short takes (2)

A retrospective of films by director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant - who are celebrating their 20th year as a filmmaking team - is now touring the United States, including such items as ''The Wild Party'' (in an uncut version) and their early successes ''Shakespeare Wallah'' and ''Bombay Talkie.'' The pair recently left for Europe to begin their next project, leaving two recent movies - ''Quartet'' and ''Jane Austen in Manhattan'' - in release on the regular first-run circuit. A busy duo, to be sure.