Period drama fans are in for a treat with this eighties Oscar-winning film that has just arrived on Channel 4’s streaming platform.
The drama is not only based on a cherished British novel, but it also features Downton Abbey legend Dame Maggie Smith, who sadly passed away in September 2024.
She starred alongside two-time Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter and Oscar winner Dame Judi Dench. We’re of course talking about A Room with a View, which is now available to stream for free.
Originally released in 1985, the story is adapted from E. M Forster’s romance novel of the same name.
Directed by James Ivory, it follows Lucy Honeychurch (Bonham Carter), a young woman who travels to Italy with her chaperone Charlotte (Smith). In Florence, Lucy finds herself attracted to free-spirited bachelor George Emerson (portrayed Julian Sands).
However, once she returns to England, she plans to settle down with wealthy gentleman Cecil Vyse (played by Daniel Day-Lewis). But when George re-enters her life, Lucy is forced to choose between the two, reports the Mirror.
With such a star-studded cast, it’s no surprise A Room with a View received widespread acclaim. The adaptation was nominated for eight Oscars, including a nod in the Best Picture category.
Dame Smith also earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while Ivory was shortlisted for the Best Director award. The film ultimately won three Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
The drama was met with high praise from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a rare 100% rating. Casual film-goers were also singing its praises on the movie-rating platform.
One viewer wrote: “Such a beautiful movie, most definitely one of my new favourites. The acting, the scenery, the music, the whole atmosphere of the film is complete perfection.”
Another added: “Sheer perfection. The most phenomenal acting from start to finish. Beautiful cinematography and production design. Breath-taking music. If only films were made to this inspiring standard today, as a rule. It is a masterclass in every way.”
An IMDb user described the drama as “flawlessly made and utterly delightful,” while another stated: “The rarest of great novel adaptations – a film that’s better than the book.”
The same fan continued: “No disrespect to the achingly elegant prose of E.M. Forster, but the last chapter of his novel simply cannot compare to this film’s last shot. As for the rest of this brilliant adaptation, it is populated with actors so perfectly cast it’s as if they’d been invented for the roles.”
A Room with a View is now streaming on Channel 4
