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Cotton Mary

Play trailer Poster for Cotton Mary R 1999 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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36% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 1954 India, Mary (Madhur Jaffrey) is a woman of mixed British and Indian heritage, who is fiercely proud of her European blood. Mary helps a pregnant Englishwoman named Lily MacIntosh (Greta Scacchi) give birth, but Lily is unable to nurse the infant. Mary sneaks the child away to her sister, who acts as a wet nurse. By taking credit for the child's feeding and care, Mary is able to worm her way into the MacIntosh household, where she quickly gains the upper hand over the existing staff.

Critics Reviews

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Jay Carr Boston Globe 02/14/2001
2/4
Cotton Mary, Ismail Merchant's second film as a director, puts some interestingly layered material into play, but he can't quite bring it together. Go to Full Review
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 02/07/2001
4.5/5
Engrossing from the first frame and written with admirable skill and insight by Alexandra Viets, Cotton Mary is a milestone for Merchant Ivory and a pleasure for the company's admirers. Go to Full Review
Lou Lumenick New York Post 01/01/2000
2.5/4
Cotton Mary is uncommonly well-acted and beautifully shot on location in southern India, but it's not exactly riveting. Go to Full Review
Boo Allen Denton Record-Chronicle 06/17/2006
1/5
Shows that Merchant couldn't direct. Go to Full Review
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com 01/20/2005
2.5/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 11/05/2004
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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10/19/2009 one of the biggest time-wasters, ever. Be forewarned the DVD cover says nothing about the movie -- this is not Romance, it's pure Horror! If you must catch something like this, watch "Hanyo". The biggest problem with this movie, I felt, was that one keeps hoping with each passing agonizing minute, that something will happen that will make everything make sense & the movie worthwhile. I wonder if the acting's convincing because the cast was good, or because they weren't acting at all! See more 09/14/2009 A satire of colonialism eating its own bitter fruit. Although Madhur Jaffrey's acting looks a bit odd, she still vividly constructed a detachable yet pitiful & funny, aggressive & manipulating Anglo-Indian woman being lost in her identity. See more 02/15/2009 good movie for the fast forward button See more 01/07/2009 As a period piece, this film does succeed. In terms of narrative pacing, as well as conclusion, it falls a bit short. Much of the story is delved from cliche exchanges, manipulations and stereotypes. Mary's role can at times be over the top, especially so in the final 15 minutes, but she still manages to keep viewers watching. See more 01/03/2009 This is a "serious" movie from the Merchant Ivory Collection which would be unlikely to have wide distribution in any country. The film takes place in 1954 India, which is shortly after the 1947 Partition which saw the end of a large British presence in India. Some British did stay behind, and the effects of the British remained (much like it did in the United States). This film presents a glimpse of that period in a very personal manner. There is another film on the same topic, and it is "Staying On." This could well be a Merchant Ivory film, but it is an independent film based upon an award-winning novel by Paul Scott ("The Jewel in the Crown"). A retired British Colnel and his wife remain in India after the 1947 Partition. Like "Cotton Mary," this movie captures a bit of history. See more 12/22/2007 Period drama based in India, this story revolves around a somewhat "mad" nursemaid who has dilusions of granduer. See more Read all reviews
Cotton Mary

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1954 India, Mary (Madhur Jaffrey) is a woman of mixed British and Indian heritage, who is fiercely proud of her European blood. Mary helps a pregnant Englishwoman named Lily MacIntosh (Greta Scacchi) give birth, but Lily is unable to nurse the infant. Mary sneaks the child away to her sister, who acts as a wet nurse. By taking credit for the child's feeding and care, Mary is able to worm her way into the MacIntosh household, where she quickly gains the upper hand over the existing staff.
Director
Ismail Merchant
Producer
Gil Donaldson, Nayeem Hafizka, Richard Hawley, Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter
Alexandra Viets
Distributor
Universal Pictures, Artistic License
Production Co
Le Studio Canal +, Merchant Ivory Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating
R (Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 17, 1999, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 1, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$299.4K
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Surround