The movie has been adapted from the E. M. Forster novel by three filmmakers who have specialized recently in film adaptations of literary works: director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Their other recent credits include "The Bostonians," "The Europeans" and "Heat and Dust." This is the best film they have made. It is an intellectual film, but intellectual about emotions: It encourages us to think about how we feel, instead of simply acting on our feelings.

It shows us a young woman, Lucy Honeychurch, who is about to marry the wrong man - not because of her passion, but because of her lack of thought. Only think about your passion, the movie argues, and you will throw over Cecil and marry George. Usually, thought and passion are on opposite sides in the movies; this time it's entertaining to find them on the same side.