Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

I studied the book by Edith Wharton in my American Literature Class about a year ago. The movie came to the theater right after we read the novel, but living in a small town I had to wait until the movie came out to rent to watch it. I enjoyed the book immensely and could not wait to see the film. I was somewhat disappointed in the film's adaptation of the novel.

Although many of the scenes are present that took place in the novel with their original dialogue, they are spliced together sometimes missing scenes in-between. One noticeable scene splice is the wedding of Percy Gryce and the showing where Lily is displayed as a painting. The appear almost to be one scene instead of two.

This movie also misses many of the issues that are present in the novel. The fact that Lily is an object de art is there for only a fleeting moment in the painting scene. The fact that she is an innocent with no mother to back her and her sense of right and wrong, her moral sense, conflicts with the business sense of the women around her. These women continue to use her and that is shown, but she looks like a fool. This movie also makes Seldon look better than he was. He is directly responsible for what happens to Lily at the end. He has every opportunity to save her and he fails her. She loves him and would marry him. In the novel the scene after the opera where he is supposed to come see her, it is evident that he is going to ask her to marry him then, but he sees her with Gus and decides she is no good. The is ghostly implemented in the film, but only to someone who has read the novel. Another thing I had a problem with is Lily steals the sleeping medication in the movie. She is given it early in the novel by a druggist and does not have to steal it.

There is also one character who is left totally out of the film. Gerty who is Seldon's cousin has what Lily so desires, her independence. Gerty pays a price for it that Lily is not willing to pay, poverty. It is through Gerty that we see the vulnerable, softer and more generous side of Lily and this is left out of the film. Gerty was Lily's friend and her roles are incompletely taken over by other characters, such as Grace.

The acting was well done. Gillian Anderson does an excellent job as Lily, her face has such a range of expression. Eric Stoltz was an excellent choice for aloof Seldon.

The script is well done mostly taken out of the novel, its just the missing scenes and the introspection that make the novel so good. The movie magnifies Lily's flaws, and gilds Seldon's so please do not judge the book by the movie. The novel presents a heartbreaking story that is a commentary on the upper social class of Wharton's time. The movie just seems to be a heartbreaking love story. I did enjoy this film, it is a good film, just not a great representation of The House of Mirth.

DVD: The DVD has a couple of neat features. It has some missing scenes that were helpful. It has Filmographies of the actors, and you can turn on director commentary.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12