Editing Merchant Ivory Productions (section)

{{Redirect|Merchant Ivory|the 2023 documentary about the film company|Merchant Ivory (film)}}
{{Short description|Film production company}}
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{{Infobox company
|name             = Merchant Ivory Productions
|logo             = 
|foundation       = 1961
|founder          = [[Ismail Merchant]] <br/> [[James Ivory]]
|location_city    = 
}}
'''Merchant Ivory Productions''' is a film company founded in 1961 by producer [[Ismail Merchant]] (1936–2005) and director [[James 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 by [[Ruth Prawer Jhabvala]] (1927–2013) in some capacity. The films were often based upon novels or short stories, particularly the work of [[Henry James]], [[E. M. Forster]], and Jhabvala herself.

The initial goal of the company was "to make English-language films in [[India]] 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|date=September 2022}}

Some actors and producers associated with Merchant Ivory include [[Maggie 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|Richard Hawley]] and [[Helena Bonham Carter]].{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Of this collaboration, Merchant once commented: "It is a strange marriage we have at Merchant Ivory... I am an [[Indian Muslim]], Ruth is a [[German Jews|German Jew]], and Jim is a [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|Protestant American]]. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!"<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1627804,00.html "Ismail Merchant"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20081121213243/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1627804,00.html |date=21 November 2008 }}, ''The Times'', 26 May 2005.</ref>

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's ''[[Shakespeare Wallah]]'' put this genre on the international map,<ref>Kaur, Harmanpreet. [http://www.projectorhead.in/eight/wandering-company.html "The Wandering Company: Merchant-Ivory Productions and Post-Colonial Cinema"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610194545/http://www.projectorhead.in/eight/wandering-company.html |date=10 June 2013 }}, ''Projectorhead Film Magazine'', 10 January 2013.</ref> its heyday was the 1980s and 1990s with such films as ''[[A Room with a View (1985 film)|A Room with a View]]'' (1985) and ''[[Howards End (film)|Howards End]]'' (1992).  A typical "Merchant–Ivory film" would be a [[period piece]], based on a [[classic novel]], set in the early 20th century, usually in [[Edwardian era|Edwardian 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.<ref>LaSalle, Mick. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/13/DDGGDGLSO61.DTL&type=movies "Merchant-Ivory's final film a refined delight. Naturally"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525005928/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F01%2F13%2FDDGGDGLSO61.DTL&type=movies |date=25 May 2011 }}, ''San Francisco Chronicle'', 13 January 2006.</ref><ref>Ebert, Roger. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050526/PEOPLE/50526001 "Ismail Merchant: In Memory"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716191643/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050526%2FPEOPLE%2F50526001 |date=16 July 2012 }}, 26 May 2005.</ref>