The Browning Version (1951)

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (by)
Terence Rattigan (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1951 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Forced to retire from an English public school. a disliked professor must confront his utter failures as a teacher, a husband, and a man.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | English Public School | Headmaster | Classical Greek | Teaching

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Andrew Crocker-Harris
Jean Kent	...	Millie Crocker-Harris
Nigel Patrick	...	Frank Hunter
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Frobisher (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
Brian Smith	...	Taplow
Bill Travers	...	Fletcher
Ronald Howard	...	Gilbert
Paul Medland	...	Wilson
Ivan Samson	...	Lord Baxter
Josephine Middleton	...	Mrs. Frobisher
Peter Jones	...	Carstairs
Sarah Lawson	...	Betty Carstairs
Scott Harold	...	Rev. Williamson
Judith Furse	...	Mrs. Williamson

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | France:U | USA:Approved (PCA #15027) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Javelin Films

Trivia:

Rattigan himself was an excellent cricket player.

Quotes:

Andrew Crocker-Harris: You must excuse me. I had prepared a speech, but I find now that I have nothing to say. Or rather, I have three very small words, but they are most deeply felt. They are these: I am sorry. I am sorry because I have failed to give you what you had the right to demand of me as your teacher: sympathy...

Movie Connections:

References Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Soundtrack:

Fifth symphony

The crowning version.

I do not think the 1994 remake is so appalling.But it cannot hold a candle to this one,for sure,though.Part of the reason can be found,IMHO,in how the two directors deal with the main character.THe color version gambles on Albert Finney's performance and overlooks the rest of the cast which is not that much exciting in the first place (M.Modine is rather bland).Here ,the whole cast is outstanding ,from the young guy who plays the student to Jean Kent,a bitchy wife ,from Nigel Patrick's bewildered science teacher who becomes a human being during the movie to Wilfrid Hyde-White's (whatever a precedent user's view on the matter)mischievous,suave and finally cruel headmaster.

Of course Michael Redgrave steals the show ,but he gets good support all along the way.His performance is subdued,but emotionally intense ,and if you do not shed a tear during his final speech,you must have a heart of stone.The black and white cinematography and the stifling atmosphere give the tragedy the three unities (place,time and action) and an inventive directing makes us forget it's a play,like in the best Mankiewicz works.