A Passage to India (1984)
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- PG
- 2h 44min
- Adventure, Drama
- 01 Feb 1985 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 2 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 26 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Judy Davis | ... |
Adela Quested
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| Victor Banerjee | ... |
Dr. Aziz
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| Peggy Ashcroft | ... |
Mrs. Moore
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| James Fox | ... |
Richard Fielding
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| Alec Guinness | ... |
Professor Godbole
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| Nigel Havers | ... |
Ronny Heaslop
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| Richard Wilson | ... |
Turton
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Antonia Pemberton | ... |
Mrs. Turton
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| Michael Culver | ... |
Major McBryde
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| Art Malik | ... |
Ali
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| Saeed Jaffrey | ... |
Hamidullah
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| Clive Swift | ... |
Major Callendar
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| Ann Firbank | ... |
Mrs. Callendar
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| Roshan Seth | ... |
Amritrao
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| Sandra Hotz | ... |
Stella
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Rashid Karapiet | ... |
Das
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H.S. Krishnamurthy | ... |
Hassan
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| Ishaq Bux | ... |
Selim
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Moti Makan | ... |
Guide
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Mohammed Ashiq | ... |
Haq
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Phyllis Bose | ... |
Mrs. Leslie
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Sally Kinghorn | ... |
Ingenue
(as Sally Kinghorne)
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Paul Anil | ... |
Clerk of the Court
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Z.H. Khan | ... |
Dr. Panna Lal
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Ashok Mandanna | ... |
Anthony
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| Dina Pathak | ... |
Begum Hamidullah
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Adam Blackwood | ... |
Mr. Hadley
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Mellan Mitchell | ... |
Indian Businessman
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Peter Hughes | ... |
P & O Manager
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Yash Agnihotri | ... |
Court Gallery Member (uncredited)
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David Bulbeck | ... |
Court Member (uncredited)
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Harold Coyne | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Jim Delaney | ... |
Club Member (uncredited)
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Barrie Holland | ... |
Train Passenger (uncredited)
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Lew Hooper | ... |
Club Member (uncredited)
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| John Michie | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Duncan Preston | ... |
Club Member (uncredited)
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Richard Winter-Stanbridge | ... |
Train Passenger (uncredited)
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Directed by
| David Lean | ||
Written by
| E.M. Forster | ... | (by) |
| E.M. Forster | ... | (based on the novel by) |
| Santha Rama Rau | ... | (and the play by) |
| David Lean | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| John Brabourne | ... | producer |
| Richard Goodwin | ... | producer |
| John Heyman | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Edward Sands | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Maurice Jarre | ... | (original music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Ernest Day | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| David Lean | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Kees T. Hooft | ... | assistant editor (as Kees 'T Hooft) |
| Ron Lambert | ... | color timing by |
| Eunice Mountjoy | ... | associate editor |
| Anne Sopel | ... | assistant editor |
| Tom Forletta | ... | colorist: final video (uncredited) |
| Alf Wharton | ... | color grading: UK (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Priscilla John | ... | (casting) |
Production Design by
| John Box | ||
| Herbert Westbrook | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Cliff Robinson | ... | (as Clifford Robinson) |
| Leslie Tomkins | ||
| Herbert Westbrook | ||
| Ram Yedekar | ||
Set Decoration by
| Hugh Scaife | ||
Costume Design by
| Judy Moorcroft | ||
Makeup Department
| Eric Allwright | ... | makeup |
| Elaine Bowerbank | ... | hairdresser |
| Jill Carpenter | ... | makeup |
| Vera Mitchell | ... | hairdresser |
| Chris Taylor | ... | hairdresser (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Rashid Abbasi | ... | unit manager: India (as Rashid Abbassi) |
| Jim Brennan | ... | production manager |
| Shama Habibullah | ... | production manager |
| Barrie Melrose | ... | production supervisor |
| Rajen Rajkhowa | ... | unit manager: 2nd Unit |
| John Downes | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Patrick Cadell | ... | assistant director |
| Christopher Figg | ... | assistant director |
| Ajit Kumar | ... | assistant director |
| Nick Laws | ... | assistant director |
| Arundhati Rao | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Eddie Fowlie | ... | props |
| Bert Hearn | ... | property master: U.K. |
| Mickey Pugh | ... | props |
| Steve Short | ... | props |
| Frank Billington-Marks | ... | assistant property master (uncredited) |
| Albert Blackshaw | ... | construction manager: India (uncredited) |
| Ron Coleman | ... | construction manager: UK (uncredited) |
| Dave Everall | ... | rigger (uncredited) |
| Agnes Goveas | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Cleo Nethersole | ... | drapesmaster (uncredited) |
| Peter Russell | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Bill Stallion | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jeremy Baylis | ... | assistant dialogue editor |
| Ron Butcher | ... | sound engineer |
| Michael Carter | ... | sound recordist (as Michael A. Carter) |
| Peter Dansie | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Graham V. Hartstone | ... | sound recordist |
| Jack T. Knight | ... | effects editor |
| Nicolas Le Messurier | ... | sound recordist |
| Dick Lewzey | ... | sound recordist (as Richard Lewzey) |
| Archie Ludski | ... | dialogue editor |
| John W. Mitchell | ... | sound recordist (as John Mitchell) |
| Keith Pamplin | ... | boom operator |
| Winston Ryder | ... | sound editor |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | sound recordist |
| Chris David | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Robin Browne | ... | effects |
Stunts
| Richard Graydon | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Robin Browne | ... | second unit photography |
| Frank Connor | ... | stills |
| Frank Elliott | ... | focus |
| John Fletcher | ... | second camera focus |
| Roy Ford | ... | camera operator |
| W.C. 'Chunky' Huse | ... | grip (as Chunky Huse) |
