In the given quote, James Ivory speaks about his childhood experiences with movies, highlighting a period when he had considerable freedom to watch any film he wished. His parents were generally lenient about his movie choices but did have one notable exception where they removed him from a screening of "Gunga Din," deeming it too violent for their son's sensibilities.
The quote delves deeper into the complex relationship between parental guidance and the exposure of children to various forms of media content. It reflects on how parents may balance permissiveness with protective measures, often based on personal judgments about what is suitable or inappropriate for a child’s emotional development and maturity level. The incident with "Gunga Din" serves as an interesting case study in understanding parental reactions to violent imagery in films.
James Ivory, the author of this quote, is renowned as a screenwriter and director, particularly known for his collaborations on film adaptations of E.M. Forster novels. His insightful reflection on his early experiences with cinema provides a glimpse into how those formative years shaped his later work in the film industry.
