Bombay Talkie (1970)

Simply A Masterpiece

Fresh and Exciting

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

I enjoyed entering into the world of this film. Watching a movie within a movie is always interesting to me. And especially when the setting is India. That the characters were shallow and yet fascinating was in itself fascinating.Merchant/Ivory bring such a complex texture to all of their films. That's what, to me, makes them such great filmmakers And their sensibility is very much present here also.I also liked getting some insight into the Indian culture. Ever since watching Monsoon Wedding, I seem to have an affection for it. The coloring of the people is so beautiful. The dark hair and the dark eyes. And the clothes, especially the beautiful saris the women wear. I know it is the guru/savants that draw many to the culture but I seem to find it very easy to control my enthusiasm for them. The aesthetic beauty, however, is very compelling. And the spirit of the people.This film is worth seeing, imo. Merely to set forth the plot would not really do it justice. It's one of those instances where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This movie is about the love affair of an western writer and an Indian film star. I liked it very much and the point I found most interesting is the western craving for eastern spirituality exemplified by the visit and internship of the heroine in an Indian guru. The movie presents the guru in a savage light, as a self-promoting socialite proud of his western connections. Whether it is questionable that all the exponents of eastern spirituality as such cranks the one in the movie is, thus a satirist perspective is adopted. The characters are shallow and self-absorbed and their lives hollow, the movie pointing to the emptiness of stardom.The end is tragic and the world-view exposed is close to that of Ecclesiastes. Despite that I found the couple of the protagonists very engaging since as Oscar Wilde said only shallow people refuse to judge by appearances.

I agree with Dilip, it is an OK movie, but the DVD that I got from my library had an added feature - a half hour of dancer Helen. She is really over the top. So skip the movie and enjoy Helen!!!!! I have to give ten lines of text, so here goes. The opulent sets and costumes of the movie were a definite plus, a nice look at the modern wealthy Indian life style. While not great, the movie's plot did generate some interest. For me high lights of the Helen feature were her cabaret dance with an caged afro-wigged "wild man" and a portrayal of a drunken bar patron at the end. During the course of this half hour she dances through several world dance genres.

I don't know of many films that explore behind the scenes of the prolific Indian film industry, but I love the view into a new world offered by this one. In general, I like the films of Merchant-Ivory- they are almost always beautiful, well-crafted, well-acted and excellent at handling delicate subject matter, subtle emotions, and stories of character growth and psychology. I think BOMBAY TALKIE is one of the best, on par with the later triumphs of A ROOM WITH A VIEW, HOWARD'S END and REMAINS OF THE DAY. Visually, the movie has that stunning, crisp, breath-taking combination of color, light and space that made every frame of A ROOM WITH A VIEW so wonderful to watch- and the beauty of the film's (BOMBAY TALKIE)visuals are especially nice considering it was made in 1970. The use of music, singing and dance also bring an interesting quirkiness to the film, and help present the world of the characters- all of whom are interesting, especially the hero, his wife Marla (who gives a stunning performance), and his ex-girlfriend (the scene between her and the hero, once Lucia has left him to follow a guru, is one of the most beautifully executed late night conversation scenes I've ever seen, and gives so much insight into a relatively insignificant character's life and relationships- on par with the drinking scene in Hal Hartley's SIMPLE MEN). Most fantastic about this film was the screenplay- one of Ruth Prawer Jbvala's better ones, well-directed (as usual) by James Ivory. It is poetic, when it needs to be, sinister when the moment calls for it, and it ties nicely into the ending with excellent stops along the way to comment on Hollywood film making, sham-spiritualism quests by Westerners in India, the loneliness of art, the stupidity of petty, fear-controlled people, and the destructive quality of unhealthy obsession. A fine, enjoyable film, not at all dated, not for everyone by any means, but worth looking into if you're interested in seeing something different.