Marie Seton
Encyclopedia
Marie Seton was a film critic and biographer of Sergei Eisenstein
, Paul Robeson
, Jawaharlal Nehru
, and Satyajit Ray
.
In 1935 she helped to establish the reputation of Ronald Moody
.
Marie's reconstruction of Sergei Eisenstein’s projected epic, ¡Que viva México!
, as a film released in 1939 entitled Time in the Sun, considered by many critics as probably nearest to Eisenstein's concept because of her close relationship with the filmmaker.
In the late 1930s she became part of the circle of P. D. Ouspensky
and later worked for him after his move to New York.
According to her friend, Pamela Cullen, Marie "...had a fascination for India and as a young woman she had been introduced to India’s fight for independence by one of India’s greatest political figures, Krishna Menon
, who was then a struggling lawyer in London. She also had family associations with India through her father, who had served as an officer in the Indian Army and been seriously wounded during one of the many uprisings of the period".
Nehru invited Marie to India to help with the University Film Society and the Children's Film Society. She was probably recommended to him by D.G. Tendulkar
who must have known her during the time he was in Moscow studying cinema with Sergei Eisenstein. Over the years, Marie became a friend of Indira Gandhi
. For sometime in 1960s, Marie was a house guest of Nehrus and stayed in Teen Murti.
Marie lived in India in 1960s and 1970s and was actively involved in the film society movement at the same time a close observer of Indian politics. In recognition of her work, the Indian government honored her with the civilian award, Padma Bhusan
, in 1984.
Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
, Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, and Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
.
In 1935 she helped to establish the reputation of Ronald Moody
Ronald Moody
Ronald Moody was a Jamaican born sculptor, specialising in wood carvings.Moody was born Ronald Clive Moody in 1900 in Kingston, Jamaica into a well-off professional family, moving to London in 1923 to study dentistry at King's College London. In London, he was inspired by the British Museum's...
.
Marie's reconstruction of Sergei Eisenstein’s projected epic, ¡Que viva México!
¡Qué viva México!
¡Qué viva México! is a film project begun in 1930 by the Russian avant-garde director Sergei Eisenstein . It would have been an episodic portrayal of Mexican culture and politics from pre-Conquest civilization to the Mexican revolution. Production was beset by difficulties and was eventually...
, as a film released in 1939 entitled Time in the Sun, considered by many critics as probably nearest to Eisenstein's concept because of her close relationship with the filmmaker.
In the late 1930s she became part of the circle of P. D. Ouspensky
P. D. Ouspensky
Peter D. Ouspensky , , a Russian esotericist known for his expositions of the early work of the Greek-Armenian teacher of esoteric doctrine George Gurdjieff, whom he met in Moscow in 1915.He was associated with the ideas and practices originating with...
and later worked for him after his move to New York.
According to her friend, Pamela Cullen, Marie "...had a fascination for India and as a young woman she had been introduced to India’s fight for independence by one of India’s greatest political figures, Krishna Menon
Krishna Menon
Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon , commonly referred to as Krishna Menon, was an Indian nationalist, diplomat and statesman, described as the second most powerful man in India by Time Magazine and others, after his ally and intimate friend, Jawaharlal Nehru.Described as "vitriolic,...
, who was then a struggling lawyer in London. She also had family associations with India through her father, who had served as an officer in the Indian Army and been seriously wounded during one of the many uprisings of the period".
Nehru invited Marie to India to help with the University Film Society and the Children's Film Society. She was probably recommended to him by D.G. Tendulkar
Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar
Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar was an Indian writer and documentary film maker. He is most well known as the author of an eight-volume biography of Mahatma Gandhi, titled Mahatma: Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.-Early life:...
who must have known her during the time he was in Moscow studying cinema with Sergei Eisenstein. Over the years, Marie became a friend of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
. For sometime in 1960s, Marie was a house guest of Nehrus and stayed in Teen Murti.
Marie lived in India in 1960s and 1970s and was actively involved in the film society movement at the same time a close observer of Indian politics. In recognition of her work, the Indian government honored her with the civilian award, Padma Bhusan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, in 1984.