New York City, the 1870's: A man engaged to be married falls for his fiancée's cousin and comes up against upper-class society's customs and unspoken rules.
Martin Scorsese made his name during the 1970's and 80's primarily with films exploring the urban landscape of his hometown New York, led by intense, domineering male protagonists (usually played by Robert De Niro). The early 90's saw him take on a project that many considered out of his range: a period costume drama about suppressed emotion. The Age of Innocence was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Edith Wharton, and was given to Scorsese by friend and film critic Jay Cocks, who would go on to co-write the screenplay with the director. While the subject matter may not have been close to Scorsese's experience, the themes of loyalty, duty, guilt, and a strict moral/ethical code were things he had explored over and over again.
Daniel Day-Lewis, a recent Oscar-winner for My Left Foot was Scorsese's first choice to play the lead role, as were his co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. Rounding out the cast are other familiar character actors Richard E. Grant, Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), Richard E. Grant (Bram Stoker's Dracula, Geraldine Chaplin, and Old Hollywood veteran Norman Lloyd. Joanne Woodward provides the narration in Wharton's critical and often-sarcastic voice.
Behind the camera, Scorsese reunites with German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (a collaborator since the mid-1980's) and composer Elmer Bernstein. As always, the film was expertly edited by his right-hand-woman Thelma Schoonmaker. Dante Ferretti, the esteemed Italian production designer, began a long working relationship with Scorsese beginning on this film, which was shot on location in historic buildings in New York and Paris, with only one major set built exclusively for the production.
Critical reception was strong, with the film doing modest business at the box office. It received various critical awards and nominations for the cast and crew, including an Academy Award win for its costume design, and a Golden Globe win for Winona Ryder. Many now regard it as Scorsese's most moving film, and one of his finest.
Running time is 2 hrs, 15 min.
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