Savages (1972 film)

Savages
Savages
	DVD cover
Directed by	James Ivory
Screenplay by	George W. S. Trow; Michael O'Donoghue
Based on	An idea by ; James Ivory
Produced by	Ismail Merchant
Starring	Lewis J. Stadlen; Anne Francine; Sam Waterston; Susan Blakely; Ultra Violet; Salome Jens; Kathleen Widdoes; Thayer David; Asha Puthli; Martin Kove
Cinematography	Walter Lassally
Edited by	Kent McKinney
Music by	Joe Raposo; Bobby Short (theme song)
Distributed by	Angelika Films
Release date	June 27, 1972;
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$350,000

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.

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.

Synopsis

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.

Susan Blakely, Kathleen Widdoes and Asha Puthli in James Ivory's *Savages* (1972).

Reception

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".^[1] Variety noted that "the playing has flair and grace".^[2]