






A tribe of primitive "mudpeople" encounter a croquet ball, rolling through their forest. Following it, they find themselves on a vast, deserted Long Island estate. 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.
Production
Glorious estate becomes character, civilization in wallpaper
Costume
Primitive to pearls transformation is the whole thesis
Writing
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's savage social anthropology

Director
James Ivory
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes