Cohen Film Collection is continuing its restorations of classic Merchant Ivory productions, among them 1963’s “The Householder,”The first film collaboration between James Ivory and Ismail Merchant.
Cohen Film Collection, Cohen Media Group’s classics division, is planning to restore four titles that include the 1977 episodic romantic comedy. “Roseland,”With Teresa Wright and Christopher Walken and two films directed and produced by Merchant “In Custody”(1994), Shashi Kapoor and “The Proprietor” (1996), starring Jeanne Moreau.
Tim Lanza is vice president of Cohen Film Collection and archivist. “In Custody” – Merchant’s feature directorial debut — and “The Proprietor”Particularly “because James Ivory was keen to have a rerelease of some of the films that were directed by Ismael Merchant himself.”
“The Householder” “In Custody” are also among Merchant Ivory’s India-set films, which Lanza is likewise excited to reintroduce to audiences.
Cohen Film Collection bought a few Merchant Ivory movies and has restored these titles. “Howards End,” “Maurice,” “Quartet,” “Heat and Dust” “Shakespeare Wallah.”
The new titles “are less well known as something like, certainly ‘Howards End’ or ‘Maurice,’ so we’re looking forward to reintroducing those, and in particular the Indian films,” Lanza says.
Due to their long-lasting appeal, the Merchant Ivory titles continue to be a magnet for international attention.
Merchant Ivory films, in addition to being a major arthouse brand was also notable. “a tradition of quality, compelling stories, recognizable casts and great performances,” Lanza notes.
“What’s really interesting to me is that even though there is sort of the veneer of classic and big budget, they were really a kind of ragtag group of filmmakers, very much an independent spirit,”He also noted that Merchant was often busy raising funds for films that were in production.
“I think that’s a lesser known part of their story that is really fascinating to me.” While Merchant Ivory’s works appear very polished and staid, with regard to the production and stories, they were “a little more subversive than people give them credit for.”
Merchant had given the original film elements of most Merchant Ivory films to The George Eastman Museum in Rochester. They will scan the negatives for new restorations.
Cohen Film Collection also has been restored “Autobiography of a Princess” (1975), “The Europeans” (1979), “The Bostonians”(1984). “The Deceivers” (1988).
11 Merchant Ivory titles remain to be restored by the company, with four of them currently in production. Its most recently completed film, Simon Callow’s 1991 drama “The Ballad of the Sad Café,”It was released in theatres this year, and will soon appear on Blu-ray or streaming services.
Also set for home video release this year is Patrice Leconte’s 1989 film “Monsieur Hire,”October 25, 2005. Cohen Film Collection will also release two additional Leconte movies that have not been widely distributed in the U.S. “Felix and Lola”2001 “Love Street” (2002).
From its partnership with Studiocanal, the company is also releasing Diane Kurys’ French drama “Entre Nous” (1983) and Reinhard Hauff’ 1978 German film “Knife in the Head,”Bruno Ganz. The latter is “a film that has been unavailable here for decades,” Lanza notes.
Cohen Film Collection, which is part of the North American deal with Celluloid Dreams and a few restored Jacques Rivette movies, will be available in the following year. “Love on the Ground” (1984), “The Gang of Four” (1989), “Up, Down, Fragile”(1995) “Secret Defense” (1998).