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Cotton Mary

Play trailer Poster for Cotton Mary R,  1999,  2h 2m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 35% 31 Reviews Tomatometer 43% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
35% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 1954 India, Mary (Madhur Jaffrey) is a woman of mixed British and Indian heritage, who is fiercely proud of her European blood. Mary helps a pregnant Englishwoman named Lily MacIntosh (Greta Scacchi) give birth, but Lily is unable to nurse the infant. Mary sneaks the child away to her sister, who acts as a wet nurse. By taking credit for the child's feeding and care, Mary is able to worm her way into the MacIntosh household, where she quickly gains the upper hand over the existing staff.

Critics Reviews

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Jay Carr Boston Globe Feb 14, 2001
2/4
Cotton Mary, Ismail Merchant's second film as a director, puts some interestingly layered material into play, but he can't quite bring it together. Go to Full Review
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Feb 7, 2001
4.5/5
Engrossing from the first frame and written with admirable skill and insight by Alexandra Viets, Cotton Mary is a milestone for Merchant Ivory and a pleasure for the company's admirers. Go to Full Review
Lou Lumenick New York Post Jan 1, 2000
2.5/4
Cotton Mary is uncommonly well-acted and beautifully shot on location in southern India, but it's not exactly riveting. Go to Full Review
Boo Allen Denton Record-Chronicle Jun 17, 2006
1/5
Shows that Merchant couldn't direct. Go to Full Review
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Jan 20, 2005
2.5/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Nov 5, 2004
1/5
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Cotton Mary

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ismail Merchant

Director

Greta Scacchi

Lily Macintosh

Madhur Jaffrey

Cotton Mary

James Wilby

John Macintosh

Neena Gupta

Blossom (Mary's sister)

Sakina Jaffrey

Rosie

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Cotton Mary

Greta Scacchi and James Wilby in Artistic License's Cotton Mary Greta Scacchi in Artistic License's Cotton Mary Madhur Jaffrey in Artistic License's Cotton Mary Madhur Jaffrey and Sakina Jaffrey in Artistic License's Cotton Mary Cotton Mary (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1954 India, Mary (Madhur Jaffrey) is a woman of mixed British and Indian heritage, who is fiercely proud of her European blood. Mary helps a pregnant Englishwoman named Lily MacIntosh (Greta Scacchi) give birth, but Lily is unable to nurse the infant. Mary sneaks the child away to her sister, who acts as a wet nurse. By taking credit for the child's feeding and care, Mary is able to worm her way into the MacIntosh household, where she quickly gains the upper hand over the existing staff.
Director
Ismail Merchant
Producer
Gil Donaldson, Nayeem Hafizka, Richard Hawley, Ismail Merchant
Screenwriter
Alexandra Viets
Distributor
Universal Pictures, Artistic License
Production Co
Le Studio Canal +, Merchant Ivory Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating
R (Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 17, 1999, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 1, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$299.4K
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Surround
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