43-514: Merchant Ivory Productions is a film company founded in 1961 by producer Ismail Merchant (1936–2005) and director James Ivory (b. 1928). Merchant and Ivory were life and business partners from 1961 until Merchant's death in 2005. During their time together, they made 44 films. The films were for the most part produced by Merchant and directed by Ivory, and 23 of them were scripted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1927–2013) in some capacity. The films were often based upon novels or short stories, particularly
86-642: A Memon family, Merchant was son of Hazra ( née Memon) and Noor Mohamed Rehman, a Bombay textile dealer. He grew up trilingual in Gujarati , Memoni and Urdu , and learned Arabic and English at school. When he was 11, he and his family were caught up in the 1947 partition of India . His father was the President of the Muslim League and refused to move to Pakistan . Merchant later said that he carried memories of "butchery and riots" into adulthood. As
129-519: A book about the making of the film The Deceivers in 1988 titled Hullabaloo in Old Jeypur , and another about the making of The Proprietor called Once Upon a Time ... The Proprietor . His last book was entitled My Passage from India: A Filmmaker's Journey from Bombay to Hollywood and Beyond . Merchant died in Westminster , England aged 68, following surgery for abdominal ulcers . He
172-479: A child at the age of 9, Merchant delivered a speech about partition at a political rally in front of a crowd of 10,000. At age 13, he developed a close friendship with actress Nimmi , who introduced him to studios in Bombay (the center of Hindi film industry ). It was she who inspired his ambitious rise to stardom. Merchant studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and received BA degree of University of Bombay. It
215-593: A frenzy." Associate producer Paul Bradley said the charge came from a politically well-connected Jaipur businessman who was unhappy at the depiction of Kali and the subplot about suttee. "The script has already been submitted to and passed by the Indian government", said Bradley. "Any film made in India, certainly by a foreign company, has to be vetted and passed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting." Bradley said
258-688: A house, which took on a particular importance in many Merchant Ivory films. Merchant Ivory Productions was founded in 1961 by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory in India to produce English language films. After early, modest successes with films such as The Householder , Shakespeare Wallah , and Bombay Talkie , Merchant and Ivory suffered a lean period during the 1970s. Films such as Jane Austen in Manhattan and The Wild Party failed to find an audience. Their fortunes revived dramatically in 1979 when they made an adaptation of Henry James ' novel The Europeans . Their film Heat and Dust (1983)
301-408: A major American studio, Columbia Pictures . However, it wasn't until the 1970s that partnership "hit on a successful formula for studied, slow-moving pieces ... Merchant Ivory became known for their attention to tiny period detail and opulence of their sets". Their first success in this style was Jhabvala's adaptation of Henry James 's The Europeans . In addition to producing, Merchant directed
344-511: A number of films and two TV features. For TV, he directed a short feature entitled Mahatma and the Mad Boy , and a full-length feature, The Courtesans of Bombay , made for Britain's Channel Four . Merchant made his film directorial debut with 1993's In Custody based on a novel by Anita Desai , and starring Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor . Filmed in Bhopal , India, it won National Awards from
387-484: A pretty measly sense of adventure." He added, "There are a few patches of exotic fun, like the opening murder scene, and there's a seductive campfire dance by a young boy that's creepy enough to send chills (though perhaps inadvertently). But for the most part all we react to is the squandering of a good idea." Conversely, Jay Boyar of the Orlando Sentinel gave the film modest praise, saying it "casts quite
430-609: A screening in New York of Ivory's documentary The Sword and the Flute in 1959. In May 1961, Merchant and Ivory formed the film production company Merchant Ivory Productions . Merchant and Ivory were long-term life partners. Their professional and romantic partnership lasted 44 years, from 1961 until Merchant's death in 2005. They were both also involved with the gay composer Richard Robbins , with whom they collaborated on several films. The Guinness Book of World Records says theirs
473-472: A substantial pay cut in order to direct the film, remarking, "Hollywood is making films I have no interest in seeing, machined tooled, packaged, with a lot of numbers after their names. The studios don't just want home runs. They want grand slams. Anything less than $ 100 million is not interesting to them." "It's strictly action-adventure = a 'cavalry to the rescue' type film", said Meyer. Christopher Reeve and Treat Williams were originally considered for
