Cultural mistrust and false accusations doom a friendship in British colonial India between an Indian doctor, an Englishwoman engaged to marry a city magistrate, and an English educator.Cultural mistrust and false accusations doom a friendship in British colonial India between an Indian doctor, an Englishwoman engaged to marry a city magistrate, and an English educator.Cultural mistrust and false accusations doom a friendship in British colonial India between an Indian doctor, an Englishwoman engaged to marry a city magistrate, and an English educator.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 22 wins & 26 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe relationship between writer and director Sir David Lean and Sir Alec Guinness deteriorated during the making of the movie. The final straw came for Guinness when he found out that a large chunk of his scenes had been left on the cutting room floor by Lean. Neither man ever met or spoke to the other again.
- GoofsAt the Marabar Caves, the elephants and their mahouts are decorated in the South Indian style-ash smeared on their foreheads etc. whereas the story is supposed to have happened in Chandrapore, Bihar. These scenes were clearly shot in South India, perhaps in the caves and hills, near Bangalore.
- Quotes
Mrs. Moore: My dear, life rarely gives us what we want at the moment we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually.
- SoundtracksTea For Two
Written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar
Featured review
unexpected and fascinating turn
It's the first time out of England for Adela Quested (Judy Davis) and she is drawn to the Marabar Caves in India. She's traveling with her friend Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft) who's the mother of her boyfriend city magistrate Ronny Heaslop (Nigel Havers). They are met on the train by the Turtons. Mrs. Moore encounters widower Dr. Aziz Ahmed in a rundown mosque. He is invited to tea with the ladies, Mr. Fielding (James Fox) and Professor Godbole (Alec Guinness). Aziz invites them to see the caves and spends a great deal of money out of obligation. Mrs. Moore is tired by the experience. Aziz, Adela and the guide go off to the higher caves. Adela comes back accusing Aziz of molesting her and Aziz is arrested.
It's a fascinating look at colonial India and the clash of cultures. I would have liked Godbole to be played by an Indian. Alec Guinness is fine but he's not doing anything extraordinary. This seems like a nice simple period piece and then the twist happens. I like that all the characters get turn on their heads. It's unexpected and fascinating.
It's a fascinating look at colonial India and the clash of cultures. I would have liked Godbole to be played by an Indian. Alec Guinness is fine but he's not doing anything extraordinary. This seems like a nice simple period piece and then the twist happens. I like that all the characters get turn on their heads. It's unexpected and fascinating.
helpful•50
- SnoopyStyle
- Jun 4, 2015
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $16,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $27,187,653
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $84,580
- Dec 16, 1984
- Gross worldwide
- $27,201,487
- Runtime2 hours 44 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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