James Ivory Wiki: Director, Net worth, 'Call Me By Your Name' & Facts To Know

American director James Ivory born 1928 is famous for his unique screen adaptations of major classic and contemporary novels: A Room With a View, Howards End, The Remains of the Day, and Call Me by Your Name. Let’s read about his more prominent works and facts about Ivory. American director, James Ivory was born on June 7, 1928, in Berkeley; son of Hallie Millicent and Edward Patrick. Ivory grew up in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Painting traits were visible in him since the age of six. At the age of 15 Ivory became interested in film after his visit to the Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) studio. Interestingly he received fine arts degree in 1951 after studying architecture and fine arts at the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts. After the University of Oregon, he attended the University Of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and studied films and directed the short film Four in the Morning (1953). As Ivory’s thesis film for his master’s degree in cinema, he wrote, photographed and produced Venice: Theme and Variation, a half-hour documentary. This film was named as one of the ten best non-theatrical films of the year by The New York Times in 1957.

Ivory met Ismail Merchant while he was in the process of making his third documentary, Delhi way. Ismail Merchant was born and educated in Bombay, India. The merchant came to the US for his graduate degree at New York University. A year after The Sword and The Flute, Merchant produced his first 14-minute short film, "The Creation of Woman." This was his official entry film in the US at Cannes Film Festival. After that, Ivory and Merchant met, and their interest turned up into plans and decided to make movies in India for Indian audiences. Their partnership glorified in the name of Merchant Ivory Productions. The style of Merchant Ivory films that were set and photographed in India became iconic. The Merchant Ivory Productions also went on to make films in the United Kingdom and America. The filmmakers approached Ruth Pawar Jhabvala for making the film based on her novels. German-born, Ruth Pawar was educated English author who wrote about life in India and was married to an Indian architect. The first Merchant Ivory productions collaboration, "The Householder" (1963) was a screen adaptation of Jhabvala’s novel. Father-director Ivory provided the financial backing for the film. The film was directed by Ivory and produced by Merchant and was picked up by an American company and distributed worldwide to critical acclaim. Ivory and Jhabvala wrote original screenplays for their next three Indian features. "Shakespeare Wallah" (1965) was a commercial success at the time of release and is considered to be a classic romance. The film was followed by "The Guru" (1969), a comedy about a British rock star who goes to India to study sitar and "Bombay Talkie" (1970), a homage to Indian cinema about an American writer and an Indian movie start. Back in the United States Ivory struggled for many years. Ivory directed "Savages" (1972), the comedy about the occupants of a stately mansion invaded by the group of savages and their civilizing influence. "The Wild Party" (1974), about a tragic Greenwich village, was a disappointment. Ivory directed Jhanvala’s "The Autobiography of a Princess" for British television in 1975. With a small wave of success, Ivory directed the Merchant-Ivory production of Jhabvala’s original screenplay, "Roseland" (1977). A decade later, Ivory directed another subculture movie, "Slaves of New York" (1989) which was adapted from the stories of Tama Janowitz. With his portrayal of the New York alternative art scenes, made the film a cult classic in art circles. Ivory directed Jhabvala’s original screenplay Jane "Austen in Manhatten" (1980) for British television and the screen adaptation of her novel, "Heat and Dust" (1982) set in India.

American director James Ivory is also known for his screen adaptations of major classic and contemporary novels: "A Room With a View," "Howards End," and "The Remains of the Day." Ivory, American director got critical success and enormous popularity by the adaptations of E.M. Forster novels. Forster’s belief that the private life holds the mirror to infinity resonated with Ivory. "A Room with a View" (1986) was the first blockbuster movie of Ivory followed by Maurice in 1987. The masterpiece of Ivory includes "Howards End" in 1992 which won three Academy Awards including best actress for Emma Thompson. Ivory returned to Paris for his next three films: "Jefferson in Paris" (1995), about US president Thomas Jefferson, "Surviving Picasso" in 1996 relates the story of Pablo Picasso and "A Soldier’s Daughter" (1998) describes James Jones, an American writer. Ivory returned to a Henry James novel for the story "A Golden Bowl" (2000). As a director, Ivory is perhaps best known for his literary adaptations including a series of period pieces about upper-middle-class gentility and alienation. Quartet (1981) from the novel by "Jean Ehys" is about a British couple visiting Paris and vying emotionally and sexually for the attention of a young woman. Ivory returned to James for "The Bostonians" (1984) and the shrinking world of cousins, lesbians. The Bostonians is a British romantic drama which was awarded National Society of Film Critics Award. The Remains of the Day is an Oscar-nominated movie for best director by Ivory and won BAFTA film award in 1994.

Ivory has done more than direct and sometimes write great films, he helped to shape American cinema. From the mid 80’s until mid 90’s, the films of Merchant Ivory productions with a writing collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala were such a dominant force at the box office. "A Room With a View, Maurice," "Howards End," and "Remains of the Day" among many others have nabbed many Oscar nominations for directing categories. Ivory, as the screenwriter of the gay love story, "Call Me by Your Name" is the leading contender for adapted screenplay at the Academy Awards. For his work in "Call Me by Your Name" (2017), Ivory received a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In Oscar 2018, "Call Me by Your Name" is nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as Best Actor for its young lead, Timothee Chalamet, and Best Original Song for Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens, who wrote three songs for the film. In Oscar 2018, Timothee Chalamet as the best actor would also become the current youngest Oscar winner. The net worth of Ivory is estimated at $19 million. The net worth of Ivory is known to increase in 2018.

American director, Ivory and his producer and life companion, Ismail Merchant, have enjoyed a collaboration that is probably unequaled in movie history for its success and consistency. Ivory as a director and writer is known for his remarkable presence in American Hollywood.