Howards End

Hopkins won an Oscar for his grinning Hannibal Lecter, then only days later, his American fans were treated to this exquisite E.M. Forster adaptation, the peak of Merchant Ivory’s productions. Literary cinema was no doubt the victor. Howards End is a triumph of early-’90s good-taste moviemaking, replete with deft turns by multiple Redgraves and a keening score. More than any of their recent contemporary releases, Criterion’s deluxe two-disc set is significant, correcting a case of cultural amnesia. The package is loaded with behind-the-scenes material and tributes.

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