Bhowani Junction

Director: George Cukor George Cukor

Overview

Set during India's battle for independence from Britain, the film begins with Ava Gardner returning to her native land after spending several years in England. Her true loyalties, and her own sense of who she really is, are put to the test by the two men in her life.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2009
UPC:	0883316125922
Original Release:	1956
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	25,204

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ava Gardner	Victoria Jones
Stewart Granger	Col. Rodney Savage
Bill Travers	Trick Taylor
Abraham Sofaer	Surabhai
Francis Matthews	Ranjit Kasel
Marne Maitland	Govindaswami
Peter Illing	Ghanshyam
Edward Chapman	Thomas Jones
Lionel Jeffries	Lt. Graham McDaniel
Alan Tilvern	Ted Dunphy
Freda Jackson	The Sadani
Miklós Rózsa	Composer

Technical Credits

Ivan Moffat

Sonya Levien

George Cukor	Director
Ivan Moffat	Screenwriter
Sonya Levien	Screenwriter
Pandro S. Berman	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Bhowani Junction wants to be an "important" film, being set as it is, in a crucial period of world history, the liberation of India from colonial rule. Unfortunately, Bhowani's ambitions are not realized, and it comes across as a rather turgid melodrama that just happens to take palce in (and exploit) an important historical setting. It's possible that this is due to studio interference on the part of MGM, as director George Cukor has claimed that the film -- which was significantly cut and altered by the studio -- doesn't conform to his more complicated vision of the project. Whatever the case, the resulting Bhowani is entertaining enough on its own simple (and occasionally simple-minded) terms, but one wishes it had more heft to it, as well as more genuine excitement. Since what remains of the picture is a run-of-the-mill romance, it would help if it had some real "zing" to it. It also would help if it had cmore consistency, but the film chugs along in fits and starts and changes its mind frequently as to whether it's a history, a romance, a social study or an all-out adventure. The cast certainly helps, with both Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger in very fine physical form, and both doing what they can with the material. Bill Travers is rather insipid, but the supporting cast is strong, and the physical production is quite good.