The Age of Innocence (1934 film)

The Age of Innocence (1934) is an American drama film directed by Philip Moeller and starring Irene Dunne, John Boles and Lionel Atwill. The film is an adaptation of the novel The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, set in the fashionable New York society of the 1870s. Prolific on Broadway, Philip Moeller directed only two films: this, and the 1935 Break of Hearts with Katharine Hepburn.

Contents

• The age of innocence trailer 1993 hq
• Plot summary
• Cast
• Reception
• References

The novel was also adapted in a 1924 silent film version starring Beverly Bayne and a 1993 film version that starred Michelle Pfeiffer. A 1928 Broadway stage adaptation starred Katharine Cornell.

Plot summary

At his 1875 engagement party, the wealthy Newland Archer (John Boles) is surprised to meet his childhood friend Ellen (Irene Dunne), beautiful and grown up and now Countess Olenska. Olenska is the cousin of his fiancee May (Julie Haydon) and is considered scandalous by the strait-laced society of the time. Newland, however, treats her well and sends her two dozen yellow roses. Olenska turns to Newland for advice about a possible divorce.

Cast

Irene Dunne as Countess Ellen Olenska

John Boles as Newland Archer

Lionel Atwill as Julius Beaufort

Helen Westley as Granny Manson Mingott

Laura Hope Crews as Augusta Welland

Julie Haydon as May Welland

Herbert Yost as Howard Welland

Theresa Maxwell Conover as Mrs Archer

Edith Van Cleve as Jane Archer

Leonard Carey as Jasper, the Butler

Reception

The film was a box office disappointment.