Howards End (1992)

The adaptation is hailed as one of the finest conversions of a novel to cinema, with elegant period detail that supports extraordinarily convincing performances by Hopkins and Thompson while revealing grim insights into the upper middle classes.

The critic calls it a handsome, intelligent and witty Merchant Ivory adaptation with a perfect cast. Thompson is singled out as wonderful in a graceful, pacey and delightful period piece.

Ivory’s handsome and intelligent adaptation is a faithful, well-paced dramatization that benefits from luminous performances by Vanessa Redgrave and Emma Thompson. It succeeds as storytelling but lacks some of the novel’s deeper nuance and strain.

Surrender to this most assured motion picture with its remarkable acting, storytelling and plush richness; the Merchant-Ivory team has raised their work to a new level with impeccable performances, especially by Emma Thompson.

The critic praises the film's rigorous and troubling inquest into a bygone era of social and economic change, noting its faithful yet sharp adaptation that highlights class tensions and the shadow of modernity.

The critic calls the film just about the best Merchant Ivory production yet, praising its scrupulous handling of a complex plot, impeccable period detail, and standout performances, especially Anthony Hopkins as the rigid Henry Wilcox and Emma Thompson as the humane Margaret Schlegel.

The critic calls the film a sumptuous visual delight that is rich in texture and substance, praising the direction, adaptation, ensemble acting, and cinematography as cinematic bliss with strong Oscar potential.

The Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala team triumphs again with an entertaining, richly textured film translation of Forster's novel. It is a drawing-room war with Edwardian grace.