Serena Gordon ... Gwen Stepney
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Chez les heureux du monde (France)
Haus Bellomont (Germany)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for thematic material.
Runtime:
140 min
Country:
UK | France | Germany | USA
Language:
English | French
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Shooting angles for some outdoor scenes had to be changed because groups of "The X Files" (1993) fans congregated in the background to see Gillian Anderson. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The film, which takes place during 1905-07, depicts several characters attending a performance of the opera "Cosi fan tutte" -- but that opera was first performed in New York in 1922. more
Quotes:
Grace: Men have minds like moral flypaper. They will forgive a woman almost anything except the loss of her good name. more
Movie Connections:
References Some Like It Hot (1959) more
Soundtrack:
La Mia Dorabella more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful:-
A richly painted tapestry of early New York society, Anderson is terrific., 16 January 2001
Author: (tjackson@rcn.com) from Boston. MA

House of Mirth is a richly painted tapestry of a piece of early American Society all but unrecognizable to most Americans. It's a great story and great looking, but the real surprise in Terence Davies' adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel is how deftly Gillian Anderson among others manages to gracefully convey the stilted rigors of the period language. The film is largely about the traps and deceits verbal gamesmanship and class one-upsmanship. It is a deadly and vicious internal warfare that goes on with the upper class bourgeois in New York City in the early 20th century. The price one pays – particularly that a woman pays – for straying too far from the unwritten laws of that society can be severe. Lillie Bart's flaw is not really in her indiscretions, but in her inability to compromise at the right time. Her timing is fatally flawed. That the film is so relentlessly tragic, really takes the viewer by surprise, partly because Anderson gives her character such spunk and vivaciousness that you find yourself surprised by the endless bad luck that she brings on herself. Anderson's remarkable beauty, poise as an actress, facility with the dialogue, in my mind, bring her to a whole new level as an actress.

It is also wonderfully cinematic. There are rich colors and textures, beautifully framed scenes, marvellous costumes. Though steeped in tragedy and melodrama, you'll find yourself so swept away in this world that it will seem centuries and not merely decades removed from our time. Perhaps this is why the titles at the beginning and at the end are `New York 1914' – you need this reminder by the end.

With a host of good performances and a rich sense of place you will get emotionally and imaginatively swept up in this world. Just be prepared for the landing.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The House of Mirth (2000)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why did Bertha do it? thecallalilies
Did Anyone Else Notice? Cello1949-2
Question on ending in film... deeveed
Lily *May contain spoilers* Murgatroid
What was the exact reason why she not reveal the 'letters'? MedievalinNYC
After Lily ...? (CONTAINS SPOILER) fiftyfootqueenie
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Barry Lyndon Rebecca Howards End Born to Gamble The Age of Innocence
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Romance section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.