Widows' Peak

Widows' Peak is a 1994 British-Irish mystery film directed by John Irvin and starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright, Natasha Richardson, Adrian Dunbar and Jim Broadbent.[1] The film is based on an original screenplay by Hugh Leonard and Tim Hayes.

This article is about the 1994 Irish film. For other uses, see Widow's Peak (disambiguation).

Widows' Peak
Video release poster
Directed byJohn Irvin
Written byHugh Leonard
Tim Hayes
Produced byJo Manuel
Starring
CinematographyAshley Rowe
Edited byPeter Tanner
Music byCarl Davis
Distributed byRank Film Distributors
Release date
13 May 1994
Running time
101 minutes
CountriesIreland
United Kingdom
LanguagesEnglish
Irish
Box office$6,243,722

Story

In the 1920s, just after the First World War, in a small rural Irish village named Kilshannon, Edwina Broome, a young American war widow, has moved into the neighbourhood known as "Widows' Peak", named for the prevalent marital status of the residents, who are a rather exclusive group of middle-aged widows. All of the residents are curious about their new neighbour, Edwina, but information is not available about her, even for the leader of the place, Mrs. Doyle Counihan, whose son, Godfrey, is busy attempting to attract Edwina. The local spinster Miss Katherine O'Hare and Edwina immediately dislike each other, however, and soon some accidental encounters begin to look like Edwina is trying to ruin her new rival. The problems escalate and the town is in an uproar, but they get no closer to solving the mystery of the newcomer.[2]

Cast

Production notes

The film was mainly shot on location in the counties of Wicklow, Dublin and Kilkenny. The house used during production was that of Stonehurst, Killiney Hill Road, County Dublin. The concept for the film came from its co-producer Prudence Farrow. While it had been intended for her mother Maureen O'Sullivan to play the role of Miss O'Hare, the part went to O'Sullivan's daughter and Prudence's sister Mia Farrow. O'Sullivan declined the part due to her advanced age and dwindling stamina.

Set in the 1920s, the film's period wardrobe needs were handled by Angels and Bermans as well as Costumi d'Arte and European Costume Company. Consolata Boyle was the costume designer.

The film grossed $6.2 million in U.S. theatrical release.

Reception

The film was well received by critics and the public. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said, the film "uses understated humor and fluent, witty speech; it's a delight to listen to, as it gradually reveals how eccentric these apparently respectable people really are."[3]

Awards

In 1995, the actress Natasha Richardson received the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic, for her role in this film. The director, John Irvin, was also nominated for this award. It received the best picture award at the 1995 Austin Film Festival.

Year-end lists
  • The character Doug from the TV series of the same name referenced the film in a daydream where he was a bodybuilder.
  • The character Blossom Russo from the show Blossom goes to see Widow's Peak with her stepmother Carol in the episode "Writing the Wrongs".

Notes
  1. The Irish Filmography 1896–1996; Dublin: Red Mountain Press, 1996. p.207
  2. Ed Sutton. "Widows' Peak Summary". IMDb.
  3. "Widows' Peak". rogerebert.com. 25 May 1994.
  4. Turan, Kenneth (25 December 1994). "1994: YEAR IN REVIEW : No Weddings, No Lions, No Gumps". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. P. Means, Sean (1 January 1995). "'Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same". The Salt Lake Tribune (Final ed.). p. E1.
  6. Armstrong, Douglas (1 January 1995). "End-of-year slump is not a happy ending". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 2.
  7. Zoller Seitz, Matt (12 January 1995). "Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites". Dallas Observer.
  8. Ross, Bob (30 December 1994). "1994 The Year in Entertainment". The Tampa Tribune (Final ed.). p. 18.
  9. King, Dennis (25 December 1994). "SCREEN SAVERS in a Year of Faulty Epics, The Oddest Little Movies Made The Biggest Impact". Tulsa World (Final Home ed.). p. E1.
  10. Lovell, Glenn (25 December 1994). "The Past Picture Show the Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- a Year Worth's of Movie Memories". San Jose Mercury News (Morning Final ed.). p. 3.
  11. Anthony, Todd (5 January 1995). "Hits & Disses". Miami New Times.
  12. Dudek, Duane (30 December 1994). "1994 was a year of slim pickings". p. 3.
  13. Carlton, Bob (29 December 1994). "It Was a Good Year at Movies". The Birmingham News. p. 12-01.
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