The Wings of the Dove

The Wings of the Dove is yet another adaptation of one of Henry James's novels. They have been filmed in great numbers over the years, which is a little odd, for there is not much that is tangible about James's novels, quite the contrary. This should apply especially to The Wings of the Dove, but whether the director Iain Softley and the screenwriter Hossein Amini have managed to carry the spirit of the book over into the film, I cannot say, as I have not read the book. The film in itself has turned out a watchable drama, whose visuals are about as elegant as those Jane Campion served up in "Portrait of a Lady".

The film is set in 1910. The poor but pretty and intelligent Kate Croy is the protégée of her wealthy aunt Maud, who is determined to marry her niece off well, i.e. richly. Kate is all too aware that she could not bear a life of poverty. It is therefore unfortunate that she loves the handsome but not particularly well-off journalist Merton Denscher. Only when the rich heiress Milly Theale comes to London does Kate glimpse a way out. Milly, you see, is captivated by Merton, whom Kate introduces as a good friend and nothing more. If Kate can get Merton to pretend to be in love with Milly, they stand a chance of getting hold of some of her money, for the young, life-loving lady is mortally ill.

It is a cynical game that Kate and Merton play, not least because they both come to sympathise with Milly. In fact, Kate and Milly become best friends, while Merton only realises what Milly means to him after her death. The ending is chilling, for while everything has gone according to the scheming plan, the love between Merton and Kate has died.