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Savages is a 1972 Merchant Ivory Film directed by James Ivory and screenplay by George W. S. Trow and Michael O'Donoghue, based on an idea by Ivory.
| Savages | |
|---|---|
DVD cover | |
| Directed by | James Ivory |
| Produced by | Ismail Merchant Joseph J.M. Saleh (executive) Anthony Korner (associate) |
| Written by | George W. S. Trow Michael O'Donoghue (based upon an idea by James Ivory) |
| Starring | Lewis J. Stadlen Anne Francine Sam Waterston Susan Blakely Ultra Violet Salome Jens Kathleen Widdoes Thayer David Asha Puthli Martin Kove |
| Music by | Joe Raposo Bobby Short (theme song) |
| Cinematography | Walter Lassally |
| Edited by | Kent McKinney |
| Distributed by | Angelika Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film concept given to Trow and O'Donoghue was to tell a story that was the reverse of Luis Buñuel's 1962 film The Exterminating Angel, in which guests at an elegant dinner party become bestial. Writing began in late 1968 and continued through 1969. Its first showing came at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1972.
Screenplay
In contrast to Buñuel's story, Savages starts when a tribe of primitive "mudpeople" performing a sacrifice encounter a croquet ball, rolling through their forest. Following it, they find themselves on a vast, deserted Westchester estate in the 1930s.
Entering, they begin to become civilized and assume the stereotypical roles and dress of people at a weekend party. There follows an allegory of upper-class behavior. At last, they begin to devolve toward their original status, and after a battle at croquet, they disappear into the woods.
The film received mixed to negative reviews by the critics. Matt Brunson noted that Savages is an "intriguing short-film idea stretched out to feature length, worth a glance primarily as an artifact of its time." Variety however, noted that "the playing has flair and grace."
This film has been released on DVD in 2004 as part of the Merchant-Ivory Collection produced by Criterion.
- Mr. Mike: The Life and Work of Michael O'Donoghue by Dennis Perrin, 1999. ISBN 0-380-72832-X.
- List of American films of 1972
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