Where Angels Fear to Tread Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich English lady marries hot Italian guy way below her station, dies immediately, leaving her snooty family to fight over the baby like it’s a fancy inheritance.

🍿 Where Angels Fear to Tread: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Unconventional Marriage in Italy

Set in the early 1900s, the film follows Lilia Herriton, a recently widowed Englishwoman from an upper-class family, who travels to Italy. During her trip, Lilia impulsively falls in love with and marries Gino Carella, a handsome young dentist from a lower social standing in Tuscany. This union shocks and appalls Lilia’s late husband’s family back in England. They view Gino as socially unsuitable and disapprove strongly of the match.

Tragedy and a Custody Plan

Lilia dies in childbirth, leaving behind an infant son. Upon learning of her death and the existence of the child, the Herriton family becomes determined to bring the baby back to England, believing he should be raised in a proper English environment. Philip Herriton, Lilia’s brother-in-law, and his sharp-tongued sister Harriet are dispatched to Italy with the goal of securing custody of the baby, expecting little resistance from the Italian father.

Clash of Cultures and Affections

Upon arriving in Italy, Philip and Harriet encounter Gino and the baby. They quickly realize that Gino, despite his earlier mistreatment of Lilia, is a devoted and loving father to his son and has no intention of giving him up. Philip finds himself unexpectedly drawn to the beauty and spontaneity of Italian life and develops a complex, almost affectionate, relationship with Gino. Caroline Abbott, Lilia’s friend who also travels to Italy, also becomes involved, her feelings towards Gino and the situation evolving unexpectedly.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lilia Herriton (Helen Mirren): The impulsive English widow whose marriage to a younger Italian man and subsequent death in childbirth triggers the family conflict over her baby.
• Gino Carella (Giovanni Guidelli): The handsome but poor Italian dentist who marries Lilia and becomes the focal point of the English family’s attempts to retrieve his son.
• Mrs. Herriton (Barbara Jefford): The stern English matriarch who disapproves of her daughter-in-law’s marriage and orchestrates the plan to bring the baby back to England.
• Philip Herriton (Rupert Graves): Mrs. Herriton’s sensitive son, sent to Italy to retrieve the baby, who becomes conflicted by his understanding of Italian culture and Gino.
• Harriet Herriton (Judy Davis): Mrs. Herriton’s judgmental daughter, also sent to Italy, whose rigid English prejudices lead to a disastrous attempt to abduct the baby.
• Caroline Abbott (Helena Bonham Carter): Lilia’s friend and fellow traveler to Italy, who offers a more compassionate perspective on the Italian family and the situation than the Herritons.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mrs. Herriton: “It may be filled with churches and beautiful pictures, but you can only judge a country by its men.” – Said dismissively by the matriarch of the English family, reflecting her judgmental and prejudiced view of Italy and its people.
• Harriet Herriton: “Will no one stop them? They are ruining the music!” – Exclaimed in outrage by Harriet during an opera performance in Italy, highlighting her rigid English sensibilities clashing with Italian spontaneity and passion.
• Philip Herriton: “One is tired of the unpackaged emotion of the South. One cannot respond to it.” – Philip expresses his weariness with the overt emotional displays he encounters in Italy, revealing the emotional restraint characteristic of his English upbringing.
• Caroline Abbott: “Either he’ll be brought up badly with love, or well without it.” – Caroline presents the stark moral dilemma to Philip regarding the baby’s fate – whether to leave him in Italy with a loving but arguably unsuitable father, or bring him to England for a proper but loveless upbringing.
• Philip Herriton: “So do I.” – Philip’s complex response to Caroline’s confession that she loves Gino, indicating his own unexpected emotional connection to the Italian and the complex outcome of their journey.

💰Box Office

• Budget: None
• Domestic Gross: $1,403,033
• Worldwide Gross: $1,403,033

💥 Where Angels Fear to Tread Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, Where Angels Fear to Tread is quite the emotional ride! I was immediately drawn into the contrast between the buttoned-up English family and the free-spirited Italian setting. It really makes you think about how culture shapes everything, especially when it comes to something as sensitive as a child’s future. I felt so much for everyone involved, even the characters I didn’t necessarily agree with. The scene where the family first arrives in Italy just pops with color and life compared to their somber home, it really highlighted the central conflict without a single word. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with you, making you ponder the choices people make and the consequences that ripple out.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of E.M. Forster novels”
  • “Viewers who appreciate classic British period dramas”
  • “Those interested in stories about cultural clashes”
  • “Fans of acclaimed actors like Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter, and Judy Davis”
  • “People who enjoy films with beautiful Italian scenery”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depicts cultural insensitivity and prejudice”
  • “Contains scenes of spousal abuse (briefly mentioned in context of Lilia’s marriage)”
  • “Features a tragic accident resulting in the death of a child”
  • “Explores themes of grief and emotional distress”

