Ismail Merchant

[Giada]

Ismail Merchant ... Merchant Ivory Productions

http://www.merchantivory.com/ismail.html

He was working on the Natasha Richardson film, The White Countess at the time of his death, (Natasha Richardson, Ralph Fiennes).

Of real interest to me is the wonderful, not only professional, but personal relationship of James Ivory amd Ismail Merchant, which extended 35 years plus.

[Long Gone Day]

The Merchant/Ivory team:
[SIZE=1]
Creative triumvirate:
James Ivory (left) Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (center)
& Ismail Merchant (right) in New York in 1998.
Photo Credit: Lynn Goldsmith for ZUMA Press/NewsCom.[/SIZE]

I loved "A Room With a View." They were a great team.

[Guest]

Yep, they were a good team, Much talented

[Giada]

Ismail described himself as a super salesman producing, raising the necessary funds to finance a project.

He was known for cooking on set, his wonderful curry dishes.

I'm a little saddened we don't hear more of his life partnership with Ivory.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Their films are like an oasis in a desert of crap.

[opheliahardin]

I'm a little saddened we don't hear more of his life partnership with Ivory.

Were they "partners" partners?

I didn't know that...

[Giada]

They were, "partner," partners ... 35 years plus

I personally like these examples ... gays are so often accused of not forming partnered/bonded relationships and it just ain't so

[opheliahardin]

That's sweet.

[Giada]

http://www.answers.com/topic/ismail-merchant


More info on Ismail ... My favorite Merchant Ivory Production is Howard's End, Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Mine is the Henry James adaptation, The Europeans, with Lee Remick. Right up there with "Howard's End" and "Maurice" (which I also love), these films are the gold standard. Wonderful.
--

[anne]

"A room with a view" one of my all time favorites.

[Giada]

Time for a thread revival ...

TCM is offering Merchant Ivory films this month for view. I watched Remains of the Day and Howard's End last evening.

Remains of the Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Remains_of_the_Day

Howard's End

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howards_End

[Jrwzeigle]

I have tuned in to TCM to watch these movies this month, and they are wonderful. My fav so far is The Bostonians. Christopher Reeve is stunning in it ( and btw very hot). Great storytelling in their movies.