Starring : James Mason, Madhur Jafrrey, Keith Varnier, Diane Fletcher, Timothy Bateson Johnny Stuart, Nazrul Rahman
Merchant Ivory Productions presents Director: James Ivory Screenplay: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Photography: Walter Lassally Editor: Humphrey Dixon Music: VIC Flick Producer: Ismail Merchant
An Indian princess (Madhur Jaffrey), a long divorced and living in self-enforced exile in London, invites her Father’s ex-tutor, Cyril Sahib (James Mason), to an annual tea party, intended to celebrate a happier past, where the two watch old movie footage of royal India.
The Princess reviews her memories selectively: she sees their long-vanished, fun –filled world, dominated by his dazzling father, through a haze of nostalgia, and she tries to wheedle her guest into writing a book about it. Cyril Sahib has a different view both of their common past and of her father, the Maharaja. He recalls the ceremonial occasions, the weddings and funerals, the pig-sticking expeditions, the pranks and practical jokes with distaste, even horror at the surfeit and brutality. And he remembers the dashing Maharaja – to his adoring daughter almost a surrogate lover – as manipulative and often cruel, his later years soiled y a sordid sex scandal in London.
In this perfect, tightly written film of memory and character exploration, James Mason gives one of the finest portrayals of his career, almost a kind of valedictory performance as the articulate and self-aware Cyril Sahib. Madhur Jaffrey, a favourite Merchant Ivory actress, is no less affecting as the imperious but befuddled, and finally tragically isolated, Princess.
Special Features: About the Film Autobiographies Trailers Short Film: Sweet Sounds Colour Mode: Colour Disc format: DVD-9 Audio content: Dolby Digital Region Code: PAL Aspect ratio: 4:3 Genre: Drama
1. Opening Credits 2. The Wrong Place 3. Pig Sticking 4. Through Their Eyes 5. At The Beginning 6. More Tea 7. Getting Along 8. End Credits
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist