Leofwine_draca I found THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE a surprisingly unpleasant little film that feels dated in a bad way. The setting is Edinburgh, where the prim and proper Miss Brodie - played by Maggie Smith with an exemplary Scots accent - attempts to teach her female pupils about life and love in order to ready them for the world. Unfortunately, much of the running time is hampered by the interventions of an extremely sleazy art teacher, played by Robert Stephens. Scenes in which he paints one of his pupils in the nude (Pamela Franklin, the child actress from the likes of THE INNOCENTS) and then proceeds to cavort with her feel deeply dodgy when seen with modern eyes and I found his character's behaviour unforgiveable. The rest is meandering, painting portraits of all-too-cold characters, failing to make any of them likeable, Smith included, and watchable only for a few old hands (Gordon Jackson, Celia Johnson) in support.

MARIO GAUCI Dame Maggie Smith is one of the most formidable of British actresses; however, she has a penchant to star in films which hold little appeal to me on paper – from Merchant/Ivory costume pieces to the HARRY POTTER franchise. This is one of the reasons why it has taken me this long to watch her Oscar-winning turn in the film under review (despite having been shown on local TV several years ago), or her other Best Actress nod in George Cukor's TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (1972; which is a staple of the TCM UK channel); conversely, I am familiar with the film for which she won her second Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, i.e. the star-studded Neil Simon comedy California SUITE (1978) or, for that matter, movies in which her work was similarly shortlisted for recognition like OTHELLO (1965) and Robert Altman's GOSFORD PARK (2001). Incidentally, I was lucky to attend the London Film Festival premiere of Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut QUARTET (2012) which starred Smith, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly where all four stars were in attendance. Anyway, Smith here plays the titular character of a liberated schoolteacher in an Edinburgh girls' school in 1932 who, while ostensibly teaching her pupils the boring subject of History, instills in them an unconditional appreciation for Art, Life, Love and Politics. The excessive zeal with which Brodie goes about her business has all-round tragic consequences: from her butting heads with (and eventually getting the sack from) headmistress Celia Johnson; her star pupils (including "dependable" Pamela Franklin) being looked down upon by both peers and fellow teachers – especially when it is learnt that Smith is taking them to her boyfriend/music teacher Gordon Jackson's farm on Sundays; a new addition to the fold, a stuttering girl in pigtails, is sufficiently impressed by Brodie's singing of Generalissimo Franco's praises (and Benito Mussolini beforehand) to fatally follow her brother (currently involved in the Spanish Civil War) on the battlefield; Franklin poses in the nude for Art teacher Robert Stephens (although he is a Catholic, married and a father of six children, he carries on a torrid affair with Smith herself) and becomes his lover, etc. Although the smooth running of Brodie's iconoclastic curriculum had already hit a snag when Franklin and Diana Grayson (playing Brodie's favourite pupil Jenny) decide to play a prank on ill-matched lovers Smith and Jackson by penning a sordid love letter that ends on Johnson's desk, it completely deteriorates with the death of innocent Mary McGregor… THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, adapted by Jay Presson Allen from Muriel Spark's novel, was somewhat surprisingly released on DVD as part of the "Fox Studio Classics" where it included an Audio Commentary with the film's late director (then a 93-year old) and long-retired actress Franklin; however, as with similar entries in the series that I watched recently – namely TITANIC (1953) and AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957) – I have not had time to listen to it due to time constraints. Although the acting is generally of a high calibre, I know where film critic Leslie Halliwell is coming from when he says it is "maddeningly acted" since the level of histrionics on display – particularly Smith herself – is sometimes hard to take; still, the film's highlights are the two confrontations between Smith and Johnson (with a dumbfounded Jackson looking on) and the climactic one between Smith and Franklin (whose shocking nude scene might well have cost her an Oscar nomination!) where their tense relationship throughout reaches its final meltdown. For the record, that same year Peter O'Toole was among the year's Oscar nominees for Best Actor for the similarly-set GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS! and actor Stephens was currently wed to Smith in real life. When it comes to awards the film received, it was up for another Oscar – albeit an unaccountable one for Best Song (since the very short tune is only heard once over the closing credits which, incredibly enough, did manage to emerge victorious at the Golden Globes…but not Smith or the film itself!); both Franklin and Johnson, then, were also recognized at the BAFTAs. The film also competed, albeit unsuccessfully, at that year's Cannes Film Festival where, yet another film set in a British school – Lindsay Anderson's IF…. (1968), was crowned the overall winner.

