10 Movies & Shows Like The Age of Innocence

Description: A sensitive portrayal of forbidden love and social expectations in Edwardian England, featuring lush production design and emotional restraint.

Fact: The film includes a rare happy ending for its gay protagonists, unusual for period dramas of its time. E.M. Forster stipulated the novel couldn't be published until after his death.

Description: A period drama exploring themes of repressed emotions, societal expectations, and unfulfilled love, set against the backdrop of a fading aristocratic world.

Fact: The film was adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name. It was shot at several historic English estates, including Dyrham Park and Powderham Castle.

Description: A refined period piece examining the constraints placed on women's emotions and choices in Regency England, with a focus on romantic entanglements and social propriety.

Fact: Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay, which won her an Academy Award. The production used over 40 historic properties across England for filming locations.

Description: A sumptuous period drama about romantic manipulation and moral dilemmas among the wealthy elite, featuring intricate emotional dynamics and Venetian settings.

Fact: Helena Bonham Carter learned to speak with an American accent for her role. The film's Venetian scenes were actually shot in London using clever set design.

Description: A tragic story of social climbing and romantic missteps in New York's high society, featuring exquisite period detail and a doomed central romance.

Fact: Director Terence Davies insisted on using only natural light for filming to achieve a painterly quality. The film's costumes were based on actual garments from the period held in museum collections.

Description: A sophisticated ensemble piece that examines class divisions and hidden desires within an English country house setting, blending drama with subtle social commentary.

Fact: The film's intricate plot structure was inspired by Jean Renoir's 1939 film 'The Rules of the Game'. It features an original song by Ivor Novello, performed by actor Jeremy Northam.

Description: A lavish adaptation exploring themes of forbidden love, religious conflict, and the decline of the English aristocracy through sumptuous visuals and emotional restraint.

Fact: The production recreated Brideshead Castle using three different locations: Castle Howard in Yorkshire, Christ Church in Oxford, and Wilton House in Wiltshire. The novel was originally adapted as an acclaimed 1981 TV series.

Description: A visually opulent historical drama exploring the constraints placed on women in 18th century aristocracy, with themes of loveless marriage and societal expectations.

Fact: Keira Knightley's elaborate wigs in the film weighed up to 3kg each. The production used real 18th century locations including Chatsworth House and Kedleston Hall.

Description: A gothic-tinged romance about emotional repression and personal freedom, featuring a strong-willed heroine navigating societal constraints.

Fact: Director Cary Fukunaga insisted on shooting chronologically to help the actors develop their characters. The film was shot entirely in England, using Derbyshire's Haddon Hall as Thornfield.

Description: A visually stunning adaptation exploring complex romantic relationships and personal freedom within the confines of Victorian rural society.

Fact: This was the fourth film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel. The production team used only natural light and candlelight for interior scenes to maintain authenticity.