PRESS
‘Merchant Ivory’ Review: Illuminating Doc Examines the Private and Professional Sides of an Enduring Film Partnership
The prolific company founded by producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory became synonymous with elegant literary adaptations in the 1980s and ‘90s. Read More
Cohen Media Group Acquires ‘Merchant Ivory,’ Documentary About Legendary Filmmaking Team, Ahead Of DOC NYC Premiere
Merchant Ivory became synonymous with quality filmmaking over a period of more than 40 years, earning particular acclaim for A Room with a View (1985), Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990), Howards End (1992), and The Remains of the Day(1993). They were life partners from 1961 until Merchant’s death in 2005. Read More
Film Threat Review of ‘Merchant Ivory’ Documentary Film
Stephen Soucy’s Merchant Ivory wraps the viewer in a blanket of cozy nostalgia while relating the history of the wonderful, elegant films of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Read More
James Ivory reveals why he kept his decades-long romance with Ismail Merchant private: 'I felt I had to protect him.'
At height of their fame in the 1980s and 1990s, director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant were a true partnership — on-screen and off. Movie lovers knew them as the two halves of Merchant Ivory, the company behind such beautifully-crafted period pieces as A Room with a View, Howard's End and The Remains of the Day. Read More
'Merchant Ivory' doc uncovers cinematic partnership behind James Ivory, Ismail Merchant
Chances are, you can spot a Merchant Ivory production just from a single scene. There's often stunning cinematography, dazzling costumes, star-studded casts, a mature script and a sweeping score, all working to whisk you off your feet and immerse you in a new world. Read More
Palm Springs International Film Festival programmers share highlights, movies not to miss
A documentary about the filmmaker, "Merchant Ivory," directed by Stephen Soucy, will also screen at the festival. The film lends new insight on the partnership, both professional and personal, of Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary collaborators, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Read More
Local filmmaker pays tribute to James Ivory, collaborators in documentary honoring ‘granddaddy of independent film’
Director Stephen Soucy is one of millions of cinephiles who developed a love and appreciation for films like “Howards End,” “The Remains of the Day,” and “A Room with a View,” all movies that were the result of the creative collaboration of producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, who formed the production company Merchant Ivory in 1961. Read More
Merchant Ivory Clip: Watch an Exclusive Scene from the Documentary
“If Ruth and Jim and Ismael decided they were going to make a film out of a script or one of Ruth’s books, Ismael would raise the money,” says editor Humphrey Dixon in Merchant Ivory. “There was no question that he would do it. You don’t find many producers able to do or say that.” Get an insider’s look at the art and craft of Merchant Ivory productions in this exclusive clip from the documentary that explores the oeuvre of the landmark cinematic team. Read More
Selig Film News – Interview with Filmmaker Stephen Soucy
Filmmaker Stephen Soucy talked with our Gadi Elkon about the feature documentary, MERCHANT IVORY. View Interview
‘Merchant Ivory’ Review: Time and Money
In these six carefully scripted/produced chapters, newcomers to this duos’ art of producing films with virtually no budget, can’t help but admire the busy savvy of Ismail Merchant and artistic integrity of James Ivory. Read More
LRM Online: Interview with Filmmaker Stephen Soucy
LRM Online's Gig Patta spoke with director Stephen Soucy for the documentary Merchant Ivory prior to its premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024. View Interview
‘Merchant Ivory,’ The Panoptic About The Formidable Film Team
The documentary directed by Stephen Soucy retraces one of the longest partnerships in the history of film. Merchant Ivory delves deep into the audacious company formed by Ismail Merchant as producer, James Ivory as director, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala as screenwriter and Richard Robbins as composer. Read More
‘Merchant Ivory’ Deep Focus Review
Stephen Soucy’s affectionate new documentary, Merchant Ivory, takes the name of their production company, which, despite working with often meager budgets and under strenuous conditions, managed to produce acclaimed masterpieces such as A Room with a View (1985), Maurice (1987), Howards End (1992), and The Remains of the Day (1993). Read More
‘Merchant Ivory’ Loud and Clear Review
Stephen Soucy’s Merchant Ivory documentary gifts film lovers with an elegant and intimate look into one of the most important award winning partnerships in cinema. Read More
