Stars: Helena Bonham-Carter, Linus Roache, Alison Elliott, Elizabeth McGovern, Michael Gambon, Alex Jennings, Charlotte Rampling, Diana Kent, Ben Miles, Shirley Chantrell, Rachele Crisafulli, Alexander John, Georgio Serafini, Philip Wright

Director: Iain Softley

Summary: Kate falls in love with a penniless journalist named Merton. If she marries him she will live in poverty but if she gives him up she will receive her inheritance. There is, however, one option. Merton could seduce Millie, an American heiress, who is dying - but what if he loses his heart to Millie? Just how far will the lovers go...

A social-climbing young woman gains a foothold in the late Victorian upper crust by virtue of her wealthy and cultured aunt's social connections, but finds marriage to her true love, a poor hack journalist, incompatible with her new station. She cooks up a plan to use her lover to bilk a guileless and fabulously wealthy American woman of her considerable fortune, but putting the scheme into action sparks painful conflicting emotions. A sleek adaptation of the eponymous Henry James novel, with the source material's bitterness tempered by a more sympathetic characterization of its heroine. Academy Award nominations: 4, including Best Actress--Helena Bonham Carter; Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Cinematography.

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Queen of the costume drama Helena Bonham Carter finally got a chance to loosen her corset a bit with this exquisitely mounted (Sandy Powell's costumes were nominated for an Academy Award) romantic drama based on Henry James's classic novel.

Set in turn-of-the-century London and Venice, Wings of the Doveis a stately departure--more PBS than MTV--for Iain Softley, director of Hackersand the birth-of-the-Beatles biopic Backbeat. But there's enough romantic intrigue to perhaps fuel a week's worth of daytime TV talk shows: My Lover Seduced a Dying Heiress for Her Money.

Bonham Carter, who won several critics association honours for her performance (she was nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar as well) stars as Kate, who is engaged in a secret affair with Merton (Linus Roache), a journalist whose poor financial standing makes marriage impossible. Kate's manipulative aunt (Charlotte Rampling) threatens to disown her unless she marries the more suitable Lord Mark (Alex Jennings).

Opportunity--admittedly sordid--arrives in the form of Millie (Alison Elliott), an American heiress whom Kate befriends. When Kate learns that Millie is dying, she suggests to Merton that he seduce her to make her last days happy, and ensuring that Millie will leave Merton her money when she dies. Merton reluctantly agrees, just as Kate begins to have second thoughts that threaten to sabotage the scheme.

One of the most rapturously reviewed films in recent years, Wings of the Doveis a must-own video for the Merchant-Ivory crowd. But guys: don't dismiss this as a "chick flick". Beneath its Masterpiece Theatreexterior beats the wild and untamed heart of Dawson's Creek. --Donald Liebenson

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 2.35 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1997
Release Date:	June 15, 2006
Runtime:	98 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B E D 888281
Keywords:	General, Dove, Wings, Drama
Genre:	Drama