Out in Film: James Ivory & Ismail Merchant

Academy Award nominees both, director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant began their personal and professional relationship in the 1960's. Through their company, Merchant Ivory Productions, they turned out an impressive string of mostly literary-based period pieces that earned critical and popular acclaim until Merchant's death in 2005.

Early art house success came with Shakespeare-Wallah and The Wild Party, followed by mainstream fame with the surprise hit, A Room With a View. That film's lush scenery, gentile acting and focus on the British class system messing up people's lives became the formula for a Merchant Ivory film (much to the dismay of naysayers), resulting in Oscars and more of the same with Howards End and The Remains of the Day.

Gay themes crept into their work as well, such as Vanessa Redgrave's staunch suffragette in The Bostonians and, most memorably, the achingly romantic Maurice, based on the posthumously published E.M. Forster novel.

As part of their "Great To Be Nominated" series, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will screen Howards End in 70 mm this Monday at their Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Ivory will be on hand afterwards for a discussion of the film. Visit the Academy's website for more information.

And yes, I did say Howards End in 70 mm. That joke never gets old.

Links via Imdb.com and Oscars.org.