"Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy" (1986) TV mini-series

Director:

Tom Clegg

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Mahatma Gandhi | India | English Politics | Pakistan | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Patrick Allen	...	Auchinleck
Michael Byrne	...	George Abell
Sam Dastor	...	Gandhi
Nigel Davenport	...	Ismay
A.K. Hangal	...	Patel
Wendy Hiller	...	Princess Victoria
Owen Holder	...	King George VI
David Lyon	...	Lt Col Vernon Erskine-Crum
David Quilter	...	Alan
Ian Richardson	...	Nehru
John Rolfe	...	Attlee
Vladek Sheybal	...	Jinnah
Jeremy Sinden	...	Brockman
Janet Suzman	...	Lady Edwina Mountbatten
Malcolm Terris	...	Winston Churchill
Julian Wadham	...	Arthur
Nicol Williamson	...	Lord Louis Mountbatten

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Theatre: Lord Mountbatten - The Last Viceroy (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

306 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sri Lanka

Company:

Brent Walker PLC

Goofs:

Continuity: The Mountbatten's dog changes breed numerous times during the miniseries: from a Sealyham Terrier to a West Highland White Terrier and back again. The most notable transformation is when he gets on the plane in England as a Sealyham Terrier and gets off the plane in India as a West Highland White. Since the differences are readily apparent (both are white but a "Westie" has prick ears and a square body and a Sealyham has drop ears and a long, low body) the "canine transformations" are quite noticeable.

An interesting look at India & Mountbatten

This dramatization is a solidly acted depiction of the last days of the British Empire in India and Mountbatten's role in the transition from colony to independent nation. Mountbatten has many biographies out there, some less flattering than others. This depiction of him falls more or less in the middle, showing his strengths and his weaknesses. Also the show does not shy away from showing his wife, Edwina, and her relationship with Nehru (it should be noted her wild ways long before she arrived in India made her not welcome at Buckingham Palace). Much of the actual history is greatly abridged (such as the partition) so as to not delve into the complexities of the India/Pakistan split. And some things are fictionalized for dramatic purposes.

Nehru's politics is not given much examination in this depiction (he was a socialist). Gandhi's role is historically accurate (unlike the movie that bears his name, he was not an active participant in the partition) as are other things. This is a good start to understand this important moment in history. Mountbatten is still a controversial figure both in England and India over what happened as the last viceroy.