BY HENRY JAMES The Golden Bowl is a masterpiece of literature by Henry James. It's a film version of the novel about the failure of two couples whose lives are ruined by greed and jealousy. It was published in November 1904 and later published by Charles Scribner's Sons and Methuen Publishing. North American distribution rights have been acquired by Lions Gate Films from Merchant Ivory Productions for James Ivory's The Golden Bowl, which was originally purchased by Miramax Films at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999. The negotiations were handled by Lions Gate co-presidents Michael Ortenberg and David Urman, along with Peter Block of Trimark Pictures, on behalf of Merchant Ivory.