A
Passage To India (1984)
Sony
Cast:
Peggy Ashcroft, Judy Davis, James Fox, Alec Guinness, Nigel
Havers, Victor Bannerjee.
Rating:
PG-13
Run
time: 164 mins
Genre:
Drama
Verdict:
Brilliant
(see rating
system)
This
is the special 2-DVD edition David Lean fans have long been
waiting for and Sony doesn't disappoint.
As
well as a gleaming new high-definition transfer, this release
is packed with a wealth of information on famed director Lean's
final movie contained in seven featurettes. It's also available
in Blu-Ray.
The
movie is based on E.M. Forster's final novel of the same name
and set in the 1920s during the declining years of the Btitish
Raj. Judy Davis plays Adela Quested, a youg Englishwoman who
goes to India with her elderly friend Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft).
It's not just a sightseeing trip as Mrs. Moore hopes Adele
will marry her son Ronny Heaslop (Nigel Havers), a young magistrate.
The
two women quickly tire of English upper class "club life"
and accompany a handsome young Indian man, Dr. Aziz (Victor
Bannerjee) to see the famed Marabar Caves. It is here that
the story takes an unexpected and shocking turn that leads
to a major scandal.
Paced
to perfection and featuring spectacular scenery and fine performances
(Ashcroft won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar) the movie
is a treat for the senses. And frequent Lean composer Maurice
Jarre again provides an Oscar-winning musical score.
As
well as new cast and crew interviews - including an archive
interview with Lean himself - the extra features reveal fascinating
details of the location shooting and there's an audio commentary
from producer Richard Goodwin.
It's
a must-have film for collectors.
