Heat and Dust (1982) from Tuna

Heat and Dust is an early effort from the team of Merchant and Ivory, and concentrates more on character and less on historical detail than their later works. The film takes place in two time frames.

NUDITY REPORT

Greta Scacchi shows buns and breasts. Although she is behind a mosquito net, the nudity is clear and well lit.
Sixty years ago, a young and vibrant Greta Scacchi travels to colonial India to be with her husband who is a junior consul in government service, and becomes enthralled with India. Her least favorite thing? The stodgy English women who also live there. Her favorite thing? The local prince, and the excitement of the Indian court.

The film takes place in two time frames. In the 1920s, a young and vibrant Greta Scacchi travels to colonial India to be with her husband who is a junior consul in government service, and becomes enthralled with India. Her least favorite thing? The stodgy English women who also live there. Her favorite thing? The local prince, and the excitement of the Indian court.

Meanwhile, cut to present day, and Scacchi's grand niece, played by Julie Christie, comes to India based on her great aunt's letters home, to trace her steps and understand her. In reality, she is trying to find herself after a disastrous relationship with a married man. The two women follow strikingly parallel paths, even to becoming pregnant. At the same time, the switching time frame device allow colonial India to be contrasted with the present, and also shows the fascination of India in both eras. Even if the story doesn't grab you, there are two other good reasons to see this film. The cinematography is wonderful, and Greta Scacchi, in her first film role, gets naked.

DVD info from Amazon

  • Autobiography of a Princess, a 55-minute film about Royal India starring James Mason and Madhur Jaffrey, directed by James Ivory and written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

  • Conversation with the filmmakers, part of a new series of interviews with James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and Richard Robbins

  • Widescreen anamorphic format

So, we have beautiful imagery, nudity, historical and cultural interest, love stories, and fine performances from both Scacchi and Julie Christie.  I think the film has more appeal for estrogen oriented viewers, but it held my interest, despite the fact that historical dramas are not generally my favorite.  

Scoop's note: Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala (Producer, Director, Writer) have churned out more than 20 movies together. When it comes to costume dramas about the British Empire, they rule the roost. Ivory has been thrice-nominated for the best director Oscar. (Remains of the Day, Howard's End, A Room With a View). Jhabvala won the Oscars for best adapted screenplay for the latter two films, and was nominated for the other.

The Critics Vote ...

  • Maltin 3/4.

  • The film won a BAFTA for best adapted screenplay, and was nominated for seven others.

The People Vote ...

  • With their votes ... IMDB summary: IMDb voters score it 6.2 
IMDb guideline: 7.5 usually indicates a level of excellence, about like three and a half stars from the critics. 6.0 usually indicates lukewarm watchability, about like two and a half stars from the critics. The fives are generally not worthwhile unless they are really your kind of material, about like two stars from the critics. Films under five are generally awful even if you like that kind of film, equivalent to about one and a half stars from the critics or less, depending on just how far below five the rating is.

My own guideline: A means the movie is so good it will appeal to you even if you hate the genre. B means the movie is not good enough to win you over if you hate the genre, but is good enough to do so if you have an open mind about this type of film. C means it will only appeal to genre addicts, and has no crossover appeal. D means you'll hate it even if you like the genre. E means that you'll hate it even if you love the genre. F means that the film is not only unappealing across-the-board, but technically inept as well.

Based on this description,  I think the film has more appeal for estrogen oriented viewers, but it held my interest, despite the fact that historical dramas are not generally my favorite, so I will give this one a B-. Beautiful imagery, nudity, historical and cultural interest, love stories, and fine performances from both Scacchi and Julie Christie.

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