Howards End (1992) | DLX (Laserdisc) | USED

Title: Howards End (1992)

Genre: Historical / Drama / Romance

Plot Synopsis
In Edwardian England, the liberal-minded Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, form bonds with both the affluent and the working class, through their involvement with the conservative Wilcox family and the impoverished Leonard Bast and Jacky Bast. When Ruth Wilcox, matriarch of the Wilcox family, dies after informally expressing her wish to leave her beloved country home to Margaret, a web of social expectations, family loyalty, and hidden truths unspools. As Margaret and Henry Wilcox grow closer, and Helen becomes entangled in Leonard’s struggles—both financial and personal—tragic consequences ripple outward. Eventually, inheritance, scandal, and loyalty collide in ways that challenge each character’s sense of self and belonging.

Cast and Crew

• Director: James Ivory

• Writers: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay), E. M. Forster (novel)

• Cast:

  • Anthony Hopkins as Henry Wilcox

  • Emma Thompson as Margaret Schlegel

  • Helena Bonham Carter as Helen Schlegel

  • Vanessa Redgrave as Ruth Wilcox

  • Samuel West as Leonard Bast

YouTube Trailer: Howards End | Trailer

IMDb Link: Howards End (1992) 

Reviews from Letterboxd

1. Aaron – ★★★★★
   “Merchant-Ivory’s Howards End is a stunningly successful adaptation of its source material, one of the twentieth century’s finest literary works. Its success owes to many things: the sumptuous period art direction, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s typically superb screenplay, James Ivory’s confident direction, and a wonderful cast delivering uniformly stellar performances. But most of all its success lies in the way it captures Forster’s underlying concern.”

2. fran hoepfner – ★★★½
   “so textured, so lovely. I like that there’s a little more Tibby here than in the book. quite understandably and deservingly Emma Thompson took home the Oscar for this one, but Helena Bonham Carter is just as wonderful here too. also “I hate my banker father’s younger socialist girlfriend” feels like an extremely prescient villain arc in the year 2019”

3. Brian Formo – ★★☆☆☆
   “I have a distinct memory of going as a family to watch Howards End when I was 10 years old. The reviews were grand and it was rated PG. I don’t remember the film at all just how upset my dad was in the car when we left. He’d never read reviews again, something I learned my dad would never stop doing but would always threaten to do after feeling burned. My mom referred to it negatively for years. “Boring” was the word of choice.”

4. Tomster Monster – ★★★☆☆
   “As for the characters, they were interesting enough to keep me invested. I love the contrast between the driven, emotional Helen and the restrained, uptight Henry—with the compassionate Margaret caught in the middle. The side characters are also enjoyable, with the blatantly evil Charles being my favorite. My main issue with the film, though, is that the characters’ lack of development.”

5. Luke Bonanno – ★★★☆☆
   “It’s a stately, handsome and well-acted production, but the plights of its polished and privileged characters never come close to resembling anything I’ve noticed or experienced in my decades on this earth.”

Meta Description:
A richly crafted period drama exploring class, inheritance, and personal conviction in Edwardian England, featuring standout performances from Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and Vanessa Redgrave.