James Ivory

James Ivory
Gorup de Besanez · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	James Ivory
Caption	Ivory at the Deauville American Film Festival in 2018
Birth date	7 June 1928
Birth place	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film director, producer, screenwriter
Years active	1953–present
Alma mater	University of Oregon, USC School of Cinematic Arts
Partner	Ismail Merchant (1961–2005; Merchant's death)

James Ivory. An American film director, producer, and screenwriter, he is best known as one-third of the acclaimed filmmaking partnership Merchant Ivory Productions, alongside producer Ismail Merchant and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. His career, spanning over six decades, is celebrated for a series of elegant, literate period dramas, particularly adaptations of classic novels, which garnered widespread critical praise and numerous awards. Ivory's work, especially in the late 20th century, became synonymous with a refined, visually sumptuous style of cinematic storytelling.

Early life and education

Born in Berkeley, California, he was the son of a sawmill operator. His early interest in the arts was nurtured by his mother. He initially pursued a degree in fine arts, studying at the University of Oregon before developing a passion for cinema. To further this interest, he enrolled at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he directed a short documentary, *Venice: Theme and Variations*, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1957. This early success provided a crucial foundation for his future career in feature filmmaking.

Career

In 1961, he met Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant in New York, forming a personal and professional partnership that would last over four decades. Together, they founded Merchant Ivory Productions, later joined by German-born novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. The company first gained international attention with early India-set features like *The Householder* (1963) and *Shakespeare Wallah* (1965). Their breakthrough in the United States and Europe came with a series of meticulously crafted period adaptations, including *The Europeans* (1979), *The Bostonians* (1984), and the highly successful E. M. Forster adaptations *A Room with a View* (1985) and *Howards End* (1992). The latter won three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Emma Thompson. His 1993 film, *The Remains of the Day*, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, received eight Oscar nominations. After Merchant's death in 2005, he continued to direct and write, achieving a historic milestone by winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for *Call Me by Your Name* (2017) at age 89, becoming the oldest Oscar winner in any competitive category.

Personal life

His life was deeply intertwined with his professional collaborator, Ismail Merchant, with whom he shared a romantic relationship from 1961 until Merchant's death in 2005. The couple lived and worked together, maintaining homes in New York City, Claverack, and for many years in India, a country that profoundly influenced their early work. He has been a longtime resident of Hudson Valley and is known for his extensive collection of art and antiques. In 2021, his memoir, *Solid Ivory*, was published, detailing his life and storied career in cinema.

Filmography

A selected filmography of his directorial work includes *The Householder* (1963), *Shakespeare Wallah* (1965), *Bombay Talkie* (1970), *The Wild Party* (1975), *The Europeans* (1979), *The Bostonians* (1984), *A Room with a View* (1985), *Maurice* (1987), *Slaves of New York* (1989), *Mr. & Mrs. Bridge* (1990), *Howards End* (1992), *The Remains of the Day* (1993), *Jefferson in Paris* (1995), *Surviving Picasso* (1996), *A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries* (1998), *The Golden Bowl* (2000), *Le Divorce* (2003), *The White Countess* (2005), and *The City of Your Final Destination* (2009). He also wrote the screenplay for *Call Me by Your Name* (2017), directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Awards and nominations

His work has been recognized by major institutions worldwide. He has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, for *A Room with a View*, *Howards End*, and *The Remains of the Day*. He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for *Call Me by Your Name*. At the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), he won Best Film for *Howards End* and received several other nominations. He has been honored with the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from France and a Golden Lion lifetime achievement award from the Venice Film Festival. In 2022, he received a knighthood, becoming an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Legacy and influence

He is a defining figure in the heritage film genre, celebrated for bringing literary sophistication and visual grandeur to the screen. The distinctive style of Merchant Ivory Productions set a benchmark for period drama adaptations, influencing a generation of filmmakers. His late-career Oscar win for *Call Me by Your Name* cemented his status as a timeless and adaptable storyteller. His papers and archives are held at the University of Oregon Libraries, ensuring the preservation and study of his significant contribution to American and international cinema.

Category:American film directors Category:Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners Category:Living people