The Bostonians (DVD, 1998)

Vanessa Redgrave shines as Olive Chancellor in this 1984 movie of the early stages of the suffragette movement a decade after the Civil War. Christopher Reeve stars as her adversary and also her distant cousin from Mississippi Basil Ransom. Their conflict is over the beautiful Verena Tarrant (Madeleine Potter), a brilliant speechmaker about the equality of women and the need for women to have the right to vote. Olive wants to promote the cause and subtly possess Verena; Basil wants to make her his wife and remove her from the suffragette cause.

The movie bogs down in the conflict and becomes a little boring. But the beautiful cinematography and acting of the protagonists keeps the movie on track. Additional actors who are involved in the plot are Miss Birdseye (Jessica Tandy) and Dr. Prance (Linda Hunt).

In a subplot, a New York matron Mrs. Burrage (Nancy Marchand) is also interested in securing Verena for her son Henry, who is infatuated with her too.

This movie secured a Best Actress nomination for Vanessa Redgrave, but she did not win. It was also nominated for Best Costume Design.