The Bostonians Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A suffragette and a guy from Mississippi have an intense staring contest over who gets to use a mesmerizing young woman as their public relations tool.

🍿 The Bostonians: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Set in 19th-Century Boston

The Bostonians unfolds in the vibrant, intellectual atmosphere of post-Civil War Boston, a hub for social reform movements, particularly the burgeoning women’s rights cause. The film introduces us to Olive Chancellor, a fervent and wealthy spinster deeply committed to the feminist movement. Olive encounters her distant cousin, Basil Ransom, a conservative Southern lawyer who has come north after the war. Their opposing views on society, gender roles, and the future of America immediately create tension, highlighting the ideological divide of the era.

The Discovery of Verena Tarrant

Olive becomes captivated by Verena Tarrant, the charismatic daughter of a faith healer. Verena possesses a unique gift: she can speak with compelling eloquence on women’s rights, seemingly inspired by her father’s ‘mesmeric’ influence. Seeing Verena as a powerful asset and potential protégée for the movement, Olive takes her under her wing. This relationship quickly deepens, becoming the central focus of Olive’s life and the core of the film’s complex emotional landscape.

A Competing Affection

Basil Ransom, initially dismissive of the feminist circles Olive inhabits, meets Verena and is unexpectedly drawn to her charm and sweetness. Despite her public pronouncements, he sees in her the potential for a more traditional domestic life. Basil begins to pursue Verena, creating a fierce rivalry with Olive, who views him as the embodiment of everything she opposes and a direct threat to her relationship with Verena and the cause they represent. Verena finds herself increasingly torn between the passionate devotion of Olive and the romantic attention of Basil.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Verena Tarrant (Madeleine Potter): The gifted young speaker sought after by both a prominent feminist and a conservative lawyer.
• Olive Chancellor (Vanessa Redgrave): A passionate Boston feminist leader deeply invested in controlling the life and public career of Verena Tarrant.
• Basil Ransom (Christopher Reeve): A conservative Southern lawyer who becomes Olive Chancellor’s rival for the affection and allegiance of Verena Tarrant.
• Miss Birdseye (Jessica Tandy): An elderly, dedicated veteran of the women’s rights movement who serves as a symbolic figure.
• Mrs. Burrage (Nancy Marchand): A socialite who involves herself in the suffrage movement, particularly regarding Verena’s public speaking opportunities.
• Dr. Prance (Linda Hunt): A pragmatic and independent female doctor who observes the suffrage movement from a detached perspective.
• Dr. Tarrant (Wesley Addy): Verena’s faith-healing father who initially exploits his daughter’s public speaking ability for profit.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Olive Chancellor: “He’s not in sympathy, I’m afraid.” – Said to Miss Birdseye when introducing her Southern cousin, Basil Ransom, expressing her immediate judgment of his conservative views as being opposed to her feminist ideals.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,009,700
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Bostonians Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I went into this knowing it’s a Merchant-Ivory film, so I wasn’t expecting explosions, but wow, the pacing is deliberate! I got really invested in the weird love triangle slash power struggle between Olive, Verena, and Basil. Vanessa Redgrave is just incredible; her intensity is mesmerizing, even when she’s just staring dramatically across a room. Madeleine Potter as Verena was interesting because you just feel her getting pulled in different directions. And Christopher Reeve was… well, he certainly tried. It felt like he was just trying to fit in with all the intense period acting happening around him. But the visuals were stunning – the clothes, the houses, the seaside scenes were just beautiful to look at. Even though it was slow at times, I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters’ internal lives and the wild social dynamics of the time. It definitely stuck with me after the credits rolled, which is more than I can say for a lot of faster-paced movies!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic literature adaptations, particularly Henry James”
  • “Viewers interested in historical dramas focused on social movements (like early feminism)”
  • “Admirers of Merchant Ivory films’ aesthetic and style”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven stories with complex relationships”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Slow pacing”
  • “Complex and potentially ambiguous portrayal of relationships and motivations”

Professional Reviews

• FilmMonthly: “Merchant-Ivory delivers visual splendor in this Henry James adaptation. While the period detail is impeccable and Vanessa Redgrave gives a powerful performance, the film’s pacing can be quite slow. Christopher Reeve feels miscast, but the complex social and emotional dynamics offer plenty to ponder for patient viewers. A beautiful, if sometimes tedious, exploration of evolving society.
• Period Piece Digest: “Lavish sets and costumes transport you to 1870s Boston. The film captures the intellectual ferment of the era, though some of the character motivations feel less clear on screen than in the novel. Strong supporting turns from Jessica Tandy and Linda Hunt add depth. Not a dynamic film, but a finely crafted one for fans of historical drama and subtle character studies.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were divided, either finding it a brilliant, subtle character study or a slow, tedious bore.: The production design, costumes, and period accuracy are widely praised.

