Henry & June

Theatrical Release Date: 1990 10 05 (USA)

UPC: 025192051821

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: NC17   Contains:[Nudity, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language]

Summary: The real-life relationship between two of the most controversial literary figures of the 20th century forms the basis for this drama. Ana?s Nin (Maria de Medeiros) is a struggling author trying to finish her first book, a study of the work of D.H. Lawrence. She also has a keen sexual curiosity that is not being satisfied by her sweet but unexciting husband, Hugo (Richard E. Grant). Through Hugo's friend Richard (Kevin Spacey), Ana?s is introduced to Henry Miller (Fred Ward), a writer from America who shares Ana?s' passion for both eros and literature; she is later introduced to June (Uma Thurman), Henry's wife and a practicing bisexual. While Ana?s is attracted to Henry, to her surprise, she's even more strongly drawn to June; June, however, must return to America, and with her approval, Henry and Ana?s begin an affair. Ana?s' newfound sense of sexual liberation leads her to several new lovers over the next several months, but she and Henry find themselves pursuing the same object of affection when June returns to Paris. Henry & June's frank but tasteful treatment of sexual themes led the MPAA to threaten the film with an X-rating; instead, the film became the first feature released with the revised NC-17 classification. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Romance

Awards: Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Production notes
Cast and filmmakers' bios
Film highlights
Theatrical trailer
Web links

Henry & June

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 02/23/1999

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Vistavision

Audio: DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 137 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: Spanish,English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1
0. Chapter List
1. Main Titles
2. Pussy Willow
3. Henry Miller
4. Portrait of June
5. Henry and June
6. Distortion
7. The Affair
8. Henry's World
9. The Diary
10. Taps on the Chin
11. Treachery
12. Stimulation
13. A Dream
14. Tropic of Cancer
15. Unknown Affair
16. June's Return
17. End of the Affair
18. Epilogue/Titles

Brendon Hanley

It's not every day that the Motion Picture Association of America creates a new rating, but that's what happened in 1990 with Henry & June, Philip Kaufman's biography of author Henry Miller. By giving the film the an NC-17 rating, the MPAA allowed it to be seen in many parts of mainstream America, where an X-rating would have meant banishment. Though the rating has since become almost as reviled as the X, the intended differentiation between pornography and art was clear. In the end, Henry & June is not particularly erotic, but it is boldly sensual, in the vein of Kaufman's previous film The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Most of the performances -- save for Fred Ward's portrayal of the rather pitiful Miller and Kevin Spacey's minor but memorable role -- are overshadowed by the film's visual splendor. Even the alluring Uma Thurman (as Miller's wife, June) and Maria de Medeiros (as Ana?s Nin) can't compete with production designer Guy-Claude Fran?ois' stunning recreation of 1930s Paris. Philippe Rousselot was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for his lavish cinematography. ~ Brendon Hanley, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Liz Hasse  Actor 
Maurice Escargot  Actor 
Annie Vincent  Actor 
Karine Couvelard  Actor 
Annie Fratellini  Actor 
Samuel Ateba  Actor 
Frank Heiler  Actor 
Suzy Palatin  Actor 
J. Bunuel  Actor 
Stephanie Leboulanger  Actor 
Louis Bessieres  Actor 
Pierre Edemac  Actor 
Claire Joubert  Actor 
Marc Maury  Actor 
Mark Adler  Composer (Music Score) 
Peter Kaufman  Producer 
Philip Kaufman  Director 
Philip Kaufman  Screenwriter 
Rose Kaufman  Screenwriter 
Maria de Medeiros  Actor 
Fred Ward  Actor 
Uma Thurman  Actor 
Richard E. Grant  Actor 
Kevin Spacey  Actor 
Jean-Philippe Ecoffey  Actor 
Bruce Myers  Actor 
Féodor Atkine  Actor 
Sylvie Huguel  Actor 
Artus de Penguern  Actor 
Pierre Etaix  Actor 
Gaetan Bloom  Actor 
Alexandra de Gall  Actor 
Brigitte Lahaie  Actor 
Maite Maille  Actor 

Country: USA