evening1 Here is a film that attempts to portray that once-in-a-lifetime educator whose influence endures -- that teacher who believes in you and wants you to soar.Miss Jean Brodie, played memorably by Maggie Smith, is the consummate individual in a cookie-cutter world, placed on this earth to lead and to inspire.Her multi-disciplinary, off-script message is both elegant and elemental but has no official place on the curriculum: Discover who you are, and run with it! "That is what I am for" she tells the girls at her Scottish boarding school. "To provide you with interests...I am committed to you in my prime!" Like Prometheus, Miss Brodie offers a gift that can do ineffable good or cause destruction. It will be up to her students to learn how to handle it.Because she dares to be true to herself, Miss Brodie is a threat to her associates. The headmistress lacks her passion and allure, and covets those attributes. So does student Sandy, who possesses insight but not warmth. Both wish to banish and destroy."She died a heroine!" Miss Brodie says of a student who took her advice but paid dearly for it. "She died a fool!" says Sandy.This film excels at conjuring the loneliness of the exceptionally inspired soul. Though felled like her lover at Flanders Fields, one hopes that her message will live on..."Safety does NOT come first -- goodness, truth, and beauty come first.""Recognize your prime at whatever time it may occur, and live it to the hilt." "Please try to do as I say, and not as I do." "I am in my prime and my girls are benefiting from it." "I am a deeply emotional person. I feel many things passionately." "Remain composed, like the Mona Lisa.""I am not accustomed to being summoned immediately." "I am an influence on my girls. I am proud of it." "You must all grow up to be dedicated women." "Let your imagination soar -- Think of Joan of Arc, think of Florence Nightingale." "The day draws late. Take home the story of Mary McGregor."

wes-connors In 1932 Edinburgh, exacting "Marcia Blaine School for Girls" teacher Maggie Smith (as Jean Brodie) arrives for work. Stylishly outfitted and attractively approaching spinster-hood, Miss Brodie enjoys sharing personal love stories with her students. Brodie does not adhere to the school's curriculum. She teaches an admiration of Benito Mussolini, the Fascist dictator. Brodie is available for sexual affairs with fellow teachers. She loves art teachers, like Robert Stephens (as Teddy Lloyd). She loves music teachers, like Gordon Jackson (as Gordon Lowther). Understandably, this irks headmistress Celia Johnson (as Emmaline Mackay)...Brodie selects a group of girls for special attention, taking them to lunch and the opera. She also encourages a sexual relationship between an ex-lover and one of - as she calls them - "My girls." In this film, the four singled out as Brodie favorites are: spectacled Pamela Franklin (as Sandy), stuttering Jane Carr (as Mary McGregor), pretty Diane Grayson (as Jenny) and histrionic Shirley Steedman (as Monica). While Brodie is polite, cultured and engaging, she is a truly wretched teacher...This film received some unfair criticism for its depiction of the lead character. Although the "Jean Brodie" character is toned-down from the original novel by Muriel Spark, her behavior is not celebrated. The admiration for Fascism was not uncommon in the 1930s. That this political system led to monstrous evil was unknown to Brodie; furthermore, it seduced entire nations of people. Within the four walls of a classroom, teachers are dictators. This fits Brodie's character perfectly. Her nature is part of the drama...And we are captivated...The story of "Jean Brodie" is a warning. Most important to the its success is a bewitching lead performance - and Maggie Smith delivers marvelously. She won a much-deserved "Academy Award" as "Best Actress" for her impersonation. Also extraordinary is the supporting role played by Ms. Franklin. That Franklin was not even recognized with an "Oscar" nomination is one of the organization's many glaring errors. While not looking quite 12-years old, Franklin received her well-earned "Supporting Actress" honor from the "National Board of Review". Although Smith is the driving force behind the film's success, all other personnel are excellent.********* The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (2/24/69) Robert Neame ~ Maggie Smith, Robert Stephens, Pamela Franklin, Celia Johnson