Merchant-Ivory Films

[roadtripboy]

Watching a Merchant-Ivory film is like going to a French cafe and ordering escargot. Then waiting for the snails to crawl onto the plate by themselves. It's all very atmospheric, but sometimes the main event never arrives.

 

[braex27]

I really quite like them. Loved Helena Bonham-Carter when starred in them - so young and so wonderful.

Room with a View and Maurice are my favourites.

 

[NineOfClubs]

^ What he said!

 

[tyrion09]

The Remains of the Day is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's heartbreaking and has one of Anthony Hopkins' all-time best performances.

I'm an Anglophile, so I like most of the Merchant-Ivory films I've seen.

 

[Rubber Rat]

I really quite like them. Loved Helena Bonham-Carter when starred in them - so young and so wonderful.

Room with a View and Maurice are my favourites.

I agree!

 

[kallipolis]

Merchant-Ivory films are an art form - apart.

An exquisite, and tantalising foray into another world where we are entertained by the magical portrayal of characters who draw us into their mesmerising kingdom of make believe.

The much earlier Powell and Pressburger team also provided their audiences with a similar kaleidoscope of
intelligently written, wonderfully acted and colour filled entertainment.

Genius at its most appealing

 

[roadtripboy]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the film I watched and would recommend it. Heights from 2005 with Glenn Close.

But, while it was interesting, about halfway through the film I knew how it would it end. Because there was really only one way it could end.

And my viewing experience was marred by a Netflix DVD that skipped and froze at regular intervals. Oh and a Samsung DVD player that kept turning on the French sub titles. Something this DVD player loves to do. So, I tired the other DVD player and the computer. None of them liked this DVD.

 

[altlover85]

Oh wow, MI did Heights? I remember liking that.

I found Maurice and Another Country dull and hard to get into.

 

[Zeno Lorea]

I loved the movie Maurice more than the book, how oftend does that happen?! The remains of the day was a great movie, but not as good as the novel. Of course, that would have been near impossible. I had to read the novel for school, and couldn't stop rereading it.

 

[barnbuddy]

I think I wore out my old VHS tape of Maurice -

but, I don't think Another County was Merchant Ivory

also enjoyed 2003's le Divorce, directed by Ivory

 

[braex27]

Didn't care for Remains of the Day...but LOVE Maurice, Room with a View and Howards End....after Ivory's death, Merchant made Heights with James Marsden and Jesse Bradford as lovers

I didn't even know about Heights. Must check it out!!

I loved the movie Maurice more than the book, how oftend does that happen?! The remains of the day was a great movie, but not as good as the novel. Of course, that would have been near impossible. I had to read the novel for school, and couldn't stop rereading it.

EM Forster isn't the easiest writer to get into, is he? I remember trying to read both Room with a View and Maurice after the films, and didn't really get into either.

 

[altlover85]

Ooops, my mistake about Another Country. My apologies.

 

[roadtripboy]

I found a used Heights DVD at amazon for 36 cents. So with shipping $3.33. Hope it plays better than my Netflix copy.

 

[Rubber Rat]

roadtripboy I agree they are slow-moving films. I have to be in the mood for them but I do quite enjoy.

 

[hubbellgardner]

My all-time favorite viewing. Have seen most of them several times and get so much pleasure out of their period detail. Am fascinated when people find them dull. Sure, there's no explosions or car chases or superheroes or ( shudder ) vampires, but they are fascinating character studies and richly observed social commentaries. LOVE me some M/I !!

 

[jackmanor]

Bravo hubbellgardner.

Any discussion of M/I, of course, must also acknowledge the tremendous contributions of collaborator/screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Her screenplays were brilliant.