The House of Mirth – Film Version

July 26, 2007 /


A few months ago, I read The House of Mirth as part of my Winter Classics Reading Challenge. I heard good things about the film, so I added it to my netflix queue. You all know how it is with the queue, right? Things keep getting pushed up top, so something you intended to watch soon gets watched rather later than you had thought. I thought I would watch The House of Mirth soonish after reading the book, but things like Big Love got in the way. Anyway, it finally came last week, and while Maya and Ted washed the dog and had a swim on Sunday, I watched the movie. I have to say, they did an amazing job with this film, and I wish I had seen it on the big screen back in 2000.

If you don’t know the story, go read my review of the book (the first link). Gillian Anderson was perfect as Lily Bart, and Eric Stoltz was perfect in his role as Lawrence, her would-be-suitor, who is long on passion and love, and short on the one thing he needs to marry Lily. Cash. They brought these roles to life, brought to life the frustrations of people who believe themselves to be trapped by the conventions of society, and who must suffer under the rules that high society in New York at the turn of the last century impose upon them. Lily must marry, and she must marry well, in order to be accepted by society. Lawrence has a bit more freedom, as he is a man, and without the means to support himself at leisure, went to college and can practice law. As a women, Lily has no such hope.

(For some reason, writing this post, I’m reminded of Prince Charles.  How much better might things have turned out if he had been allowed to marry Camilla to begin with?  Maybe not for the gene pool of the Royal Family, but for all around happiness.  Seems the rules in the high and mighty set haven’t changed all together.)

The nuances of the film, and the book, like when Lily is trying to marry a man she has NO interest in whatsoever, except that his money would give her the freedom that she craves, has to pretend that she doesn’t smoke, because he loathes smoking. She has to deny who she is, in order to trap the poor man into marrying her. As in the book, the good sense that lurks beneath her flirtatious ways raises its head, and she blows her chances with him.

Dan Aykroyd is spectacularly creepy as a ‘friend’ who loans money to Lily, against her knowledge, and expects to be ‘paid in kind’. Laura Linney plays as Lily’s friend, but proves to be cruel and ruthless, and ultimately, her undoing. The film was every bit as sad as the book, which is high praise indeed.

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