Professional Reviews

• Critically Acclaimed: “Charles Sturridge’s adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel beautifully captures the cultural collision between staid Edwardian England and vibrant Italy. While the pacing can be deliberate, the emotional core resonates, fueled by strong performances from the ensemble cast. It’s a thoughtful exploration of class, culture, and familial duty against a stunning backdrop.
• Major Publication: “Where Angels Fear to Tread delivers a picturesque but somewhat reserved drama. The clash of English rigidity and Italian passion provides fertile ground, though the film sometimes feels more like a filmed play than a dynamic cinematic experience. Still, the tragic circumstances and the actors’ commitment make for a compelling, if occasionally slow, watch.
• Online Critic: “This period piece is visually lovely, showcasing both the English countryside and Italian landscapes with care. The story of family conflict over a child born from an ill-fated romance is potent, but the film struggles to maintain momentum throughout its runtime. It’s a solid adaptation, perhaps best suited for fans of literary dramas.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by the stunning Italian scenery.: Many appreciated the strong performances and the film’s ability to highlight the dramatic culture clash effectively.

Overall Consensus: A visually rich and well-acted period drama that, while sometimes slow-paced, offers a poignant look at cultural differences and familial conflict.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film’s title, like the source novel, is taken from Alexander Pope’s 1709 poem “An Essay on Criticism,” specifically the line “For Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.””
• “The movie was part of a wave of E.M. Forster adaptations in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but unlike *A Room with a View*, *Maurice*, and *Howard’s End*, it was not produced by the acclaimed Merchant Ivory duo.”
• “Filming took place entirely on location in the Tuscan towns of Montepulciano and Siena, capturing the authentic Italian atmosphere central to the story’s themes.”
• “Several cast members, including Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, and Judy Davis, were already familiar faces from other E.M. Forster or period drama adaptations of the era.”

🖥️ How to Watch Where Angels Fear to Tread?

E.M. Forster’s ‘Where Angels Fear to Tread’ may be available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play, depending on your region. To find current availability, search on these platforms.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Where Angels Fear to Tread, you might like these similar films:

• A Room with a View (1985): A direct comparison also based on an E.M. Forster novel, featuring English characters encountering romance and culture clash in Italy, with similar themes of societal restraint versus personal freedom and featuring Helena Bonham Carter and Rupert Graves.
• Howard’s End (1992): Another acclaimed E.M. Forster adaptation focusing on class, inheritance, and changing social values in Edwardian England, produced around the same time and also featuring Helena Bonham Carter.
• A Passage to India (1984): Based on another E.M. Forster novel, exploring the cultural misunderstandings and tensions between English visitors and the native population, albeit set in India, and featuring Judy Davis.
• Sense and Sensibility (1995): A popular adaptation of a classic British novel (Jane Austen) set in a similar period, dealing with social conventions, family pressures, and emotional expression, representing the broader ‘heritage film’ trend of the 1990s.
• Call Me By Your Name (2017): A modern film set in rural Italy during a summer, exploring themes of emotional awakening, cultural immersion, and the contrast between reserved personalities and a more expressive, passionate environment, echoing the transformative power of Italy on the English characters.

🛒 Where Angels Fear to Tread Related Products

• E.M. Forster’s Where Angels Fear to Tread (Penguin Classics): Read the acclaimed novel that inspired the film. Dive deeper into Forster’s nuanced portrayal of Edwardian society clashing with Italian life.
• Italian Cooking Made Easy: Classic Recipes: Bring a taste of the Italian setting into your home. Learn to make classic dishes inspired by the vibrant culture depicted in the film.
• Edwardian Fashion and Society: A Visual History: Explore the detailed fashion and social customs of the Edwardian era as seen through the English characters in the movie.
• Where Angels Fear to Tread DVD/Blu-ray: Own the beautiful film adaptation to revisit the stunning scenery and powerful performances whenever you like.

🎧 Soundtrack

Where Angels Fear to Tread features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Lucy Honeychurch Arrives in Florence” – performed by Rachel Portman
• “Room with a View (Where Angels Fear to Tread)” – performed by Luciano Pavarotti
• “Opera in Florence” – performed by Pietro Mascagni
• “Philip and Caroline” – performed by Rachel Portman
• “Italy vs. England” – performed by Rachel Portman

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Princess Diana at premiere of “Where Angels Fear to Tread”

Okay, get this – Princess Diana actually attended the premiere for ‘Where Angels Fear to Tread’! It’s wild to see this snippet of royalty stepping out for the film back in 1991.

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