This film is based on
a 1977 novel by Paul Scott and is a sequel to Raj Quartet (Jewel in the Crown).
When India gained it’s
independence on 15 August 1947, a British colonel and his wife decided to
remain in McCluskiegunj in North India.
This is a hill station where many of the British stayed on. Col Smalley was head of his regiment until
he retired. In 1957, Tusker and
Lucy Smalley are receiving a small pension from the British Indian Army and it
will go further in India than in Britain. They live in the Lodge, an annex to Smith’s Hotel. Lucy finds herself ranked fairly low
in the social standings among the non-Indian women in Pankot. Tusker can be obstinate, obtuse and he
can get frightfully drunk. So much
so that he needs to be conveyed home in a tonga, the local means of transportation
with a horse and cart. The
Smalley’s are having difficulties with their landlord Mrs. Lila Bhoolabhoy. She has terminated caring for the lawn
and gardens.
Tucker and Lucy are
quite opposites of each other, maybe that is why they got married. They are in their late sixties or early
seventies at this point. She tries
to ignore his faults, minimize bickering and quarreling and keep the peace in
the household. It’s a comfortable
life with Ibrahim to help with the house.
Lucy worries what will happen if Tucker passes before she does since he
is older. 3* (This movie is OK)
90
min, TV Movie, Drama directed by Silvio Narizzano with Trevor Howard, Celia
Johnson, Saeed Jaffrey, Pearl Padamsee, Fida Bai, Zia Mohyeddin, Ajit Saldanha,
Habib Tanvir, Raj Bharti, Sushma Seth.
Note: Imdb 7.4 out of 10, Amazon 4.4* out of
5* with 12 reviews.
Special
Note: Staying On was filmed first
as a test run for the filming of the more complicated Jewel in the Crown. Filmed in Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India. There was a lot of controversy and dispute over this film and it was only aired one time.
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