HB-C Full On Naked. Like, Not Even a Bra : Movies Set in the Gilded Age

 

Here are 11 movies set near or in the Gilded Age.  Only five of them are not Henry James or Edith Wharton adaptations.

11 - The Buccaneers (1995) / (2023) - The new adaptation of Edith Wharton's unfinished last novel premieres November 8th 2023 on Apple TV. The 1995 miniseries features Allison Elliott in her first appearance on this list. The Buccaneers tells the story of the penny princesses going to Europe to find love -  we already know what happens with that. The new version looks modern and FEMINIST.

10 - Hester Street (1975) - I have never heard of this film, but Carol Kane was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. This film does not feature social climbers and schemers, instead the film looks at Jewish immigrants in Gilded Age New York city.

9 - Heaven Can Wait (1943) - A Millionaire Playboy steals his cousin's fiance (but it's okay because his cousin is a dick) then pretends to steal his son's girlfriend to get her away from him. Oh yeah, this is the story that will get him into heaven. Simpler times I guess.

8 - Ragtime - adapted from E. L. Doctorow's novel, Ragtime is set a little past the Gilded Age (1902 - 1912), but deals with the same issues - class and wealth disparity, immigration, prejudice against African Americans. Ragtime became a film in 1981, and a Broadway musical in 1997. Leah "Just sit and puttah" Michelle played little girl, and queen Audra McDonald played Sarah. Elizabeth McGovern, the embodiment of all penny princesses, played Evelyn Nesbitt in the 1981 film - her first appearance  of three on this list.

7 - Hello Dolly (1969) - based on a play based on a play, then revised into another play, then a movie, then a musical, then a film of that musical. (I'm tired just writing that sentence!) Hello Dolly was offered to Ethel Merman and Mary Martin but both turned it down. Trouper Carol Channing donned the big hat and made a match with Tony. In 1969 Barbra Streisand (of Funny Girl fame) wore multi-colored feathers for the film adaptation. In 1890 Dolly Levi, (a widowed Jewish Minnie Padget) comes to New York to make a match for Horace Vandergelder (least sexy name ever!) High-jinx ensued, songs were sung, and everyone ended up exactly how they should end up. The story isn't exactly one of Gilded Age struggle or a diatribe on the damage excess wealth can do - but - Barbra Streisand in a big hat belting out Broadway classics!

6 - The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) - adapted from a Booth Tarkington play, the Magnificent Ambersons is not a story of Gilded Age New York City, but tells of the midwestern family of that era. RKO took the film from Orson Welles and re-edited it to have a happier ending. Well, it was 1942 and World War II was raging, but come on RKO - did you not see Citizen Kane? Don't tell a genius not to genius like he geniuses!

5 - The Portrait of a Lady (1996) - Henry James is here! This is this the first of three novels of his on this list. Isabel Archer is pretty but picky. Isabel is given money so she can be independent - she don't need no ring from no man - which of course means people want to set her up. Not going to spoil the story but the film stars Nicole Kidman and Jane Campion directed.

4 - The Wings of the Dove (1997) - remember how I said Elizabeth McGovern and Allison Elliott would return? This film is it! This one gives us an Edwardian story (that's England's late Gilded Age.) Down-at-heel former society girl Kate Croy (Helena Bonham-Carter) must marry well (code for ka-ching-rich husband) but loves a poor journalist Merton Densher.  Kate meets Millie Theale, a wealthy American heiress (Allison Elliot) and her companion (Elizabeth McGovern.) Kate turns the tables by making her boyfriend the bait for a rich girl (a common theme in James' work.) Again no spoilers, but the film features vintage Helena Bonham-Carter. Naked. Doing sex on a man. God bless you Henry James!

3 - The Heiress / Washington Square (1997) - Henry James again. That rich white man knew how to write frustrated ladies! This time romance is not encouraged - but love will find a way ... or will it? Washington Square's story predates The Gilded Age (1840) but dollar bills is dollar bills whether you got them in 1840, 1890, or 2023. Catherine Sloper is plain (old timey for not Kendall or Kylie Jenner.)  Her dad is a dick, calls her ugly, etc. Then a hot dude, Morris Townsend, slides into her DMs. He flirts, she's like WTF? I'm plain! But the two flirt and begin to court (old timey for meet IRL) Her dad thinks he's a fortune hunter and forbids Morris and Catherine from ever Netflixing and chilling. Catherine goes to Europe for a year (cause that's just what you did back then.) Upon Catherine arriving home Morris ends the relationship and is unclear as to why, but money may be at the root of his decision. Again no spoilers. The 1949 film - directed by William Wyler stars Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift - de Havilland won an Oscar. The 1997 version offers Jennifer Jason Leigh and Dame Maggie Smith. (Which my phone's voice recognition made into Dave Maggie Smith.  I hope she reads this and changes her name immediately.)

2 - The House of Mirth (2000) - E W's back again, doing a little East Coast swing. Lily Bart goes from the height to the depths of society, forcing audience to ask is it really worth the struggle, the rejection, the rumors, just to be a part of society? Lily stays a lady even after the worst of accusations to her character. Gillian Anderson is stunning as Lily and Eric Stoltz - world's hottest ginger - is love interest Lawrence Seldon. Sucker for a corset Elizabeth McGovern also appears.

1 - The Age of Innocence (1993) - Scorsese : Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear -  violence, and De Niro. That guy directed a lush, vibrant, gorgeous film full of flowers, beautiful clothes, parasols, and fans. Scorsese stayed faithful to the novel, changing only one thing - in the novel May is fair and blonde, and Ellen is dark. Scorsese reversed that with Winona Ryder as May and Michelle Pfeiffer as Ellen which, sorry E. W., works so much better. I want to do a blog entry on the novel so I won't say too much here - but at the Beaufort Ball Mrs. Beaufort stands under a portrait of herself while greeting her guests just like a certain GA Society Queen (Edith Wharton's father and Lina Astor were first cousins)

Whether you like stories of immigrants struggling for a foothold in the new world, outsized chapeaus and show tunes, or second gen British acting legends topless, this list has something for any film fan.