MASTERPIECE THEATRE: LORD MOUNTBATTEN: THE LAST VICEROY {EPISODE 1} (TV)

Summary

One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the title of "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. This six-part miniseries depicts Lord Louis Mountbatten's involvement with India's independence from Britain and the India-Pakistan partition of 1947. The first installment begins in India as 1946 as Arthur arrives by train and is appalled to see the many destitute citizens rendered homeless by the violence between Muslims and Hindus, though his guide states that they are "used to it." As they watch, many people are killed in another surprise raid. In London, Prime Minister Attlee states that Mountbatten is the right man for the viceroy job despite his "playboy image," as he has the diplomatic skills necessary to achieve peace. Mountbatten states that Britain must officially relinquish its hold on India by June 1948 and declares that he requires full powers over the secretary of state if he is to accept the job. He talks with King George VI, or "Bertie," who expresses resigned sadness at losing Britain's "brightest jewel" without ever having visited the country, and urges Mountbatten to accept the position. Lady Edwina Mountbatten is also in favor, though his mother is strongly opposed, feeling that he will become "another scapegoat" like his father Prince Louis of Battenburg, who was forced into retirement due to anti-German sentiment during WWI.

In India, leader Muhammed Ali Jinnah declares a Muslim Day of Action, stating that they will see India divided or destroyed. Mountbatten agrees to the job and addresses his staff, including a public relations official. He shows them newsreels of the violent riots, warning them of the difficulty of their task. Elsewhere, Churchill complains bitterly to Hastings "Pug" Ismay about the "shameful abandonment" of India, considering Mountbatten's acceptance of the viceroy job as base treachery. Mountbatten journeys to India with Edwina and his staff and meets Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, among many others, while elsewhere another village is raided by Muslims. Mountbatten hears of the violence and tells his men to keep him updated with the details of the country's troubles, adding that he plans to film and broadcast his swearing-in ceremony, admitting that he is "aware" of the gravity of his position. Edwina and Mountbatten discuss "Operation Madhouse," his predecessor Wavell's extreme plan for evacuating the British presence from India one province at a time, hoping that it will not be needed. Mountbatten declares that the ceremony will be conducted with pre-war grandeur and formality, and after the procession, he gives an impromptu speech about his hopes to reach a solution by June '48 and his desire for "goodwill" between all.

Mountbatten meets with Nehru, first researching background on the shrewd, "Anglicized" leader, and Nehru is impressed to learn that Mountbatten has been given plenipotentiary powers. The talk goes well, though Mountbatten observes that Mohandas Gandhi is not present, and elsewhere, Gandhi attempts to mediate a conversation between Muslim and Hindu villagers, urging them all to strive for peace and unity. Mountbatten throws a party and invites various Indians, not only those of high rank, and upon learning that Nehru is also hosting an event, decides to "drop by" with Edwina, despite being told that such things are "not done." Nehru greets them warmly and introduces his family, then stressing the importance of a united India to Mountbatten and reiterating that Jinnah is a serious problem, as he is demanding partition. The Mountbattens observe a dance performance, but in the village, one of the Hindu leaders discovers that their sacred cows have been butchered by Muslims in another display of aggression. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: PBS
• DATE: January 26, 1986 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:16
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:06722
• GENRE: Drama, historical
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; India - History - 1947; Miniseries
• SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1986
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy" book

CREDITS

• George Walker … Executive Producer
• Judith de Paul … Producer
• Rebecca Eaton … Producer
• Tom Clegg … Director
• David Butler … Writer
• John Scott … Music by
• Alistair Cooke … Host
• Nicol Williamson … Cast, Lord Mountbatten
• Janet Suzman … Cast, Lady Mountbatten
• Ian Richardson … Cast, Nehru
• Vladek Sheybal … Cast, Jinnah
• Sam Dastor … Cast, Gandhi
• Nigel Davenport … Cast, Lord Ismay
• A.K. Hangal … Cast, Sardar Patel
• Wendy Hiller … Cast, Princess Victoria
• Zia Mohyeddin … Cast, V.P. Menon
• Malcolm Terris … Cast, Winston Churchill
• Ian Barritt … Cast, Prime Minister's Secretary
• Michael Byrne … Cast, Abell
• John Darrell … Cast, George Nicholls
• Nicholas Day … Cast, Peter Howe
• Mark Dignam … Cast, Older Man
• Doran Godwin … Cast, Elizabeth Ward
• Sneh Gupta … Cast, Manu
• Owen Holder … Cast, King George VI
• Mamta Kash … Cast, Asha
• Roger Kemp … Cast, Mieville
• David Lyon … Cast, Erskine-Drum
• David Quilter … Cast, Campbell-Johnson
• John Rolfe … Cast, Clement Attlee
• Nadim Sawalha … Cast, Liaquat Ali Khan
• Jeremy Sinden … Cast, Brockman
• Frederick Treves … Cast, Stafford Cripps
• Julian Wadham … Cast, Arthur
• Andrea Weber … Cast, Pamela
• Tony Wredden … Cast, Maulana Azad
• Minnie Boga … Cast, Amrit Kaur
• Saloni Kaur … Cast, Indira Gandhi
• Sumant Mastakar … Cast, Rajaji
• Dina Nath … Cast, Muslim Headman
• Derek Reed … Cast, Sir Patrick Spens
• Bob Danvers-Walker … Cast, Newsreel Commentator
• Sushma Seth … Cast, Mrs. V.L. Panoit
• Nittin Seth … Cast, Prasad
• Habib Tanuir … Cast, Hindu Head Man