| Martin Kenzie | ... | clapper |
| Alan Martin | ... | electrician |
| Bill Pochetty | ... | electrician |
| Richard Brierley | ... | trainee clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Alan Martin | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Simon Mein | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Kelvin Pike | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) |
| Chris Pinnock | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Nigel Seal | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Rosemary Burrows | ... | wardrobe mistress |
| Keith Morton | ... | wardrobe master |
| Sally Turner | ... | costume assistant |
Location Management
| Eddie Fowlie | ... | locations |
| Brioni Pereira | ... | location secretary |
| David Cherrill | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
| Yeti Jindal | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Robin Clarke | ... | music editor |
| Maurice Jarre | ... | original music conducted by |
| Skaila Kanga | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Christopher Palmer | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Snowden | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maggie Unsworth | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Pamela Wells | ... | transport |
Additional Crew
| Pamela Allen | ... | contact: London |
| Mohini Banerji | ... | liaison: Delhi |
| Charles Cannon | ... | production accountant |
| Eleanor Chaudhuri | ... | production secretary: India |
| Diana Hawkins | ... | publicist |
| John Heyman | ... | in association with |
| Robin Melville | ... | production assistant |
| Christopher Palmer | ... | assistant: to Maurice Jarre |
| P.N. Parthasarathy | ... | government liaison: India |
| Pat Pennelegion | ... | production assistant |
| Germinal Rangel | ... | couturier |
| Rex Saluz | ... | location accountant |
| Edward Sands | ... | in association with |
| Marcus Wilford | ... | customs liaison |
| Laszlo Clements | ... | assistant accountant (uncredited) |
| Lee Katz | ... | production consultant (uncredited) |
| Alan Lavender | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Richard Morrison | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
| Kevin Phelan | ... | unit projectionist: Mercury Theatres, London (uncredited) |
| Thomas Thanangadan | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- EMI Films (A John Brabourne and Richard Goodwyn Production) (in association with: John Heyman and Edward Sands)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (in association with)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1984) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1984) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- New Gold Entertainment (1984) (Italy)
- Sandrew Film & Teater (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- MTC Video (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Syncron Film (1985) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1985) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Shochiku-Fuji Company (1985) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- NHK Sôgô (1991) (Japan) (tv) (subtitled)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Tec Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2018) (Germany) (DVD) (release through)
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (2020) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (re-print for MGM)
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (2020) (Non-US) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (re-print for MGM)
- Warner Home Video (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (re-print for MGM)
- Weltkino Filmverleih (2018) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Peerless Camera Company (opticals by)
- Optical Film Effects (titles by)
- C.T.S. Studios (music recorded)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Dolby Laboratories (sound mix: Dolby Stereo)
- National Maritime Museum (courtesy of: ship models and paintings)
- P & O Cruises (courtesy of: ship models and paintings)
- Government of India (the producers wish to thank)
- P & O Cruises (the producers wish to thank)
- Shepperton Studios (movie studio)
- Pinewood Studios (post production)
- Technicolor (processed by)
- Metrocolor (prints)
- Blowup (stills processing)
- Capitol Records (soundtrack)
- Funn (hosiery supplier)
- Mayflower Recording (adr recording)
- Sands Films (production services)
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (copyright owner)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
It's the early 1920s. Britons Adela Quested (Judy Davis) and her probable future mother-in-law Mrs. Moore (Peggy Ashcroft) have just arrived in Chandrapore in British India to visit Adela's unofficial betrothed, Ronny Heaslop (Nigel Havers), who works there as the city's magistrate. Adela and Mrs. Moore, who long for "an adventure" in experiencing all India has to offer, are dismayed to learn upon their arrival that the ruling British do not socialize, let alone associate, with the native population. Such people as the Turtons, Mr. Turton (Richard Wilson) being Ronny's superior, who openly thumb their noses at the idea in their belief that the Indians are an inferior people. They are further dismayed to see that Ronny adheres to that custom in not wanting to jeopardize his career. At the local white only club, Adela and Mrs. Moore find a like-minded Brit in the form of Richard Fielding (James Fox), the school master at government college, he who offers to organize a small, but truly inclusive, social gathering with some natives for them, unlike the large party the Turtons organize, where the natives are treated poorly, and are used more as window dressing for Adela and Mrs. Moore's benefit. In addition to Fielding's colleague, eccentric Brahmin scholar Professor Narayan Godbole (Sir Alec Guinness), Adela, and Mrs. Moore would like to invite Aziz Ahmed (Victor Banerjee), a young, widowed local physician with whom Mrs. Moore had a chance encounter. As Mrs. Moore is the first Brit who has ever treated him with kindness as she did at that encounter, Aziz is happy to attend. As Aziz wants to impress them by being what he thinks they want him to be, which is more western, he offers to organize an outing for this small collective to the Marabar Caves, which has some renown. The outing is despite Aziz never having been to the caves himself, and despite the expense to himself, that sum of money which he really can ill afford. Something that happens at the caves has the potential to bring the British-Indian bridge that has been forged within this small collective come crumbling down, that something which also threatens Aziz and Adela's lives in the process. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | David Lean, the Director of "Doctor Zhivago", "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Bridge on the River Kwai", invites you on . . .[A Passage to India] See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $16,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The 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. See more » |
| Goofs | At 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Johnny Dangerously/Micki + Maude/Birdy/A Passage to India (1984). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Tea For Two See more » |
| Quotes |
Mrs. Moore:
My dear, life rarely gives us what we want at the moment we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually. See more » |