Happy birthday, Howard

tHIS is not a new version of e.M. Forster’s 1910 novel about class and social conventions in edwardian england, and thank goodness for that, because it’s impossible to imagine a better adaptation than this 1992 MerchantIvory version, which has been digitally restored ahead of a welcome 25th anniversary re-release.

A starry British cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter (above), Sam West, Prunella Scales, James Wilby and emma thompson, who won a Best Actress Oscar, as did Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, for Best Adapted Screenplay.

thompson is superb as kindly Margaret Schlegel, whose genteel An g l o - German family are drawn into the orbit of the much wealthier Wilcoxes. From there, the plot thickens, like the most delicious clotted cream. director James Ivory keeps the film gently comedic for much of the time, until tragedy begins to swirl. It’s beautifully done, with a raft of brilliant performances.

If you’ve never seen it, or haven’t for years, then you’re in for a treat.