Producer, director and screenwriter James Ivory (who turns 97 today) is one third of the Merchant Ivory Productions team, which includes Ismail Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. From The Householder (1961) to Call Me By Your Name (2017), their filmography has regularly been characterized by elegant storytelling, literary roots, and fine acting. In honor of this luminary’s birthday, here’s a curated list of their greatest films:
Heat And Dust (1983)
This critically acclaimed Indo-British drama is based on Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s novel (she won a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay). The film’s plot comprises of two stories – in the first one, Olivia (Julie Christie) sets out to retrace the journey of her scandalous great-aunt who, in her youth, falls in love with an Indian Nawab (Shashi Kapoor). Set in 1920’s colonial India, the film weaved together themes of cultural confluences, rebellion and romantic desire, and drew particular praise for its fine camerawork. It received 8 BAFTA nominations overall, including a Best Director nomination for James Ivory.
A Room With A View (1985)
This period romance is based on a novel by EM Forster. It is set in the Edwardian era of England and Florence, and chronicles the events in the life of Lucy Honey-church (Helena Bonham Carter), a young woman grappling with the expectations of society as well as her own desires. On a trip to Italy, she meets a passionate man named George Emerson (Julian Sands) and her time with him makes her rethink her engagement to the prudish Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis).
Also featuring powerhouse artists like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, the film received appreciation for its witty repartee, visual grammar, and effectively understated emotional pitch. It won three Academy Awards (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography) and brought James Ivory his second Best Director nomination.
Howard’s End (1992)
Yet another EM Forster adaptation set in the Edwardian age, Howards End features Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Samuel West, Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave in key roles. The story revolves around two intellectual sisters from the Schegel family – Margaret (Emma Thompson) and Helen (Helena Bonham Carter) who get involved with the wealthy Wilcox family head Henry (Anthony Hopkins) and a poor clerk named Leonard Bast (Samuel West), and focuses a chance bonding with the ailing Ruth Wilcox (Redgrave) changes the course of Margaret’s life.
The film received critical acclaim for its layered depiction of class, inheritance and social connections in turn-of-the-century England. It was also a showcase of Emma Thompson’s talent, and she delivered an Academy Award-winning performance (Best Actress). The film won a further two Oscars (Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art Direction). James Ivory, too, received his third Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
The Remains Of The Day (1993)
This critically and commercially successful film is based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel and is set in post-war England. The plot of the film follows Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), a dutiful but emotionally repressed butler in service of Lord Darlington (James Fox), a disgraced man sympathetic to the Nazis. A chance reunion with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), the butler reminisces about the sacrifices he had to make for the sake of loyalty.
The film was widely praised for its elegant storytelling, and its themes of class relations, emotional blocking and regret drew praise for their poignancy. The performances of the leads were appreciated, and it received eight Academy Award nominations in all, including Best Actor (Hopkins), Best Actress (Thompson) and Best Director (Ivory).
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
A coming-of-age romance set in 1980’s Italy, this Luca Guadagnino film is based on the novel by Andre Aciman and depicts the heady romance between 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer), who is interning with the former’s father.
The film was a major critical and commercial success, and won plaudits for its fine camerawork, immersive atmosphere, genuine chemistry between the leads and Chalamet’s performance. It won James Ivory his first Academy Award in the Best Screenplay category, making him the oldest winner in the history of the Academy.