The Age of Innocence
Movie, 1993, The '90s, Set in 1870s New York
The Age of Innocence is #14 of 26 in release order and #14 of 26 in chronological order in the Martin Scorsese.
The story
In 19th century New York high society, a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband, while he is engaged to the woman's cousin.
The Age of Innocence recap
The Age of Innocence (1993) follows Newland Archer, an engaged lawyer in 1870s New York society who falls for his fiancee's unconventional cousin. Martin Scorsese directs and co-wrote the script with Jay Cocks from Edith Wharton's 1920 novel, narrated by Joanne Woodward. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Newland, Winona Ryder plays his fiancee May Welland, and Michelle Pfeiffer plays Countess Ellen Olenska, who has left a cruel husband in Europe and returned to New York. Society shuns Ellen for her rumored past, and Newland helps restore her place by persuading the powerful van der Luydens to receive her. He finds her honesty about New York's hypocrisy thrilling. When she wants a divorce, the family asks him, as a lawyer, to talk her out of it to avoid scandal, and he does. Realizing he loves her, he pushes May to marry sooner, and confesses to Ellen, who refuses him. Their secret meetings continue after the wedding. It comes between Cape Fear and Casino in Scorsese's run of films.
The Age of Innocence ending explained
The Age of Innocence ends with Newland, now a widower, sitting on a bench in Paris below Ellen's apartment, decades later. Years earlier Ellen left for Europe after May told her, before she was sure herself, that she was pregnant; the whole family had quietly worked to separate them. His son Ted reveals that May knew, and that she said Newland gave up what he most wanted when she asked him. Newland says she never asked. He sends Ted up alone, watches her window, and walks away.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Age of Innocence has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence is streaming on Prime Video and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer
- Michelle Pfeiffer as Ellen Olenska
- Winona Ryder as May Welland
- Alexis Smith as Louisa van der Luyden
- Geraldine Chaplin as Mrs. Welland
- Jonathan Pryce as Rivière
- Richard E. Grant as Lawrence "Larry" Lefferts
- Alec McCowen as Sillerton Jackson
- Mary Beth Hurt as Regina Beaufort
- Stuart Wilson as Julius Beaufort
- Howard Erskine as Beaufort Guest
- John McLoughlin as Party Guest
Directed by Martin Scorsese.