A room with a view is a part love story, part attack on the english class system and manners of edwardian times. Based on e.m. Forster's 1908 novel of the same name, the film adaptation was directed by james ivory and produced by ismail merchant. One of three forster novels adapted by merchant ivory productions, a room with a view has enjoyed more popular success than any previous merchant ivory film. Screenwriter ruth prawer jhabvala received an academy award for her screenplay, and the film itself which also features judi dench and simon callow was nominated for best picture. The a room with a view special edition dvd contains many extra features, including bbc breakfast time special appearances and reports a tribute to e. M. Forster hosted by james mossman a film '96 merchant ivory tribute profile and additional commentaries by ismail merchant, james ivory, tony pierce roberts and simon callow. Synopsis when a young englishwoman named lucy honeychurch helena bonham carter and her spinster chaperone charlotte maggie smith travel to italy, they become acquainted with a free spirited and unconventional englishman named mr. Emerson denholm elliot, and his enigmatic and romantically unhappy son, george julian sands. After george makes the grievous mistake of kissing lucy during a picnic in the florentine hills, charlotte rushes her back to england. Safely home, lucy becomes engaged to her stiff and very proper fianc cecil daniel day lewis, however, after finding out the emersons have moved close by she has a hard time ignoring her attraction to the unsuitable george. Running time 113 minutes region region 2 subtitles english release date 29 oct. 2007