Customer Reviews

Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures - The Merchant Ivory Collection

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I quite liked this one - being a big fan of Bollywood, and Merchant & Ivory, amongst other genres and auteurs I enjoy (Bergman, spaghetti Westerns, film noire, Bertolucci). These early films of Merchant and Ivory are in some ways superior to the later works, as they seem more human, with flaws, quirky, funnier. The cast, aside from Larry Pine, are superb. Saeed Jaffrey is one of my favorite actors of any place or time - always spot on, never hits a false note. Victor Banerjee as the playboy Georgie gives of the perfect combination of cultured and sophisticated ease, with more than a hint of a darker shadows, debauchery. Aparna Sen is the perfect Hindu rani - sophisticated and above it all, serene and gorgeous, with an immaculate public school accent. Dame Peggy is good, the actress who plays her travelling companion is miscast and bland, and Larry Pine - who cast him and why? While his look is good, he is sooooooooooo American naturalistic in his acting that he brings very little to the table.

You can tell it is made for TV - while the exterior shots are almost all very appealing (the scenery and light in Jodpur is fantastic) the interior shots look like they have only one light. The story is very amusing, and aside from two incredibly clunker attempts at symbolism (in the middle of the film and at the very end), engaging.

Not a major film, but very interesting, with the main attractions being the three Indian leads, the scenery, and a glimpse into what the lives of India's little ranis and rajas could be like.

I love Merchant Ivory movies so I thought this one would be interesting. However, it was an older film that I assumed and after a time it just became a bit boring.

Loved this film and made the journey to Jodhpur to see the palace. Well worth it as a lover of decco architecture.