Merchant Ivory (2023)

Director: Stephen Soucy
Executive Producer: Charles Cohen, James Ivory
Producer: Jon Hart and Stephen Soucy
Cinematographer: E. Matthew Cady, Sefa Karatekin, Adam Lewis, Jean-Marc Selva
US Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Original Music: Ryan Homsey
Sound Mixer and Post Production Supervisor: Adam Scott
World Premiere: Upcoming on November 11-12, 2023, DOC NYC

Oscar winner James Ivory began his storied career making documentaries in India. While screening one at India’s Consulate in New York City, he met his life and business partner, Ismail Merchant. As Merchant Ivory Productions, they made 44 films, including such classics as Howard’s End, A Room with a View, and The Remains of the Day. Jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes stories of their creative process and impact are shared here in fresh interviews with Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, and more—and, of course, the spry 95-year-old Ivory himself. – Jaie Laplante (Artistic Director, DOC NYC)

The film is the definitive presentation of the partnership, both professional and personal, of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. With more than fifty interviews, the film gives voice to the extended Merchant Ivory family. These close collaborators detail and celebrate their experiences, during this "golden period" of the wandering company that was Merchant Ivory, helmed by legendary producer Ismail Merchant.

With six Academy Award®-winners among the notable artists participating, the documentary provides new and compelling perspectives on a unique partnership that produced seminal films over four decades.

Featured interviews include:

• James Ivory, Oscar® winner
• Emma Thompson, Oscar® winner
• Vanessa Redgrave, Oscar® winner
• Helena Bonham Carter
• Hugh Grant
• Sam Waterston
• Jenny Beavan, Oscar®-winning designer
• John Bright, Oscar®-winning designer
• Luciana Arrighi, Oscar®-winning designer

 

Original Score and Track List

The orginal score combines a traditional chamber orchestra with an Indian percussion ensemble, and is approximately 45 minutes in its entirety. The album will be available once the film officially comes out.

  1. A Novel Idea

  2. Baptism by Fire

  3. The Merchant Ivory Style

  4. Hemmings in Paris

  5. Music and Life Mingle

  6. Passion and Passage

  7. Submersible Labyrinth

  8. Hall and Durham

  9. A Golden Period

  10. Bombay Merchant

  11. The Wandering Company

  12. Versailles

  13. E Morgan F

  14. Elegy for Richard Robbins

 

Music and Life Mingle

Premiered by the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra (OCCO) on July 29, 2023 at the Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre as part of the “Homages” concert under the baton of music director/conductor Todd Craven.

 

Composer’s Note

While the film pays tribute to the longest running partnership in the history of cinema—between Oscar-winning director, James Ivory (b. 1928), and legendary producer, Ismail Merchant (1936-2005)—my score pays homage to Richard Robbins (1940-2012) who crafted original scores for 24 of the 43 films made by Merchant Ivory Productions spanning three decades. Robbins’ most memorable scores include A Room with a View, Maurice, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Howard’s End, and The Remains of the Day. I feel like an artistic inheritor of Robbins’ unique blend of musical genres, which integrates contemporary classical, minimalism, Romanticism, and cinematic film scoring.

Find out more about Merchant Ivory on IMDb