Final Merchant Ivory film debuts

The White Countess is released in the UK on 31 March

Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson have attended the premiere of the final Merchant Ivory film, The White Countess, in London.

The pair were joined by other members of the cast, including Richardson's mother Vanessa Redgrave.

Producer Ismail Merchant died last May at the age of 68.

Mr Merchant, director James Ivory and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala were behind landmark period films such as A Room With A View and Howard's End.

Family affair

Mr Ivory is currently working on a film in Argentina which Merchant helped to prepare - but The White Countess was the last film they completed together.

"I wish Ismail was here with us today," said Richardson, 42, at the premiere.

Fiennes plays a blind US former diplomat who falls in love with the impoverished countess, played by Richardson.

Vanessa Redgrave appears as Richardson's aunt in the movie, while her real-life aunt Lynn Redgrave plays the countess' mother-in-law.