Merchant Ivory
Merchant Ivory
Genres Documentary
Directors Stephen Soucy
Writer Jon Hart
Country United States
Votes 240
IMDBID tt14493970
Runtime 112
Languages English
Release 11 Nov, 2023
Cast James Ivory ,Ismail Merchant ,Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ,Jenny Beavan ,John Bright
In hearing the phrase "Merchant Ivory", most would arguably first think of lush period drama films of the late 1980s and 1990s adapted from literary sources. For those in the know, many of those insiders who are interviewed for this documentary, it was an independent film company from the early 1960s to the mid 2000s centered on four creatives, most specifically the first two, and each's primary role: producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and the latest to join the group, composer Richard Robbins. Its filmography largely in chronological order, and which does not solely consist of these period dramas, but which were arguably its most successful, are presented. Their business and personal relationships are discussed, both which are intertwined in that Merchant and Ivory were in a personal relationship for that entire period, Merchant, Ivory and Jhabvala lived together for much of that time, and Merchant and Robbins also embarked on a personal relationship together in Merchant and Ivory's relationship being filled with somewhat open "extramarital" (i.e. they never having married) liaisons. Specifically with Merchant and Ivory, the yin and the yang between the two is also presented, Merchant described as the "con man" who did anything both to secure funding and reduce costs (their films made on a shoestring, especially considering the expense associated with costume pieces), and Ivory the soft spoken perfectionist. Their method of working also led to the familial atmosphere of their productions, albeit most of the time a dysfunctional family, but one where there was an overall mentality by all involved of making an end product of which they all would be proud. With Ivory the sole surviving member of the foursome at the production of this film, an epilogue of sorts is provided in showing Ivory's professional life, especially since Merchant's unexpected passing in 2005.
Brent Marchant
In the annals of filmmaking, few cinematic collaborations can match the accomplishments of Merchant Ivory Productions, the brainchild of producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, whose work together yielded a prolific 43 movies. While perhaps best known for such iconic period piece offerings as “A Room with a View” (1985), “Maurice” (1987), “Howards End” (1992) and “Remains of the Day” (1993), the duo was also responsible for many other releases primarily filmed in the US, the UK and India, often with the participation of a “family” of regular contributors, including screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Their work is now showcased in this insightful documentary from director Stephen Soucy, featuring contemporary and archive interview footage with this team of creatives, along with numerous film clips and the observations of various crew members and a stellar lineup of actors featured in their films, including Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Hugh Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, James Wilby, Rupert Graves, Samuel West and James Fox. However, this offering goes beyond presenting a mere litany of accomplishments, providing an in-depth examination of the sensibilities that characterized this team’s output and the back stories of how these productions came into being (often on shoestring budgets and under rigorous, sometimes-contentious filming conditions). The film also looks at the personal lives of its two principals, who were romantically linked as one of the movie industry’s first gay power couples at a time when such relationships weren’t looked on with the same degree of tolerance that’s in place today. What’s more, much of this material is punctuated with a healthy sprinkling of wry wit, providing viewers with many laugh-out-loud moments, a quality not often seen in documentary releases. Fans of these tremendous talents are sure to enjoy everything that’s on offer here, while those unfamiliar with their work can savor an excellent introduction to one of the movie industry’s formidable creative teams, as well as an array of film classics well worth seeing. In an age where cinema has been experiencing its share of letdowns, it’s heartening to see a showcase for the repertoire of what truly great filmmakers are capable of, giving avid moviegoers hope that this is not a declining artform but one that can be revived, one would hope to match the accomplishments of those who contributed significantly to establishing its richly deserved legacy.
posts by : Brent Marchant