Vanessa Redgrave’s performance as Olive Chancellor is frequently cited as a standout.: The film sparks interesting discussions about the historical context of the suffrage movement and social change.

Overall Consensus: A beautifully made but divisive period drama. Praised for its historical detail and strong performances (especially Vanessa Redgrave), but criticized by some for its slow pace and Christopher Reeve’s casting.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Despite being a major star at the time due to his Superman role, Christopher Reeve accepted a salary significantly lower than his usual rate ($100,000 vs. over $1 million) because he strongly believed in the project and wanted to engage in different kinds of acting work, against the advice of his agent.”
• “The film was shot on location in various areas of Boston, Massachusetts, as well as on Martha’s Vineyard and in New York City, with Central Park being utilized for some scenes to capture the authentic 1870s American setting.”
• “The film’s ending significantly deviates from Henry James’s novel, presenting a more overtly dramatic conclusion to the conflict between Basil Ransom and Olive Chancellor over Verena Tarrant.”
• “This was one of Merchant Ivory Productions’ earlier films, made before their major international successes like ‘A Room with a View’ and ‘Howard’s End’, though it established their reputation for visually rich period adaptations of literary works.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Bostonians?

As a classic film from 1984, ‘The Bostonians’ may be available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Bostonians, you might like these similar films:

• A Room with a View (1985): Another acclaimed Merchant Ivory production adapting a classic novel (E.M. Forster), exploring themes of societal constraints, burgeoning romance, and personal freedom within a visually rich historical setting.
• The Age of Innocence (1993): Set in the same time period (1870s) and focusing on the rigid social customs and complex emotional lives of the upper class in New York society, adapted from Edith Wharton’s novel.
• Howard’s End (1992): A later, highly successful Merchant Ivory film that also delves into class differences, social change, and complicated relationships within a historical English setting, demonstrating the studio’s mastery of literary adaptation and period detail.
• Little Women (1994 or 2019): Set in a similar post-Civil War era, these adaptations of the classic novel explore the aspirations, roles, and relationships of young women navigating societal expectations and personal dreams.
• Portrait of a Lady (1996): Another adaptation of a Henry James novel exploring the life and choices of a strong-willed young woman constrained by 19th-century societal expectations and complex relationships, featuring Merchant Ivory-like sensibilities in its focus on psychological drama and visual detail.

🛒 The Bostonians Related Products

• The Bostonians by Henry James (Penguin Classics): Delve into the original source material that inspired the film. Experience Henry James’s intricate prose and deeper character insights.
• Merchant Ivory Collection: The Bostonians / A Room with a View / Howard’s End (Blu-ray): Own this acclaimed adaptation alongside other masterpieces from the renowned Merchant Ivory team, presented in high definition.
• A History of the Suffragette Movement in America: Gain historical context on the real-life movement depicted in the film, exploring the struggles and triumphs of early feminists.
• Victorian Fashions: 1880-1900 (Dover Fashion and Costumes): Explore the exquisite clothing and styles featured prominently in the film’s visual design, offering insight into the era’s aesthetics.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Bostonians features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Opening Credits / Boston 1875” – performed by Richard Robbins
• “The Cause” – performed by Richard Robbins
• “A Meeting by the Sea” – performed by Richard Robbins
• “Verena’s Theme” – performed by Richard Robbins
• “Basil’s Arrival” – performed by Richard Robbins
• “The Music Hall” – performed by Traditional / Richard Robbins

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Reading Henry James

Curious about the mind behind ‘The Bostonians’? This video dives into how to read Henry James, giving you insight into the source material of the film. It’s a great way to understand the world the movie came from, which I found pretty insightful.

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