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Bombay Talkie

Play trailer Poster for Bombay Talkie PG 1970 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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An English novelist (Jennifer Kendal) has an affair with a movie actor (Shashi Kapoor) in India.

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Bombay Talkie

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Margaret Hinxman Daily Telegraph (UK) Although there is a fair amount of humour in it the fault, I believe, lies in Ivory's insistence on taking the postures of his characters as seriously as their problems. Jun 8, 2020 Full Review Dilys Powell Sunday Times (UK) More conventional than the best of [Ivory's] earlier films but still dazzling to watch. Jun 2, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 22, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
Audience Member A boring Indian soap opera. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member "Bombay Talkie" is an east-meets-west film where ambition (a self-aware send-up of Bollywood conventions) overreaches execution (it is often more of a camp exercise than a critique of western infatuation with India). The amazing giant red typewriter dance set is notable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting concept of a american writer and a much married bollywood star falling in love. The problem is no character development and very poor execution of the concept. The second half of the movie is a torture to watch. Jennifer Kendal's performance is allright; Shashi Kapoor performance has moments of charm but Zia Mohyeddin's intense role steals the show from them. I have 2 other Merchant Ivory-Shashi Kapoor films to watch next- Shakespeare Wallah and the Householder- hope they can re-ignite my love for Anglo-Indian productions! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I was able to appreciate it a lot more after the q & a with the filmmakers and the extras with the dances. Initially came off as offensive and tragic rather than the comedy it got billed as, but if someone has more of a perspective of that era and Bollywood they might get more out of it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member A time waster, very poor movie Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member After the typewriter dance there is nothing worth staying for (and that's stolen from Ready, Willing, and Able anyway). Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bombay Talkie

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis An English novelist (Jennifer Kendal) has an affair with a movie actor (Shashi Kapoor) in India.
Director
James Ivory
Producer
Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, James Ivory
Production Co
Merchant Ivory Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 9, 2005
Runtime
1h 52m
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