| Widows' Peak | |
|---|---|
 Video release poster | |
| Directed by | John Irvin |
| Written by | Hugh Leonard Tim Hayes |
| Produced by | Jo Manuel |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ashley Rowe |
| Edited by | Peter Tanner |
| Music by | Carl Davis |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors |
Release date | 13 May 1994 |
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Countries | Ireland United Kingdom |
| Languages | English Irish |
| Box office | $6.5 million (US/UK) |
Widows' Peak is a 1994 British-Irish mystery film directed by John Irvin and starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright, Natasha Richardson, Adrian Dunbar and Jim Broadbent.[1] The film is based on an original screenplay by Hugh Leonard and Tim Hayes.
Story
In the 1920s, just after the First World War, in a small rural Irish village named Kilshannon, Edwina Broome, a young American war widow, has moved into the neighbourhood known as "Widows' Peak", named for the prevalent marital status of the residents, who are a rather exclusive group of middle-aged widows. All of the residents are curious about their new neighbour, Edwina, but information is not available about her, even for the leader of the place, Mrs. Doyle Counihan, whose son, Godfrey, is busy attempting to attract Edwina. The local spinster Miss Katherine O'Hare and Edwina immediately dislike each other, however, and soon some accidental encounters begin to look like Edwina is trying to ruin her new rival. The problems escalate and the town is in an uproar, but they get no closer to solving the mystery of the newcomer.[2]
Cast
- Mia Farrow as Miss Katherine O'Hare
- Joan Plowright as Mrs. Doyle-Counihan
- Natasha Richardson as Mrs. Edwina Broome
- Adrian Dunbar as Godfrey Doyle-Counihan
- Jim Broadbent as Con Clancy
- Anne Kent as Miss Grubb
- John Kavanagh as Canon Murtagh
- Rynagh O'Grady as Maddie O'Hara
- Gerard McSorley as Gaffney
Production notes
The film was mainly shot on location in the counties of Wicklow, Dublin and Kilkenny. The house used during production was that of Stonehurst, Killiney Hill Road, County Dublin. The concept for the film came from its co-producer Prudence Farrow. While it had been intended for her mother Maureen O'Sullivan to play the role of Miss O'Hare, the part went to O'Sullivan's daughter and Prudence's sister Mia Farrow. O'Sullivan declined the part due to her advanced age and dwindling stamina.
Set in the 1920s, the film's period wardrobe needs were handled by Angels and Bermans as well as Costumi d'Arte and European Costume Company. Consolata Boyle was the costume designer.
Reception
The film was well received by critics and the public. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said, the film "uses understated humor and fluent, witty speech; it's a delight to listen to, as it gradually reveals how eccentric these apparently respectable people really are."[3]
The film grossed $0.3 million in the United Kingdom and Ireland and $6.2 million in the United States and Canada.[4][5]
Awards
In 1995, the actress Natasha Richardson received the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic, for her role in this film. The director, John Irvin, was also nominated for this award. It received the best picture award at the 1995 Austin Film Festival.
Year-end lists
- 8th – Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times[6]
- 8th – Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune[7]
- 9th – Douglas Armstrong, The Milwaukee Journal[8]
- Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Jimmy Fowler, Dallas Observer[9]
- Top 10 Runner-ups – Bob Ross, The Tampa Tribune[10]
- Best "sleepers" (not ranked) – Dennis King, Tulsa World[11]
- Honorable mention – Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News[12]
- Honorable mention – Todd Anthony, Miami New Times[13]
- Honorable mention – Duane Dudek, Milwaukee Sentinel[14]
- Honorable mention – Bob Carlton, The Birmingham News[15]
References in popular culture
- The character Doug from the TV series of the same name referenced the film in a daydream where he was a bodybuilder.
- The character Blossom Russo from the show Blossom goes to see Widow's Peak with her stepmother Carol in the episode "Writing the Wrongs".
Notes
- ↑ The Irish Filmography 1896–1996; Dublin: Red Mountain Press, 1996. p.207
- ↑ Ed Sutton. "Widows' Peak Summary". IMDb.
- ↑ "Widows' Peak". rogerebert.com. 25 May 1994.
- ↑ "Top 10 Rank films in UK 1994". Screen International. 11 April 1997. p. 16.
- ↑ Widows' Peak at Box Office Mojo
- ↑ Turan, Kenneth (25 December 1994). "1994: YEAR IN REVIEW : No Weddings, No Lions, No Gumps". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ↑ P. Means, Sean (1 January 1995). "'Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same". The Salt Lake Tribune (Final ed.). p. E1.
- ↑ Armstrong, Douglas (1 January 1995). "End-of-year slump is not a happy ending". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 2.
- ↑ Zoller Seitz, Matt (12 January 1995). "Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites". Dallas Observer.
- ↑ Ross, Bob (30 December 1994). "1994 The Year in Entertainment". The Tampa Tribune (Final ed.). p. 18.
- ↑ King, Dennis (25 December 1994). "SCREEN SAVERS in a Year of Faulty Epics, The Oddest Little Movies Made The Biggest Impact". Tulsa World (Final Home ed.). p. E1.
- ↑ Lovell, Glenn (25 December 1994). "The Past Picture Show the Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- a Year Worth's of Movie Memories". San Jose Mercury News (Morning Final ed.). p. 3.
- ↑ Anthony, Todd (5 January 1995). "Hits & Disses". Miami New Times.
- ↑ Dudek, Duane (30 December 1994). "1994 was a year of slim pickings". p. 3.
- ↑ Carlton, Bob (29 December 1994). "It Was a Good Year at Movies". The Birmingham News. p. 12-01.