MovieChat Forums > A Passage to India (1985) Discussion > Peggy Ashcroft is leading, not supportin...

Peggy Ashcroft is leading, not supporting

posted 14 years ago by vikram8402
7 replies | jump to latest

I thought the movie incredibly boring: I am sad for myself but I have never really been able to complete viewing any David Lean movie at a stretch. But whenever I did pay attention- Peggy Ashcroft was always onscreen. I though that at 76, with a supporting acting Oscar in hand for this role, she would be on the screen more sparsely. Then I noticed she won so many awards in the leading category: Best actress at the BAFTA and New York Film Critics Circle Awards.Do not you think she is actually leading in the movie? She has that major important scene near the end when she testifies for Dr. Aziz.

[–] shaguniitb 14 years ago

"....She has that major important scene near the end when she testifies for Dr. Aziz."

umm...Please see the movie, its actually (admittedly, surprisingly) my favourite David Lean movie. Its inspiring,possibly even life-altering.
yeah, its that good!!

[–] vikram8402 14 years ago

Yup, i just made the last part up. Sorry! But my argument is that Peggy Ashcroft was leading the movie, from the screen time's perpective. Why are so few actreses over 75 taken seriously as leads?

[–] Prismark10 11 years ago

There are no fast and easy rules with the supporting category. There are some past winners such as Timothy J Hutton for Ordinary People who were in fact the lead.

Its that man again!!

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

Peggy Ashcroft's role is something akin to that of Juliette Binoche's in The English Patient. It's substantial and important, but IMO, still not the lead role.

Why are so few actreses over 75 taken seriously as leads?

I think Judi Dench is busier than ever.

Yup, i just made the last part up.

I don't know why, because you'll just put posters off with that sort of stunt.🐭

[–] don-lockwood 11 years ago

I'm watching it now, and it's very pretty, but I'm with you on never getting into David Lean films. And it's a shame, because I love a movie that can transport me, historical epic or not.

As for Ashcroft , she felt supporting to Davis for the first hour, but now I'm not sure. Same with Haing S. Ngor, who won Supporting Actor that year. 1984 was just a weak year with no one else to award in prestige pictures.

Gosh, is this slow. So much could've been trimmed.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Craftsman1800 10 years ago

Wow...I can't tear myself away from Lean films, and would have a hard time stopping even for a short break.