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#1732791921077516-642: A three-year distribution deal in 1991. In October 2015, Cohen Media Group acquired the Merchant Ivory brand and library, 21 films and 9 documentaries including worldwide distribution, for restoration and rerelease as a part of the Cohen Film Collection . Ivory would be creative director on the films' restoration, re-release and promotion. Ivory was known for often directing the productions. He received three Academy Award nominations for his work but never won. He received his first Oscar at
559-493: Is a German Jew, and Jim is a Protestant American. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!" Merchant was fond of cooking, and he wrote several books including Ismail Merchant's Indian Cuisine , Ismail Merchant's Florence , Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals , and Ismail Merchant's Paris: Filming and Feasting in France . He also wrote books on filmmaking, including
602-454: Is a strange marriage we have at Merchant Ivory... I am an Indian Muslim , Ruth is a German Jew , and Jim is a Protestant American . Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!" The expression "Merchant–Ivory film" has made its way into common parlance, to denote a particular genre of film rather than the actual production company. While 1965's Shakespeare Wallah put this genre on
645-606: Is based on the 1952 John Masters novel of the same name regarding the murderous Thuggee of India. The film takes place in India in 1825. The country is being ravaged by Thuggee , a Kali -worshiping cult also known as "Deceivers", who commit robbery and ritualistic murder . Captain William Savage, an honorable district administrator for the East India Company , is informed by his subjects in Madhia about
688-496: Is first instructed to kill Hussein. Instead taking one of the Thuggees' children hostage, he forces his way out of the fortress, but Hussein is shot dead before they can get away. Savage flees into a field of reeds, where the Thuggees encircle him; but before a former friend can strangle him, East India Company troops, alerted by Sarah's manservant, arrive and defeat the Thuggees. Rehabilitated and promoted to Colonel, Savage receives
731-525: The official task of eradicating the Thuggee cult throughout India, although he must also struggle with the mental and emotional scars of his time joining the Thuggees and participating in their bloodthirsty ways have left on him. The film is based on John Masters ' 1952 novel. In 1957 it was announced John Bryan would produce a film of the novel for the Rank Organization with Masters writing
774-652: The East India Trading Co.", said Brosnan. "He discovers this cult and disguises himself as an Indian. He goes on the road with the Thugs, who kill people by strangulation." Shooting took place over a four-month period in India, in Jaipur, Agra and Khajuraho, while post-production was completed in London. Filming started 21 September 1987. Filming was marred with difficulties from the onset. According to Meyer,
817-547: The Government of India for Best Production Design and Special Jury award for lead actor Shashi Kapoor. His second directing feature, The Proprietor , starred Jeanne Moreau , Sean Young , Jean-Pierre Aumont and Christopher Cazenove and was filmed on location in Paris, France. Of his partnership with Ivory and Jhabvala, Merchant once commented: "It is a strange marriage we have at Merchant Ivory ... I am an Indian Muslim, Ruth
860-550: The Lost Ark . Which is certainly a switch." Merchant later said he made it to "keep the production company moving". In 1984 Michael White was reportedly working on the film. Development took ten years. Original directors were Marek Kanievska and Stephen Frears . Then Merchant approached writer and director Nicholas Meyer —fresh off his work on Volunteers and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home —through Meyer's agent about directing The Deceivers . Meyer reportedly agreed to
903-457: The Thugees' murder raids, and appalled, he starts an investigation. He captures a Thugee named Hussein and wins his cooperation, but Savage's bureaucratic commanding officer and father-in-law, Colonel Wilson, stubbornly adhering to Company protocol, dismisses his report and relieves him of his duty. Chagrined but determined, Savage decides to disguise himself as an imprisoned native outlaw, Gopal
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#1732791921077946-513: The Thuggees' activities but let them pass through their districts in exchange for a share of their ill-gotten plunder. Fearing for Savage's sanity, Hussein flees to inform Sarah of her husband's situation; but Thuggee moles inside the Company overhear them and capture Hussein before he can return to Savage. While Savage's secret is exposed, the Thuggees reveal to his surprise that that they are willing to accept him as one of their own; but Savage
