Vanessa Redgrave Scolds Interviewer for Asking About On-Set Drama: 'Don't Let's Go Down That Road' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Vanessa Redgrave and James Ivory in May 2016.Photo:Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty

InMerchant Ivory— the new documentary chronicling the success and impact of Ivory, 96, and his late producing and life partner Ismail Merchant as they made films such asHowards EndandThe Remains of the Daythrough Merchant Ivory Productions — there is a brief moment when Redgrave, 87, chides Soucy, 55, during her interview about working with the duo.

“Darling, films are not family effects. Please don’t let’s go down that road. Come on,” Redgrave is seen saying to the director after he asks her about her reportedly tumultuous time on the set of 1984’sThe Bostonians. Soucy then replies, “If you’re not liking the way I’m phrasing the questions, please feel free,” before she cuts him off to say, “It’s not the questions. Now you’re getting dramatic.”

From Left: James Ivory, Vanessa Redgrave and Ismail Merchant on the set of ‘Howard’s End’ in 1992.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

The director then explains how the moment came to be, revealing that although he sent her questions ahead of their sit-down, she did not have time to read them. “And she didn’t care for my questions,” he says, recalling how “the wall went up and she was just difficult” at the time. But eventually, “I got some great footage from her and we turned it around.”

He adds that after they were done rolling, Redgrave said, “Stephen, I really enjoyed that. I really enjoyed talking about Merchant Ivory. Those years were so important to me.”

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Considering how both Ivory and Soucy laugh off their tense encounters with Redgrave, it seems like the brief scuffles are more of a badge of honor than the source of any bad feelings about Redgrave.

Vanessa Redgrave in 1992.Mikki Ansin/Getty

Mikki Ansin/Getty

Redgrave is just one of many frequent collaborators who reflects on camera about her time working alongside Ivory, Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Others includeEmma Thompson,Helena Bonham Carter,Hugh Grantand Rupert Graves.

“It was a pleasure to watch it and hear everybody. I never was nervous for a second with anybody,” Ivory tells PEOPLE about watching the documentary and hearing what the actors had to say about working with him on films likeA Room with a View,Maurice,Mr. & Mrs. Bridgeand others.

As for all those interviews, Soucy says there’s much more footage that didn’t make the final cut. And as a bonus for fans, some of those extended chats have been shared on thedocumentary’s website. “I have a version of my interview with Emma Thompson that’s like 27 minutes long,” he shares of the 65-year-old actress who won an Oscar forHowards Endand earned another nomination forThe Remains of the Day, noting that “it’s cool for anybody who’s interested because Emma Thompson had such amazing things to say.”

Ivory adds, “She’s far and away the most articulate [person], I think.”

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Merchant Ivoryis now in select theaters. Watch an exclusive clip from the documentary:

source: people.com