Ivory, James.

James Ivory was born in Berkeley, Calif., on June 7, 1928 to Edward Ivory, a lumber mill owner, and Hallie DeLoney Ivory. James attended school in Klamath Falls, Or., and studied art at the University of Oregon and film production at the University of Southern California. While at USC Ivory made his first film, a documentary on the city of Venice as seen through its art, entitled "Venice : Themes & Variations" (1951). Ivory's second documentary, "The Sword and the Flute" (1959), treated Indian miniature paintings in American museums and private collections. Both films attracted the interest of the Asia Society of New York, which commissioned Ivory to produce two documentaries: "The Delhi Way" (1964), and another film on Afghanistan that was never completed. In 1961 Ivory met Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant; the two became personal and professional partners, forming the production company Merchant Ivory Productions with the intention of making English-language theatrical features in India for the international market. While in India seeking a suitable property to film they met Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who would become the adaptor or screenwriter for future Merchant Ivory films; she agreed to write the screenplay for their first production, a film based on her novel "The Householder." The film appeared in 1963, followed by "Shakespeare Wallah" in 1965. Later Ivory films such as "Bombay Talkie" (1970) and "Heat and Dust" (1983) often revolved around a clash of cultures, while others such as "The Europeans" (1979) and "The Bostonians" (1984) were adaptations of classic British or American novels. The Merchant/Ivory/Jhabvala partnership would become one of the longest film collaborations in cinema history, lasting until Merchant's death in 2005. James Ivory has been nominated for an Academy Award three times, for "A Room with a View" (1985), "Howard's End" (1992), and "Remains of the Day" (1993).

From the description of James Ivory papers, ca. 1960-2005 (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233577377