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:

School | Teacher | Student | Love | Boy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 7 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Caborne	...	Boy in Upper 5th Science Class (uncredited)
Vivienne Gibson	...	Mrs. Saunders (uncredited)
John Greenwood	...	Gilbert's Senior Boy (uncredited)
Joan Haythorne	...	Mrs. Wilson (uncredited)
Michael Newell	...	Bryant (uncredited)
Brian Nissen	...	Head Boy (uncredited)
Anton Rodgers	...	Pupil (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Dora Sevening	...	Mrs. Sanders (uncredited)
Russell Waters	...	School Doorman (uncredited)
Ian Whittaker	...	Pupil (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Asquith

Writing credits
Terence Rattigan		(by)
Terence Rattigan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Teddy Baird	....	producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Desmond Dickinson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John D. Guthridge

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Carmen Dillon

Makeup Department
Biddy Chrystal	....	hair stylist
W.T. Partleton	....	makeup artist (as W. Partleton)

Production Management
Andrew Allan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Pollock	....	assistant director
Bert Batt	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Stanley Hosgood	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bert Gaiters	....	property master (uncredited)
Jack Stephens	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Dennis	....	sound recordist
Dino Di Campo	....	sound editor
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
E.G. Daniels	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	first assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)
C. Le Mesurier	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Dudley Messenger	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
H.A.R. Thomson	....	camera operator (as Russell Thomson)
Cornel Lucas	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Reginald H. Morris	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Tony Young	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne Caffin	....	dress supervisor
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (uncredited)
Bob Rayner	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (uncredited)

Other crew
Maggie Unsworth	....	continuity (as Margaret Sibley)
Arthur Alcott	....	production controller (uncredited)
Ken Green	....	publicity manager (uncredited)
Jean Hall	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)
Norman Hudis	....	floor publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Javelin Films

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1951) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Victory Films (1951) (France) (theatrical)
• Rank Film (1951) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• D&P Studios  logo

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Javelin Films

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The Browning Version" by Terence Rattigan opened at the Coronet Theater on October 12, 1949, ran for 69 performances and starred Maurice Evans.

Quotes:

Andrew Crocker-Harris:I may have been a brilliant scholar, but I was woefully ignorant of the facts of life.

Movie Connections:

References Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 5

A Study in Cruelty

Based on Terence Rattigan's play, this is a moving story of a public (private) schoolmaster's disappointments as his life slips away from him, and his increasing sense of isolation from everyone around him as even his wife makes clear her bitterness towards him. Michael Redgrave's performance is masterfully poignant. The film was made in an era when the values inherent in the film still had considerable currency, helping the film to achieve a degree of authenticity which it is doubtful could be achieved today. (I have not seen the more recent version, though, so it may be that I am wrong). If you are interested in the human condition, or simply want to see a masterful portrayal of human pain then you should watch this film.