The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence is not the only costume drama or period piece made by Martin Scorsese, but it is his only classic literature adaptation and it shows a different side of this filmmaker who is known for edgy violence and cinematic energy. Adapted from Edith Wharton’s 1920 novel and set in 19th-century New York City, this 1993 film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer, a respected lawyer and respectable member of elite society who is engaged to the beautiful young May (Winona Ryder) but falls in love with her cousin, the worldly Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). Some have suggested that the film’s presentation of the ruthless rules of conduct of high society serves as a companion to the more volatile and physical codes of Scorsese’s gangster movies. That may be true, but here the director adopts a subtle, nuanced style to the dialogue, where conversation is akin to verbal dueling over what characters mean but never actually say. Along the way, Scorsese pays tribute to filmmakers Max Ophüls and Luchino Visconti, and to William Wyler’s The Heiress and Orson Welles’s The Magnificent Ambersons. Arguably Scorsese’s most overlooked masterpiece, one hopes that the Criterion stamp of approval will help audiences discover it anew. Extras include new interviews with Scorsese, screenwriter Jay Cocks, production designer Dante Ferrerri, and costume designer Gabriella Pescucci, as well as an archival behind-the-scenes featurette, and a booklet. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)