Shakespeare-Wallah (1965)

The story of a family troupe of English actors in India. They travel around the towns and villages giving performances of Shakespearean plays. Through their travels we see the changing face... See full summary »

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

James Ivory (screenplay), James Ivory (story),

Stars:

Shashi Kapoor, Felicity Kendal, Geoffrey Kendal

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shashi Kapoor	...	Sanju
Felicity Kendal	...	Lizzie Buckingham
Geoffrey Kendal	...	Mr. Tony Buckingham
Laura Liddell	...	Mrs. Carla Buckingham
Madhur Jaffrey	...	Manjula
Utpal Dutt	...	Maharaja
Praveen Paul	...	Didi
Prayag Raj	...	Sharmaji (as Prayag Raaj)
Pinchoo Kapoor	...	Guptaji
Jim D. Tytler	...	Bobby (as Jim Tytler)
Hamid Sayani	...	Headmaster's Brother
Marcus Murch	...	Dandy in 'The Critic'
Partap Sharma	...	Aslam

Storyline

The story of a family troupe of English actors in India. They travel around the towns and villages giving performances of Shakespearean plays. Through their travels we see the changing face of India as the old is replaced by the new, Maharajas become hotel owners, sports become more important than culture and the theater is replaced by Bolliwood movies. Based on the travels of Geoffrey Kendal with his daughter Felicity Kendal.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1965 (UK)

Also Known As:

Afosiomenoi ston Shakespeare

Filming Locations:

India

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merchant Ivory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Felicity Kendal receives an "introducing" credit.

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Quotes

Bobby: [Speaking to Lizzie] And when you're young, you never think. And when you're old... you're too tired to think.

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Connections

Featured in The Wandering Company (1984)

User Reviews

English Shakespearean company tours India; Love sputters

Frankly, I caught this early Merchant-Ivory flic to see Felicity Kendal in her debut movie. I was disappointed-- her cuteness works much better as a nearly 60 year old detective in the Rosemary and Thyme BBC series, than as a teen-aged actress, where it makes her just too unserious.

The movie concerns a small troupe of Shakepearean actors, some English and some Indian, but anchored by the Buckingham family, touring India to ever diminishing audiences. An Indian playboy, already involved with a Bollywood actress, sees young Lizzie Buckingham, and the usual romantic conflicts arise.

The movie has the normal pacing of a Merchant-Ivory. Black and white. For me the background bits of Indian and ex-pat life were more interesting than the movie itself. The actors playing Felicity Kendal's character's parents were her real life parents.