It is honestly kind of a tragedy that when people talk about Henry James adaptations, they usually just default to the 1949 classic The Heiress. Don't get me wrong, Olivia de Havilland was a powerhouse. But there is something raw and almost uncomfortably real about the Washington Square 1997 cast that the older, more "Hollywood" versions just can't touch. Directed by Agnieszka Holland, this version didn't try to make the story pretty. It made it hurt.
The casting was a gamble. You had Jennifer Jason Leigh, who was already known for playing these gritty, intense, slightly off-kilter roles, stepping into the shoes of Catherine Sloper. Then you had Albert Finney, a literal titan of the stage and screen, playing the father from hell. It wasn't just a movie; it was a psychological cage match.
Jennifer Jason Leigh and the Art of Being Awkward
If you've seen the 1997 version, you know Catherine isn't the typical romantic lead. She’s clumsy. She’s quiet. She’s painfully aware that she isn't the "shining light" her father wanted. Jennifer Jason Leigh played her with this specific kind of heavy, labored breathing and a slumped posture that made you want to reach through the screen and give her a hug—or at least a stiff drink.
Most people don't realize how much Leigh committed to the physicality of the role. She didn't just act shy; she embodied the crushing weight of being "plain" in a society that only valued beauty and wit. It’s a performance that feels surprisingly modern. She’s basically every person who has ever felt like they didn't belong at a party, multiplied by the suffocating Victorian social codes of 19th-century New York.
The Men Who Ruined Catherine Sloper
Then there is Morris Townsend. Ben Chaplin took on the role of the suitor, and he played it with this slippery, charming ambiguity that keeps you guessing. Is he a gold digger? Probably. Does he actually feel something for her? Maybe? Chaplin’s Morris isn't a mustache-twirling villain. He’s just a man who wants a comfortable life and realizes Catherine’s bank account is the easiest way to get it.
The chemistry—or lack thereof—between Leigh and Chaplin is what makes the movie work. It’s awkward. It’s forced. You can see her desperation to believe him and his desperation to close the deal.
But the real monster in the Washington Square 1997 cast is Albert Finney as Dr. Austin Sloper. Finney was legendary for a reason. He doesn't play Sloper as a loud, screaming abuser. He plays him with a cold, intellectual cruelty that is much scarier. He’s a man who values logic and elegance above all else, and he views his own daughter as a personal failure because she possesses neither. The way Finney delivers his lines—sharply, like he’s dissecting a specimen—is enough to give anyone daddy issues.
Supporting Characters and the Washington Square Vibe
Maggie Smith as Aunt Lavinia Penniman is the secret weapon of this film. Let’s be real: Maggie Smith is a god-tier actress. In Washington Square, she provides the only bit of "color" in Catherine’s grey life, but she’s also incredibly dangerous. Lavinia is a romantic who lives vicariously through Catherine’s tragedy, pushing her toward Morris not because she cares about Catherine’s happiness, but because she wants to be part of a dramatic love story. Smith plays it with a fluttery, meddling energy that is both hilarious and deeply frustrating.
The rest of the cast filled out the world of 1840s New York with a stark, unromanticized realism.
- Judith Ivey as Elizabeth Almond: The "sane" aunt who tries to navigate the family madness.
- Jennifer Garner as Marian Almond: A very early role for her! She’s the foil to Catherine—bright, pretty, and exactly what Catherine is "supposed" to be.
- Robert Stanton as Arthur Townsend: Adding to the layers of social climbing and family expectations.
The movie didn't perform well at the box office. It was overshadowed by Titanic (which came out the same year) and a general exhaustion with period dramas. But looking back, the 1997 version feels much more "human" than its predecessors. It’s messy. The costumes aren't always flattering. The lighting is often dim and oppressive. It feels like a real house where people are actually miserable.
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Why This Cast Still Matters for Henry James Fans
If you're a fan of Washington Square (the novel), you know James wasn't writing a fairy tale. He was writing a critique of the marriage market and the ways parents destroy their children. The 1997 cast understood this. They didn't try to make it a "prestige" film; they made it a horror movie about a family.
Albert Finney’s performance, in particular, deserves a re-watch. There’s a scene near the end where he realizes his daughter has finally grown a spine, and the look of pure, icy disdain on his face is haunting. He doesn't love her for her strength; he hates her more for it because she’s finally defying his "intellectual" control.
The film also captures the specific geography of New York at the time. Washington Square wasn't just a park; it was a fortress for the old money elite. The cast moves through these spaces with a sense of entitlement and claustrophobia that tells you everything you need to know about their social standing before they even speak a word.
Actionable Insights for Period Drama Lovers
If you are planning to dive back into this 1990s gem, here is how to get the most out of it.
First, watch it back-to-back with The Heiress from 1949. You’ll notice how much more "broken" Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Catherine is compared to Olivia de Havilland’s. De Havilland plays the transformation into a cold woman as a triumph; Leigh plays it as a survival mechanism that leaves her utterly alone.
Second, pay attention to the silence. Some of the best moments in the 1997 film happen when nobody is talking. The way Catherine sits in a chair, or the way Dr. Sloper looks at a portrait of his dead wife. It’s all there in the subtext.
Finally, look for the early career performances. Seeing a young Jennifer Garner before she was an action star or a rom-com queen is a fun "Easter egg" for film buffs. It shows the depth of the casting department's eye at the time.
To really appreciate the Washington Square 1997 cast, you have to let go of the idea that period pieces need to be pretty. This movie is about the ugliness of the human heart, wrapped in silk and lace. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting that, frankly, we don't see enough of anymore.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night:
- Source the DVD or Stream: It’s often found on platforms that specialize in 90s indie or prestige dramas.
- Read the Book: Henry James’s prose is dense, but it gives you the internal monologue that explains why Leigh plays Catherine with such frantic energy.
- Compare the Endings: The 1997 ending is arguably the most faithful to James’s cynical vision of "protracted singleness."
Don't go into this expecting a Jane Austen romp. It’s more like a psychological thriller where the weapons are inheritance tax and dinner party snubs.