The Age of Innocence
Directed byPhilip Moeller
Written byEdith Wharton (novel)
Margaret Ayer Barnes (play)
Screenplay bySarah Y. Mason
Victor Heerman
Based onThe Age of Innocence (1920 novel)
The Age of Innocence (1928 play)
Produced byPandro S. Berman
StarringIrene Dunne
John Boles
Lionel Atwill
Narrated byJohn Boles
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Edited byGeorge Hively
Music byMax Steiner (uncredited)
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
September 14, 1934
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Age of Innocence is a 1934 American drama film directed by Philip Moeller and starring Irene Dunne, John Boles and Lionel Atwill.[1] The film is an adaptation of the 1920 novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, set in the fashionable New York society of the 1870s. Prolific on Broadway, Philip Moeller directed only two films: this, and the 1935 Break of Hearts with Katharine Hepburn.

The novel was also adapted in a 1924 silent film version starring Beverly Bayne and a 1993 film version that starred Michelle Pfeiffer. A 1928 Broadway stage adaptation starred Katharine Cornell.[2]

Premise

At his 1875 engagement party, the wealthy Newland Archer (John Boles) is surprised to meet his childhood friend Ellen (Irene Dunne), beautiful and grown up and now Countess Olenska. Olenska is the cousin of his fiancee May (Julie Haydon) and is considered scandalous by the strait-laced society of the time. Newland, however, treats her well and sends her two dozen yellow roses. Olenska turns to Newland for advice about a possible divorce.[3]

Cast

Director Philip Moeller (seated center, holding eye-shade) on the set of The Age of Innocence. Assistant director Edward Killy (seated center foreground) rehearses actor John Boles (left); Irene Dunne is behind the lights, smiling down.

Reception

The film was a box-office disappointment.[4]

References

  1. ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | The AGE OF INNOCENCE (1934)". February 6, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06.
  2. ^ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/5810/The-Age-of-Innocence/articles.html[bare URL]
  3. ^ "The Age of Innocence (1934) - Philip Moeller, Phillip Moeller | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  4. ^ Churchill, Douglas W. The Year in Hollywood: 1934 May Be Remembered as the Beginning of the Sweetness-and-Light Era (gate locked); New York Times [New York, N.Y] 30 Dec 1934: X5. Retrieved December 16, 2013.

External links


Edith Wharton
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