The Court
In the film 'A Passage To India', we first see the court as Mrs Moore and Adela are brought to watch fiancee Ronny impart the majesty of British Justice after their guided tour of Chandrapore. Mrs Moore is not impressed.
The Court Room - waiting for judge Ronny
Where was the court-room filmed? Does anyone know? Was it a real court-room, or was it just a film-set? I suspect the latter, and that it was built on the film's backlot in Banglaore.
As this website is about locations rather than characters, I haven't included lots of stills from the lengthy and plot-critical court scenes. Instead, we rush forward in the plot to the point where the imagined 'deed' at the Marabar Caves has been committed, the party have returned by train to Chandrapore, and Dr Aziz has been arrested. Mr Fielding learns of the accusations from Mr Turton, and drives through the bazaar to visit the police chief, Mr McBryde.
Chandrapore Police Station - front view
Chandrapore Police Station - forecourt
In this film-still of Fielding's tonga arriving at the Police Station, we get one of the few uncluttered views of the bazaar area, built by Lean on a 'backlot' that was housed in the vast grounds of a Maharajah's derelict palace in Bangalore, just seven minutes away from the West End Hotel where the cast and crew were based. Note that the Court and the Police Station are both located in the native quarter of Chandrapore, not the Civil Lines.
Adela and the Turtons drive to the Court-House
The official car enters the Court-House grounds
These scenes were filmed at the West End Hotel in Bangalore, the same location used for Mr Fielding's house.
Turton enters the Court-House
Leaving the Court-House
The trial is over. Miss Quested has withdrawn her accusations, and the case against Dr Aziz collapses. The monsoon rains begin, and umbrellas are produced as the Turtons hurry to the official car, a Bentley. I assume that this scene was also filmed at the West End Hotel - is that correct?
