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.
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 and Helena Bonham Carter.
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 Jew, and Jim is a Protestant American. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!"
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, its heyday was the 1980s and 1990s with such films as A Room with a View (1985) and 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 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.
History
Merchant Ivory Productions was founded in 1961 by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory in India to produce English-language films. However, it was not until their work together on A 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 distributor Cinecom International Films in order to give Cinecom access to the 11 Merchant Ivory productions at that time as Cinecom had to increase its distribution schedule. In 1986, Merchant Ivory and Cinecom began their co-production lineup with the film The Deceivers. 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 winning A Room with a View, to take the company public.
Around 1990, they moved their productions to England and the United States. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala became their frequent collaborating writer. Major film studios sought them out; Disney signed Merchant Ivory Productions to a three-year distribution deal in 1991.
In October 2015, Cohen Media Group acquired the Merchant Ivory brand and library, 21 films and nine documentaries including worldwide distribution, for restoration and rerelease as a part of the Cohen Film Collection. Ivory would be creative director on the films' restoration, re-release and promotion.
Members
James Ivory
Ivory was known for often directing the productions. He received three Academy Award nominations for his work but never won. He received his first Oscar at the age of 89 for his screenplay for Call Me by Your Name, becoming the oldest person to win an Oscar for writing.
Academy Awards
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Film
!Category
!Result
|-
| 1986
| A Room with a View
| rowspan="3" | Best Director
|
|-
| 1993
| Howards End
|
|-
| 1994
| The Remains of the Day
|
|-
| 2018
| Call Me by Your Name
| Best Adapted Screenplay
|
|}
Ismail Merchant
Merchant was known for producing the films. Despite four nominations, he never won.
Academy Awards
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Film
!Category
!Result
|-
| 1960
| The Creation of a Woman
| Live Action Short Film
|
|-
| 1986
| A Room with a View
| rowspan="3" | Best Picture
|
|-
| 1993
| Howards End
|
|-
| 1994
| The Remains of the Day
|
|-
|}
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Jhabvala was known for adapting the screenplays. She received three nominations, with two wins.
Academy Awards
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Film
!Category
!Result
|-
| 1986
| A Room with a View
| rowspan="3" | Best Adapted Screenplay
|
|-
| 1993
| Howards End
|
|-
| 1994
| The Remains of the Day
|
|-
|}
Richard Hawley
Hawley started in 1987 as Ivory's first assistant director on Slaves 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 of The City of Your Final Destination.
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Year
!Film
!Involvement
|-
| 1989
| Slaves of New York
| First assistant director
|-
| 1995
| Jefferson in Paris
| First assistant director<br />Unit production manager
|-
| 1996
| The Proprietor
| Associate producer
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| Side Streets
| Executive producer
|-
| A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries
| Executive producer<br />First assistant director<br />Unit production manager (USA)
|-
| 1999
| Cotton Mary
| Producer<br />North American distribution executive
|-
| 2000
| The Golden Bowl
| Executive producer
|-
| 2001
| The Mystic Masseur
| Producer
|-
| 2003
| Le Divorce
| Co-producer
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| Heights
| Producer<br />Soundtrack producer
|-
| The White Countess
| Co-producer<br />Music producer
|-
| 2009
| The City of Your Final Destination
| Co-producer<br />Production manager
|-
|}
Filmography
Compiled works from Merchant Ivory Productions.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Year !! Title !! Director !! Producer !! Screenwriter !! Source Material !! Other notes
|-
| 1963 || The Householder
|-
|rowspan=2|1984 || Best Actress || Vanessa Redgrave || rowspan=2|The Bostonians || || rowspan=2|
|-
|Best Costume Design || Jenny Beavan and John Bright ||
|-
| rowspan=8|1986 || Best Picture || Ismail Merchant || rowspan=8|A Room with a View || || rowspan=8|
|-
|Best Director || James Ivory ||
|-
|Best Supporting Actor || Denholm Elliott ||
|-
|Best Supporting Actress || Maggie Smith ||
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay || Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ||
|-
|Best Cinematography || Tony Pierce-Roberts ||
|-
|Best Production Design || Gianni Quaranta, Brian Ackland-Snow, Brian Savegar and Elio Altamura ||
|-
|Best Costume Design || Jenny Beavan and John Bright ||
|-
|1987 || Best Costume Design || Jenny Beavan and John Bright || Maurice || ||
|-
|1990 || Best Actress || Joanne Woodward || Mr. & Mrs. Bridge || ||
|-
| rowspan=9|1992 || Best Picture || Ismail Merchant || rowspan=9|Howards End || || rowspan=9|
|-
|Best Director || James Ivory ||
|-
|Best Actress || Emma Thompson ||
|-
|Best Supporting Actress || Vanessa Redgrave ||
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay || Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ||
|-
|Best Cinematography || Tony Pierce-Roberts ||
|-
|Best Production Design || Gianni Quaranta, Brian Ackland-Snow, Brian Savegar and Elio Altamura ||
|-
|Best Costume Design || Jenny Beavan and John Bright ||
|-
|Best Original Score || Richard Robbins ||
|-
| rowspan=8|1993 || Best Picture || Ismail Merchant || rowspan=8|The Remains of the Day || || rowspan=8|
|-
|Best Director || James Ivory ||
|-
|Best Actor || Anthony Hopkins ||
|-
|Best Actress || Emma Thompson ||
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay || Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ||
|-
|Best Production Design || Gianni Quaranta, Brian Ackland-Snow, Brian Savegar and Elio Altamura ||
|-
|Best Costume Design || Jenny Beavan and John Bright ||
|-
|Best Original Score || Richard Robbins ||
|}