The Age of Innocence (1993)

Daniel Day-Lewis: Newland Archer

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Quotes 

• Newland : You gave me my first glimpse of a real life. Then you asked me to go on with the false one. No one can endure that.

  Ellen : I'm enduring it.

• Ted Archer : The day before she died, she asked to see me alone, remember? She said she knew we were safe with you and always would be because once when she asked you to, you gave up the thing you wanted most.

  Newland Archer : [after a long pause]  She never asked. She never asked me.

• Ellen Olenska : Is fashion such a serious consideration?

  Newland Archer : Among those who have nothing more serious to consider.

• Ellen Olenska : I think we should look at reality, not dreams.

  Newland Archer : I just want us to be together!

  Ellen Olenska : I can't be your wife, Newland! Is it your idea that I should live with you as your mistress?

  Newland Archer : I want... Somehow, I want to get away with you... and... and find a world where words like that don't exist!

• Ellen Olenska : I knew you'd come.

  Newland Archer : That shows you wanted me to.

• Newland Archer : What could you possibly gain that could make up for the scandal?

  Ellen Olenska : My freedom!

• Ellen Olenska : Are you very much in love with her?

  Newland Archer : As much as a man can be.

  Ellen Olenska : Do you think there's a limit?

• Ellen Olenska : Is New York such a labyrinth? I thought it was all straight up and down like Fifth Avenue. All the cross streets numbered and big honest labels on everything.

  Newland Archer : Everything is labeled, but everybody is not.

  Ellen Olenska : Then I must count on you for warnings too.

• Newland Archer : [Last lines]  Just say I'm old-fashioned. That should be enough. Go on. Go on!

• Newland Archer : You have been a way a very long time.

  Ellen Olenska : Centuries and centuries. So long, I'm sure I'm dead and buried, in this dear old place, as heaven.

• Newland Archer : Who has the right to make her life over, if she hasn't? Why should we bury a woman alive if her husband prefers to live with whores?

• Newland : Honest? Isn't that why you always admire Julius Beaufort? He was more honest than the rest of us, wasn't he, we've got no character, no color, no variety. I wonder why you just don't go back to Europe.

  Ellen : I believe that's because of you.

• Newland Archer : All the older women like and admire you. They want to help.

  Ellen Olenska : I know. I know, as long as they don't hear anything unpleasant. Does no one here want to know - want to know the truth, Mr. Archer? The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only asks you to pretend.

• Newland Archer : Nothing's done that can't be undone. I'm still free. You can be too.

• Ted Archer : [about his fiancée]  I'll be back on the first, and our wedding's not till the fifth.

  Newland Archer : I'm surprised you even remembered the date.

• Ellen Olenska : Cousin May wrote. She asked you to take care of me.

  Newland Archer : I didn't need to be asked.

  Ellen Olenska : Why? Does that mean I'm so helpless and defenseless? Or, that women here are so blessed they never feel need?

  Newland Archer : What sort of need?

  Ellen Olenska : Oh, please don't ask me. I don't speak your language.

• Newland Archer : Is this really so difficult?

  Mrs. Mingott : The entire family is difficult! Not one of them wants to be different. When they are different, they end up like Ellen's parents. No masks. Continental wanderers, dragging Ellen about, lavishing on her an expensive but incoherent education. Out of all of them, I don't believe there's one that takes after me, but my little Ellen. You've got a quick eye. Why in the world didn't you marry her?

  Newland Archer : Well, for one thing, she wasn't there to be married.

  Mrs. Mingott : No. To be sure.

• Ellen Olenska : Shall I come to you once and then go home?

  Newland Archer : Come to me once then.

• Ted Archer : What will I tell her?

  Newland Archer : Don't you always have something to say?

• Newland Archer : The worst of it is that I want to kiss you - and I can't.

  [looks around, kisses May] 

• Newland Archer : I'm the man who married one woman because another told him to.

• Mrs. Mingott : When's the wedding to be?

  Newland Archer : Oh, as soon as ever it can, if only you'll back me up, Mrs. Mingott.

  Mrs. Welland : We must give them time to know each other a little better, mama.

  Mrs. Mingott : Know each other? Everybody in New York has always known everybody. Don't wait till the bubbles off the wine. Marry them before Lent. I may catch pneumonia any winter now and I want to give the Wedding Breakfast.

• Sillerton Jackson : Certain nuisances escape Beaufort.

  Mrs. Archer : Oh, necessarily, Beaufort is a vulgar man.

  Newland Archer : Nevertheless, no business nuisance escapes him. Most of New York trusts him with its affairs.

  Mrs. Archer : My grandfather, Newland, always used to say to mother, "Don't let that fellow Beaufort be introduced to the girls."

• Janey Archer : I'm surprised she should have kept such an ugly name as Ellen when she married the Count. I should have changed it to Elaine.

  Newland Archer : Why?

  Janey Archer : I don't know. It sounds more - Polish.

• Julius Beaufort : I'm having a nice oyster supper in your honor. Private room. Congenial company. Artists and so on.

  Ellen Olenska : That's very tempting. I haven't met a single artists since I've been here.

  Newland Archer : I know one or two painters I could bring to see you, if you allow me.

  Julius Beaufort : Painters? Are there any painters in New York?

• Newland Archer : If he chooses to fight the case, he can say things that might be un - that might be disagreeable to you. Say them publicly, so that they, it could be damaging, even if...

  Ellen Olenska : If?

  Newland Archer : Even if they were unfounded.

  Ellen Olenska : What harm could accusations like that do me here?

  Newland Archer : Perhaps more harm than anywhere else. Our legislation favors divorce, but, our social customs don't.

  Ellen Olenska : Never?

  Newland Archer : Well, not if the woman - has appearances in the lest degree against her, has exposed herself by any unconventional behavior - to - offensive insinuations and...

  Ellen Olenska : Yes. So, my family tell me.

• May Welland : What are you reading?

  Newland Archer : Oh, it's a book about Japan.

  May Welland : Why?

  Newland Archer : I don't know. Because, it's a different country.

  May Welland : You used to read poetry. It was so nice when you read it to me.

• Newland : We should travel everywhere.

  Louisa van der Luyden : But not Naples. Doctor Bencomb says there is a fever there.