On the face of it, this film, an early effort from the Merchant-Ivory team, does not sound that interesting. Madhur Jaffrey plays an Indian princess exiled from her homeland and living in a London flat, where she plays hostess once a year to her late father's secretary, Cyril (James Mason).
Together they reminisce about the past and watch old films of the height of the Royal India and the days of the Raj. It is the use of this documentary film which makes 'Autobiography of a Princess' interesting. The characters themselves, the Princess and the secretary, both have their own ingrained prejudices and recollections, and neither really gain our sympathy.
However, the acting from both Jaffrey and Mason is outstanding and these characters really do live on the screen, warts and all.
Together they reminisce about the past and watch old films of the height of the Royal India and the days of the Raj. It is the use of this documentary film which makes 'Autobiography of a Princess' interesting. The characters themselves, the Princess and the secretary, both have their own ingrained prejudices and recollections, and neither really gain our sympathy.
However, the acting from both Jaffrey and Mason is outstanding and these characters really do live on the screen, warts and all.