Famed producer Ismail Merchant died suddenly in London on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at the age of 68. The Indian-born producer and director was one half of the famed Merchant/Ivory Productions, responsible for the creation of nearly 50 films. Merchant was the producer of a string of international hits that brought the British costume-dramas back to the fore. The Merchant-Ivory Productions company first start getting noticed in the States in the early ’80’s with such films as HEAT AND DUST and THE BOSTONIANS starring Christopher Reeve and Vanessa Redgrave.
It was in 1985 that my movie life was forever changed with the discovery of the international smash hit, A ROOM WITH A VIEW. What followed was a string of films, some successful, some not, some masterpieces, some’not, but Merchant-Ivory Productions kept their presence on the big screen (and often at the Academy Awards) for many of the years that followed. Among their films are MAURICE, SLAVES OF NEW YORK, MR. & MRS. BRIDGE, HOWARDS END, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY and THE GOLDEN BOWL. Merchant also directed a handful of films including 2001’s THE MYSTIC MASSEUR. Before his death, Merchant was putting the finishing touches to his latest film, THE WHITE COUNTESS, for release this year.
As I think back on how A ROOM WITH A VIEW set me on the course of what would eventually become the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film, I must thank Ismail Merchant for the influence he has brought to my life. We bid him a fond adieu!