A Passage to India

1984
PG
2h 44m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

22K

YOUR RATING

US Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar

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2 Videos

93 Photos

Historical Epic Period Drama Adventure Drama History

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

22K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 2 Oscars
- 22 wins & 26 nominations total

Videos2

Photos93

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Storyline

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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. Lean also managed to fall out with Dame Peggy Ashcroft during production with Lean deliberately shunning her from his table during lunch and dinner. Ashcroft, for her part, was unconcerned about his behaviour and dismissed it as Lean's usual sulky petulance.

Goofs
When Adela climbs up the hill and goes into the cave, she is wearing white shoes. When she runs down the hill, she is wearing black shoes.

Quotes
Mrs. Moore: My dear, life rarely gives us what we want at the moment we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Johnny Dangerously/Micki + Maude/Birdy/A Passage to India (1984)

Soundtracks
Tea For Two
Written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar

User reviews131

Featured review

One of Lean's Best

David Lean ended his illustrious career on a high note with this haunting love song to the exotic & sensual world of India.

The action takes place during the last days of England's rule over colonial England. Much of the emphasis in the movie is placed on the culture clash between the two countrys.

Judy Davis stars in one of her earliest films as a woman who travels to India on what she imagines will be a romantic adventure to meet up with and marry a waiting fiance.

The great Dame Peggy Ashcroft portrays the fiance's mother who accompanies Davis on her "Passage To India".

Alec Guiness is along for the ride in a culture-bending role as a Hindu spiritual man. Guiness's role is in turn played for laughs then for dramatic punch when needed.

The major conflict in the movies arrives from an ill fated tourist jaunt to the Marabar Caves some miles away.

What does or does not happen there becomes a legal and moral crisis that involves all the film's key players as well as the entire city.

The movie is played with sensitivity as well as allowing for the usual David Lean broad strokes of color and light.

It's one of my favorite movies and definitely appealing to more than the "Merchant & Ivory" crowd.