Palm Springs Film Fest 2024 Interview: Stephen Soucy on the Period Pieces That Were Ahead of Their Time in ‘Merchant Ivory’
If Stephen Soucy was ever was in need of inspiration of how to deliver his debut feature on time and budget, he only needed to look at what his subjects Ismail Merchant and James Ivory were capable of, putting together opulent period pieces together with barely enough pennies to rub together. Read More
REVIEW: ‘Merchant Ivory’ looks back at decades of cinematic art
The new documentary Merchant Ivory, which is featured at this week’s Palm Springs International Film Festival, follows the careers of director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant, two partners in life and the art of film making. The film, expertly directed by Stephen Soucy, is divided into chapters that highlight the many triumphs of the Merchant Ivory brand, plus many of the struggles along the way. Read More
Eye on the Desert interviews Stephen Soucy about his film “Merchant Ivory”
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival full programme announced
The 38th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, one of the world’s most significant and long-standing queer film events in the LGBTQIA+ calendar, today reveals its full programme. Read More
Variety Exclusive
Real-Life Champagne Drama ‘Widow Clicquot’ Opens the Sonoma International Film Festival
The festival film lineup includes Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters”; Tony Goldwyn’s “Ezra”; Daina O. Pusic’s “Tuesday,”; Gilles Legardinier’s “Mr. Blake at Your Service,”; Giorgio Diritti’s “Lubo.”; Bertrand Bonello’s “The Beast”; Bob Byington’s “Lousy Carter,”; and Stephen Soucy’s “Merchant Ivory.” Read More
'I got you an Oscar. Why do I need to pay you?’ The secret shocking truth about Merchant Ivory
If you were asked to guess which prestigious film-making duo had spent their career scratching around desperately for cash, trying to wriggle out of paying their cast and crew, ping-ponging between lovers, and having such blood-curdling bust-ups that their neighbours called the police, it might be some time before “Merchant Ivory” sprang to mind.” Read More
James Ivory, Luis Guzman, Jacqueline Bisset to headline Albany Film Festival
Ivory, winner of the 2021 Ironweed Award, will join producer, writer and director Stephen Soucy for a screening and discussion of his documentary “Merchant Ivory.” The film examines Merchant Ivory Productions, founded by Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant, and the personal and professional relationships behind the enduring film partnership..” Read More
Helena Bonham Carter, 57, shows off her kooky sense of style in an eye-catching look adorned with bows and pearls at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival
She's known for her quirky attire, but Helena Bonham Carter always manages to look good despite how outrageous her outfit is. And Saturday was no different as the actress, 57, turned heads as she led the stars at the Merchant Ivory screening during the BFI Flare Festival 2024..” Read More
BFI Flare 2024: "Merchant Ivory" Screening - Arrivals
BFI Flare 2024 Film Review: Merchant Ivory ★★★★
Back in the 80s and 90s there was a subset of gentile queerness that could best be summed up with three words, “Merchant Ivory gays,” after the lavish cinematic costume dramas released by independent film company Merchant Ivory Productions. Now producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, composer Richard Robbins and their close collaborators are the centre of Stephen Soucy’s wildly entertaining and frank documentary that charts the company’s rise and fall, and the gay love story at its core. Read More
Queerguru reviews ‘MERCHANT IVORY’ a celebration of the work and lives of the queer pioneer filmmakers
Stephen Soucy’s new documentary MERCHANT IVORY is one of those rare films that actually surpasses all the hype and the anticipation that preceded it. This affectionate profile on the legendary queer film pioneers makes for such joyous viewing. Read More
RiverRun 2024: Bigger than ever and raring to go!
This year’s centerpiece film is writer/producer/director Stephen Soucy’s feature debut Merchant Ivory, (8 p.m., April 24, Hanesbrands Theatre), a documentary that profiles the partnership of producer Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, whose esteemed collaborations include A Room With a View (1986), Howards End (1992), and The Remains of the Day (1993). Read More
James Ivory: The Oscar Legends Interview
The cinematic creative collaboration of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (along with composer Richard Robbins on a vast number of titles) marks what is arguably the longest running and most successful associations in film history, spanning 6 decades and 44 films that received 35 Oscar nominations. Read More