Richard Robbins

Merchant Ivory is the longest running partnership in the history of cinema. As a film production entity, Merchant Ivory was founded in 1961 by producer Ismail Merchant (1936–2005) and director James Ivory (b. 1928). Merchant and Ivory were life and business partners from 1961 until Merchant's death in 2005. During their time together they made 43 films.

In collaboration with Academy Award winning Director/Screenwriter, James Ivory, Rich Atmosphere: The Music of Merchant Ivory Films, showcases the impact of composer Richard Robbins on Merchant Ivory films.

In 1930s Shanghai, 'The White Countess' is both Sofia—a fallen member of the Russian aristocracy—and a nightclub created by a blind American diplomat, who asks Sofia to be the centerpiece of the world he wants to create.

While visiting her sister in Paris, a young woman finds romance and learns her brother-in-law is a philanderer.

Circa 1940 in Trinidad, still a British Colony, lives Ganesh Ramseyor, of East Indian origin, along with his wife, Leela. He longs to reach out to people, especially to Hindus, in order to promote the Hindu Faith, and be known as a writer. He does get considerable success, so much so that he becomes famous as a miracle worker, having cured a man of sharing intimacy with his bicycle; prevented a man from believing that he can fly; and convincing a young woman to end her fast. His fame spreads all over the island and thousands throng to seek his blessings, which he does dole out quite benevolently, without charging any fees from the poor and the needy. He then decides to spread his wings by challenging the local politician Pandit Narayan Chandrashekhar alias Cyrus T., and takes over The Hindu Organization, thence opening his way to a seat in the prestigious Member of the Legislative Assembly

Historical context for The Remains of the Day.

A documentary about making The Remains of the Day.

A documentary about making The Remains of the Day.

An intricately plotted tale of thwarted love and betrayal, "The Golden Bowl" tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates, a beautiful American expatriate and an impoverished Italian aristocrat, are entangled with one another in a romantic intrigue of seduction and deceit.

A British family is trapped between culture, tradition, and the colonial sins of the past.

This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here portrayed as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

An expatriated French novelist returns to Paris when she learns that her childhood home is being placed on the auction block.

The passionate Merchant-Ivory drama tells the story of Francoise Gilot, the only lover of Pablo Picasso who was strong enough to withstand his ferocious cruelty and move on with her life.

His wife having recently died, Thomas Jefferson accepts the post of United States ambassador to pre-revolutionary France, though he finds it difficult to adjust to life in a country where the aristocracy subjugates an increasingly restless peasantry. In Paris, he becomes smitten with cultured artist Maria Cosway, but, when his daughter visits from Virginia accompanied by her attractive slave, Sally Hemings, Jefferson's attentions are diverted.

A short documentary.

日系の英国作家K・イシグロのブッカー賞受賞作を基に、侯爵に忠実な執事として徹底的にストイックに生きた一人の男の悲哀を描いた物語。恋を知らぬ彼は安っぽい恋愛小説に慰めを得、それを女中頭に見つかり頬を赤らめる。互いに愛情を感じながらもその感情を抑えこんでしまう彼に、彼女は待ちきれず、彼の友人と結婚し町を去る。戦後、侯爵がこの世を去り、ようやく自由を感じた彼は女中頭を訪ねるのだが……。

旅行中に親しくなった上流階級の二つの家。両家から恋におちたヘレンとポールだったが、別れることに。だがやがて両家は隣同士として住むことに……。閉塞的な英階級社会に生きる人々の愛憎。

A small-town eccentric opens a café in her decaying home.

Set during World War II, an upper-class family begins to fall apart due to the conservative nature of the patriarch and the progressive values of his children.

Meet the denizens of New York City: artists, prostitutes, saints, and seers. All are aspiring toward either fame or oblivion, and hoping for love and acceptance. Instead they find high rents, faithless partners, and dead-end careers.

Police Inspector Ghote lives a middle-class life in Bombay along with his wife, Pratima. He has been employed with the Bombay Police for many years. He is assigned to investigate the deadly assault on a Parsi man named Perfect, who is the Secretary of Lala Heera Lal, a wealthy man with underworld links. Inspector Ghote commences his investigation and is displeased when his superiors ask him to work with a Swedish Forensic Expert by the name of Axel Svennson.

英・ケンブリッジ大学に入学した中産階級のモーリスは、同性愛を肯定する上流階級のクライヴに出会う。モーリスはクライヴに影響を受けつつ、しだいに純粋な愛に目覚めていく……。ヒュー・グラント、ジェイムズ・ウィルビー主演の名作。

A young girl agrees to work in a center for girls who can't stay with their parents. She gets wrapped up in the plights of several of the girls, and tries to help them, but only gets herself into trouble with her parents and supervisor.

まだ封建的であった20世紀初頭のイギリス。良家の令嬢ルーシーは、旅先のフィレンツェで労働者階級の青年と出会う。情熱的な彼にルーシーは強く惹かれるが……。格調高い様式美の中で綴られるラヴ・ロマンス。

19世紀アメリカ、ボストン。女性の権利を主張する美しい女性が恋に落ちて……。ヘンリー・ジェイムズの原作を映画化。主義と恋愛感情の間で苦悩する主人公をヴァネッサ・レッドグレーヴが好演。

Anne is investigating the life of her grand-aunt Olivia, whose destiny has always been shrouded with scandal. As Anne delves into the history of her grand-aunt, she is led to reconsider her own life.

When her husband's arrest leaves her penniless, a woman accepts an invitation to move in with a strange couple.

Two teachers vie for the right to stage a play written by Jane Austen when she was twelve years old.

A New England household is upset by the arrival of two cousins from Europe.

This short documentary, shot in July 1976 at the Mannes College of Music on Manhattan's Upper East Side, marks the first collaboration between Merchant Ivory Films and composer Richard Robbins, who would go on to provide the musical scores for nearly all Merchant Ivory films. Later in 1976, 'Sweet Sounds' was shown at the New York and London Film Festivals. It was also broadcast on PBS.