The Age of Innocence 1993
Edith Wharton's ironically titled novel of 19th century New York, The Age of Innocence, won her the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the first time that a woman won that award. The classic novel here is realized in an equally classic manner by Martin Scorsese, a director one would expect to be more at home with his usual films of urban crime than in 19th century drawing rooms.

Wayland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) has just become engaged to May Welland (Winona Ryder). They live in quite straitlaced New York uppercrust society, where societal custom and influence control everything. Their staid way of life is disrupted, however, with the return to America of May's cousin Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), a free-spirited woman who carries on with lovers despite remaining married to the dissolute count. Before long, Archer finds himself falling deeply in love with Ellen, and must face the possible ostracism and scorn that would surely follow if he acts upon his desires.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Romance

BD50 + 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 02:18:38 | 46.2 Gb + 12.4 Gb rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

Martin Scorsese - in this brand new filmed conversation, Martin Scorsese discusses the conception and production history of The Age of Innocence with writer and filmmaker Kent Jones. The Oscar-winning director also mentions some of the period films that had an enormous impact on him over the years as he studied human behavior and ultimately led to his decision to adapt Edith Wharton's popular novel (The Moon and Sixpence, The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Letter from an Unknown Woman, The Leopard). The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in New York in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080p).

Jay Cocks - in this brand new video interview, screenwriter Jay Cocks discusses some of the main themes from Edith Wharton's popular novel and how they are retained in The Age of Innocence (the original script was apparently completed in seventeen days), the period look and atmosphere of the city that is recreated in the film and what it might have felt like to live there, as well his interactions with Martin Scorsese and the research that they did together. (Years later, the two gentlemen also collaborated on Gangs of New York and Silence). The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in New York in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

Dante Ferretti - in this new filmed conversation, production designer Dante Ferretti recalls his initial encounter with Martin Scorsese and discusses his contribution to The Age of Innocence with Antonio Monda, artistic director of the Rome Film Festival. Before he was contracted Dante Ferretti was not familiar with Edith Wharton's novel, and when he started working on the film he used only the original script. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in Rome in 2017. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (20 min, 1080p).

Gabriella Pescucci - in this new filmed conversation, award-winning costume designer Gabriella Pescucci discusses her preparation work and contribution to The Age of Innocence with Antonio Monda. There are also some interesting comments about Martin Scorsese's expectations and suggestions before and during the product6ion process, as well as the impact that Luchino Visconti's great period film have had on him. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in Rome in 2017. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (19 min, 1080p).

Innocence and Experience - this archival documentary on the making of The Age of Innocence was produced and directed by Laura Davis and originally aired on HBO in 1993. The documentary combines clips from interviews with cast members in which they address their characters and some of the dilemmas that they face, comments from Martin Scorsese about the period style and atmosphere of the film, and raw footage from the shooting of various sequences. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080i).

Trailer - original U.S. trailer for The Age of Innocence. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).