An early film by my favorite trio Ivory, Merchant and Jhabvala, failed to light my senses in this nonsensical musical farce. The additional content on the DVD is much better with a feature on the very talented Helen and the customary chat with the trio on making of this movie. This film seems to insult everyone: a very uncaring and self indulgent white authoress, a very lustful Indian actor with no scruples, a charlatan guru, and a mediocre poet with an obsession to murder. Mix this lot in a movie and you get the customary tale of confusion and bad acting. Some moments of the film are memorable including the beginning scene on the giant typewriter, the incredible shots of the staircase at the hotel, and the general view into Bombay film making of the 70s. The ending is, well, rather abrupt, and I was glad it was. Rent it just for the extras on the DVD.
Review of Bombay Talkie