989-688: The Weaver, and infiltrate the Thugee cult while aided by Hussein, with only his wife Sarah knowing about his plan. He is accepted, and after a period of training he is forced to participate in their raids. Receiving the consecrated sugar, implied to be LSD , after such a raid awakens in Savage a dark, ecstatic fascination for killing. One day, however, Gopal appears, revealing himself as a fellow Thuggee, and in order to avoid being exposed, Savage kills him. Savage also discovers that senior British officers know about
1032-452: The age of 89 for his screenplay for Call Me by Your Name , becoming the oldest person to win an Oscar for writing. Academy Awards Merchant was known for producing the films. Despite four nominations, he never won. Academy Awards Jhabvala was known for adapting the screenplays. She received three nominations, with two wins. Academy Awards Hawley started in 1987 as Ivory's first assistant director on Slaves of New York . He
1075-482: The businessman and some film workers had been "pressuring the production company to employ them at exorbitant rates." Despite the disruptions, Meyer spoke highly of his Indian production crew, stating, "One day when we needed our tulip crane for a big shot, I was flummoxed to learn that four of its bolts had been stolen, incapacitating a vital piece of equipment. I don't deal well with last minute alterations to The Plan, but my Indian crew managed to mill four new bolts by
1118-574: The film The Deceivers . In 1987, after 25 years as an independent producer, Merchant Ivory Productions declined offers by Hollywood power brokers and deep-pocketed investors, mesmerized by the success of the triple-Oscar winning A Room with a View , to take the company public. Around 1990, they moved their productions to England and the United States. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala became their frequent collaborating writer. Major film studios sought them out; Disney signed Merchant Ivory Productions to
1161-580: The film a mediocre review and stated that, "Despite the film's claims to be based on fact, I didn't believe it for a moment. I did, however, enjoy it at various moments. Brosnan disappears so completely into the leading role that he hardly seems present in the movie, and the film's portrait of Victorian India is a triumph (the production was designed by the British master of period atmosphere, Tony Adams). It looks great even at its most incredible." Janet Maslin of The New York Times also thought negatively of
1204-474: The film, stating "The tinniness of Michael Hirst's screenplay ( It's older than time and just as mysterious ) hardly helps bring this material to life, any more than Mr. Brosnan's unconvincing and (despite several episodes in which he proves himself capable of violent killing) rather passive performance." Maslin then went on to say that, "In its own way, The Deceivers is oddly old-fashioned." Hal Hinson of The Washington Post called it "an adventure epic with
1247-517: The international map, its heyday was the 1980s and 1990s with such films as A Room with a View (1985) and Howards End (1992). A typical "Merchant–Ivory film" would be a period piece , based on a classic novel , set in the early 20th century, usually in Edwardian England , featuring lavish sets and top British actors portraying genteel characters who suffer from disillusionment and tragic entanglements. The main theme often surrounded
1290-582: The novels of E.M. Forster and Henry James . Merchant received the BAFTA Award for Best Film for A Room with a View (1985), and Howards End (1992). He received Academy Award nominations for Best Live Action Short Film for The Creation of a Woman (1959) and for Best Picture for A Room with a View (1985), Howards End (1992), and The Remains of the Day (1993). Born in Bombay ( Mumbai ) to
1333-498: The part of William Savage, but Meyer successfully lobbied to have an actual Englishman in the role. In his memoir The View from the Bridge , Meyer wrote, "'Here's a story about an Englishman who disguises himself as an Indian,' I reasoned. 'If you cast this actor, you will have an American disguising himself as an Englishman, disguising himself as an Indian. We will be lost in the stunt, even if he pulls it off, and not pay attention to
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1376-510: The production was subject to frequent disruption from the local Jaipur mafia for declining to make any dealings with their leader. Meyer wrote, "Scores of hooligans stormed through our sets while we were rolling; equipment was sabotaged or stolen; 'cultural' societies were founded for the sole purpose of suing us, alleging pornographic distortions of Indian culture." The filmmakers were criticised by social and political groups who felt it distorted Hindu religion and culture. The producers argued it
1419-427: The screenplay. The film was not made. In 1974 Stanley Donen announced he had the rights and wanted to make "the kind of movie I've never made before – a big sprawling epic." He did not make it either. Film rights passed to Merchant Ivory Productions. "It's completely different for us", said producer Ismail Merchant . "We're known for doing E.M. Forster and Henry James. Deceivers is in the same genre as Raiders of
