Merchant Ivory Productions is a film company founded in 1961 by producerIsmail Merchant (1936–2005) and directorJames Ivory (b. 1928). Merchant and Ivory were life and business partners from 1961 until Merchant's death in 2005. During their time together, they made 44 films. The films were for the most part produced by Merchant and directed by Ivory, and 23 of them were scripted byRuth Prawer Jhabvala (1927–2013) in some capacity. The films were often based upon novels or short stories, particularly the work ofHenry James,E. M. Forster, and Jhabvala herself.

The initial goal of the company was "to make English-language films inIndia aimed at the international market". The style of Merchant Ivory films set and photographed in India became iconic. The company also went on to make films in the United Kingdom and America.^{[citation needed]}

Some actors and producers associated with Merchant Ivory includeMaggie Smith,Leela Naidu,Madhur Jaffrey,Aparna Sen,Shashi Kapoor,Jennifer Kendal,Hugh Grant,James Wilby,Rupert Graves,Simon Callow,Anthony Hopkins,Glenn Close,Uma Thurman,Emma Thompson,Vanessa Redgrave,Natasha Richardson,Ralph Fiennes,Colin Firth,Richard Hawley andHelena Bonham Carter.^{[citation needed]}

Of this collaboration, Merchant once commented: "It is a strange marriage we have at Merchant Ivory... I am anIndian Muslim, Ruth is aGerman Jew, and Jim is aProtestant American. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!"^[1]

The expression "Merchant–Ivory film" has made its way into common parlance, to denote a particular genre of film rather than the actual production company. While 1965'sShakespeare Wallah put this genre on the international map,^[2] its heyday was the 1980s and 1990s with such films asA Room with a View (1985) andHowards End (1992). A typical "Merchant–Ivory film" would be aperiod piece, based on aclassic novel, set in the early 20th century, usually inEdwardian England, featuring lavish sets and top British actors portraying genteel characters who suffer from disillusionment and tragic entanglements. The main theme often surrounded a house, which took on a particular importance in many Merchant Ivory films.^[3][4]

Merchant Ivory Productions was founded in 1961 by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory^[5] in India to produce English language films.^[6]

After early, modest successes with films such asThe Householder,Shakespeare Wallah, andBombay Talkie, Merchant and Ivory suffered a lean period during the 1970s. Films such asJane Austen in Manhattan andThe Wild Party failed to find an audience. Their fortunes revived dramatically in 1979 when they madean adaptation ofHenry James' novelThe Europeans. Their filmHeat and Dust (1983) was an art-house hit in Europe, particularly in England.^[7] However, it was not until their work together onA Room with a View (1985) that they broke out from the art house into broader success.

In 1985, Merchant Ivory Productions was signed by film distributorCinecom International Films in order to gave Cinecom access to the 11 Merchant Ivory productions at that time as Cinecom had to increase its distribution schedule.^[8] In 1986, Merchant Ivory and Cinecom begin their co-production lineup with the filmThe Deceivers.^[9] In 1987, after 25 years as an independent producer, Merchant Ivory Productions declined offers by Hollywood power brokers and deep-pocketed investors, mesmerized by the success of the triple-Oscar winningA Room with a View, to take the company public.^[10]

Around 1990, they moved their productions to England and the United States. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala became their frequent collaborating writer.^[6]Major film studios sought them out;Disney signed Merchant Ivory Productions to a three-year distribution deal in 1991.^[11][12]

In October 2015,Cohen Media Group acquired the Merchant Ivory brand and library, 21 films and 9 documentaries including worldwide distribution, for restoration and rerelease as a part of theCohen Film Collection. Ivory would be creative director on the films' restoration, re-release and promotion.^[6]

Ivory was known for often directing the productions. He received threeAcademy Award nominations for his work but never won. He received his first Oscar at the age of 89 for his screenplay forCall Me by Your Name, becoming the oldest person to win an Oscar for writing.

Academy Awards

Merchant was known for producing the films. Despite four nominations, he never won.

Academy Awards

Jhabvala was known for adapting the screenplays. She received three nominations, with two wins.

Academy Awards

Hawley started in 1987 as Ivory's first assistant director onSlaves of New York. He was involved in every project to some degree thereafter. In 1994, he started co-running the company with Merchant and departed in 2009 after completion ofThe City of Your Final Destination.

Compiled works from Merchant Ivory Productions.

• Official website

• Film production companies of the United Kingdom
• Merchant Ivory Productions films
• Mass media companies established in 1961
• British companies established in 1961
• Companies based in London
• BAFTA fellows
• Film production companies of India
• Indian companies established in 1961
• British Indian mass media

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