I consider this to be one of her best performances. I think my favorite scenes are her scenes. I just wish she was in more of the film. I love the beginning when she is walking in the twilight through the beautiful landscape and looking into the windows. I just love all of her scenes.
I think this and "Blow Up" are her best films.
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I love her in this movie too!
The patient's screaming disturbing me, performed removal of vocal chords. ~Zombie Holocaust
The following was posted sometime ago but its worth repeating here.
Referring to the scene in the Schlegel's dining room, when Ruth Wicox says, " I for one am grateful not to have the vote"! One has to smile watching this greatest of actresses and a champion of feminism utter these words. She was so good, that it never dawned on me until someone on this board brought it to my attention. The cast and crew must have gotten a chuckle out of it too.
Have you all seen Atonement? She is only in the very end of that one, but she is tremendously affecting. You have to watch the whole film for it to work, though.
SHe's a great actress.
"For the last time honey, there are no pirahannas in- MY BUTT!"- Tarzan
Absolutely. It was another memorable screen moment from VR. Overwhelming it was; and what makes it all the more moving was Anthony Minghella playing the interviewer. Two great screen voices at once!!
Love Redgrave, but she did nothing substantial in "Howards End" but wear fancy coat outfits and speak in hush whisper tones. We've seen her do this before. So glad Marisa Tomei won for "My Cousin Vinny" over her. SO Glad.
shareI echo everyone's raves about Vanessa's performance in this picture. Of all her performances, her Ruth Wilcox may be the most sublime.
BTW Jayson, you're an opaque moron.
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JaysonT, you have GOT to be kidding. Marisa Tomei over Vanessa Redgrave?????
I don't care how small VR's part was in Howards End. It was FAR, FAR, FAR superior to Tomei's. Tomei stomped her foot and did a New Jersey accent. Vanessa Redgrave's performance was pitch perfect. She plays "weak" SO well.
There's no comparison between the two, and Vanessa was robbed of an Oscar.
I love her in everything. I especially admire how she carries her body in this...you can tell she's sick and weak (without overdoing it) from the opening shots.
Interestingly, she first turned the role down, according to the bonus features on the DVD. The producer asked what she didn't like about it, and she said for one thing, she thought she should get more money. He asked her whether if he doubled the financial offer she'd do it, and she said Yes.
She has one of the most amazing screen presences ever I think. And love that voice.
"They're all gonna laugh at you!"
"Because of my dirty pillows,ma?"
Sometimes it can actually be more effective for a role to be very brief. She sets the tone for the whole film. Some might disagree with me, but I see a similar thing operating in the film, Fried Green Tomatoes. [SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!] The Chris O'Donnel character, Buddy, is only in the film for a few minutes, but the character infuses the whole film, his death is the emotional break that drives the whole plot. So that character sticks with you even if appearing only briefly. The same is true of Ruth Wilcox in Howards End. I think it is a very clever literary device: the author causes us to feel the lack of that character - put otherwise, we are made to miss them and wish that they were there longer. But their lack, the fact that they are missing, makes them a presence throughout the story.
shareanother good post from you, mark. Yes, you still clearly feel the presence of Ruth Wilcox throughout the film. And, you have to assume that, even though Margaret was far more the "feminist" in this film than Ruth was, they would have become and remained the absolute best of friends. Who needs that husband Henry when you have a great girlfriend as Ruth or Margaret. Yes, I just love the whole irony of it...SPOLERS...Ruth wills her house to Margaret, it's kept from Margaret in secret from her new husband, Margaret gets what Ruth always wanted to give her in the end.
Vanessa Redgrave was absolutely superb in this film, and I do wish that she were in more of it. I'd love to see another film with both Emma and Vanessa, with substantial parts for both. Howards End was clearly Emma's film all the way, IMHO. She was absolutely magnificent with every word, every gesture.
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