The Inheritance (1997)

People are voting emotionally.

Excellent but underrated film

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Who says that there has never been a class system in America? Miss Edith Adelon is a poor orphan who was adopted by Henry Otis Hamilton, a wealthy American landowner in New England. Hamilton took pity on the foundling child at the time of the death of his brother in Italy. Years later, a personal drama plays out on the Evenswood estate at a time when Edith is forced to make life-changing decisions as a young adult. In the process, she faces hostility because of the low standing of her birth that makes her an outsider in the class-conscious world of nineteenth-century New England.Based on the Louisa May Alcott novel, this made-for-television film beautifully captures the period of post-Civil War New England. The costumes and the photography of Evenswood are superb, and the performances (especially Cari Shayne as Edith) are uniformly excellent.Above all, it is the overall feeling that is captured by the performers that makes "The Inheritance" an engrossing experience of charm and sentiment. Tom Conti is excellent as Henry Otis Hamilton, who recognizes the potential of the young orphan, entrusting Edith to ride in the Green Cup and to humiliate his stuffy neighbor, Arlliss Johnson, when she wins the race. Somehow, Edith's ability with horses appears to be in her blood. There is also a villain in the piece. But it is not a stereotypical melodramatic mustache-twirling blackmailer, but the catty Miss Ida Glenshaw, who will stop at nothing in order to ruin the life of Edith. The most outrageous moment is the theft of the family jewelry that is planted in the bedchamber of Edith by Miss Glenshaw.The love interest in the story is Jane Austen-like in the evolving relationship of Edith and the dashing Mr. Percy, whose bleeding heart from an earlier romance is mended by the kindness of the orphan. It would not be an overstatement to suggest that upon their first meeting, when she pulls out her handkerchief to wipe blood from his cheek, love will conquer all. But that will depend on unlocking the mysterious past of the orphan in which a long lost letter is discovered to reveal the truth about her lineage.One of the nice touches of the film was the use of captions alongside the characters prior to the closing credits. Miss Amy Hamilton, the bookish daughter, goes to college and becomes a suffragette. Miss Glenshaw makes a smooth transition into becoming a spinster and spending time in a correction facility. And, of course, all obstacles are removed for the "perfect" relationship of Mr. Percy and Miss Adelon.

Actually, it is on DVD & video; http://www.familytv.com/title_ado.asp?SID9914834237&PID50. Men might not get excited about this film, but ladies will. It's easy to see why this one of Miss Alcot's books didn't make it to the screen earlier; it isn't in the league of Little Women, Little Men or An Old Fashoned Girl. Why Eight Cousens was skipped over, I don't know... too long? The ending isn't quite as predictable as I expected, but one could expect her eventual acceptance into the upper crust. It's more than just a 'love conquors all' movie; there's lots of social commentary and some real idea of how stratified western society used to be... or did it really change? All in all worth at least one watch.

I had read the book "The Inheritance" by Louisa May Alcott a few months before the movie came out. I was absolutely in love with the book and was pleased hear about the movie. I counted down the days and finally got a chance to watch it. Its a wonderful adaptation of the book. Louisa M. Alcott wrote this story when she was only 17 years old and never attempted to publish it. I'm so happy that it was found and that the movie was made...... Cari Shayne is amazing as Edith Adelon and Thomas Gibson is the perfect person to play Lord James Percy. If you like period films, like I do, you will love this movie. And if your favorite book is Little Women then you must read and watch the Inheritance (book/movie)......

The Inheritance is one of the best movies my family and I have ever seen. I feel as though I've looked everywhere for a copy of the video in vain. We recorded it when CBS presented it as a Kraft Premier Movie in 1997. We've probably seen it 15 to 20 times since then. If anyone has any idea how I can buy this movie, please let me know!Cari Shayne did a beautiful job of portraying Edith A Hamilton. I'm disappointed I haven't seen her in more movies!I recommend this movie to everyone who appreciates a good, clean plot.