1462-459: The story and the things we want to take for granted, i.e., that it concerns an Englishman.'" The part ultimately went to Pierce Brosnan , whom Meyer fondly described as " Errol Flynn —with talent." Brosnan had just missed the chance to play James Bond due to his commitments to Remington Steele . His casting was announced in April 1987. "I play an Englishman, a glorified accountant working for
1505-535: The time we were ready to roll." The Deceivers was a box office failure. The film earned only $ 346,297 in the North American market against an estimated $ 5–6 million budget. The Deceivers was released on 2 September 1988 and received mostly negative reviews from film critics. The film has a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 6 reviews. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave
1548-969: The work of Henry James , E. M. Forster , and Jhabvala herself. The initial goal of the company was "to make English-language films in India aimed at the international market". The style of Merchant Ivory films set and photographed in India became iconic. The company also went on to make films in the United Kingdom and America. Some actors and producers associated with Merchant Ivory include Maggie Smith , Leela Naidu , Madhur Jaffrey , Aparna Sen , Shashi Kapoor , Jennifer Kendal , Hugh Grant , James Wilby , Rupert Graves , Simon Callow , Anthony Hopkins , Glenn Close , Uma Thurman , Emma Thompson , Vanessa Redgrave , Natasha Richardson , Ralph Fiennes , Colin Firth , Richard Hawley and Helena Bonham Carter . Of this collaboration, Merchant once commented: "It
1591-412: Was "a pure and simple thriller". At one point, Ismail Merchant and co-producer Tim Van Rellim were arrested for "obscenity and misrepresentation of Hindu culture." Among the allegations was that the production filmed a sati as one really happened. Merchant responded to the allegations with disgust, saying, "What happened was a mockery—people taking advantage of democratic principles in order to whip up
1634-613: Was an art-house hit in Europe, particularly in England. However, it was not until their work together on A Room with a View (1985) that they broke out from the art house into broader success. In 1985, Merchant Ivory Productions was signed by film distributor Cinecom International Films in order to gave Cinecom access to the 11 Merchant Ivory productions at that time as Cinecom had to increase its distribution schedule. In 1986, Merchant Ivory and Cinecom begin their co-production lineup with
1677-770: Was buried in Bada Qabrastan Mumbai in Marine Lines , Mumbai , India on 28 May 2005, in keeping with his wish to be buried with his ancestors. In 2002 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan , the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India . He was also a recipient of The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence. The Deceivers (film) The Deceivers is a 1988 adventure film directed by Nicholas Meyer , starring Pierce Brosnan , Shashi Kapoor and Saeed Jaffrey . The film
1720-451: Was here he developed a love for movies. When he was 22, he moved to USA to study at New York University where he received an MBA degree. While in New York, he gave up his family name of Abdul Rehman for Merchant. He supported himself by working as a messenger for the UN in New York and used this opportunity to persuade Indian delegates to fund his film projects. Of this experience, he said, "I
1763-676: Was involved in every project to some degree thereafter. In 1994, he started co-running the company with Merchant and departed in 2009 after completion of The City of Your Final Destination . Compiled works from Merchant Ivory Productions. Ismail Merchant Ismail Merchant (born Ismail Noor Muhammad Abdul Rahman ; 25 December 1936 – 25 May 2005) was an Indian film producer. He worked for many years in collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included film director (and Merchant's longtime professional and domestic partner) James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala . Together they made acclaimed film adaptations from
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1806-554: Was not intimidated by anyone or anything." Immersed in a new world of art and culture, it was here that Merchant discovered the films of Bengali director Satyajit Ray , as well as those of European artists such as Ingmar Bergman , Vittorio De Sica , and Federico Fellini . In 1961, Merchant made a short film, The Creation of Woman . It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination. Merchant met American movie director James Ivory at
1849-459: Was the longest partnership in independent cinema history. Until Merchant's death in 2005, they produced nearly 40 films, including a number of award winners. Novelist Ruth Prawer Jhabvala was the screenwriter for most of their productions. In 1963, MIP premiered its first production, The Householder , based upon a novel by Jhabvala (who also wrote the screenplay). This feature became the first Indian-made film to be distributed internationally by
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