Beau Brummell (1954)

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

Clyde Fitch (play)
Karl Tunberg (writer)

Release Date:

18 March 1955 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Captain George Brummell is an upper-class dandy. He has to leave the army after having insulted the crown prince...

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Insult | Dandy | Beautiful Woman | Class Status

Cast

Stewart Granger	...	George Bryan 'Beau' Brummell
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Lady Patricia Belham
Peter Ustinov	...	George IV Prince of Wales
Robert Morley	...	King George III
James Donald	...	Lord Edwin Mercer
James Hayter	...	Mortimer
Rosemary Harris	...	Mrs. Maria Anne Fitzherbert
Paul Rogers	...	William Pitt
Noel Willman	...	Lord George Gordon Byron
Peter Dyneley	...	Midger
Charles Carson	...	Sir Geoffrey Baker
Ernest Clark	...	Doctor Warren
Peter Bull	...	Mr. Fox
Mark Dignam	...	Mr. Burke
Desmond Roberts	...	Colonel

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound encoding) (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16960, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The film had troubles with the US censor, the Production Code Administration because of the apparent justification of the immoral relationship between the Prince Regent and Mrs Fitzherbert, because a steward at a gentlemen's club had the manner of a 'sex pervert', because the Prince checks the gender of a dog and use of the word 'damn'. Changes were made but the running time remained the same.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When the mad King George III hides from Brummel and the prince behind the draperies, the boom shadow makes a prominent appearance on the wall at the top right of the screen.

Quotes:

Lord George Gordon Byron: The trouble with most men of superior intellect is their pride. And a proud man can be just as foolish as a fool.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Evening with Sir Peter Ustinov (1995) (TV)

Beautiful Historical Drama Cum Regency Romance

As a writer, I appreciate the classic play from which "Beau Brummell" was adapted. The film directed by veteran Curtis Bernhardt and written by Karl Tunberg is a very solid one, which is a drama not an adventure. Perhaps post-1970 viewers are unused to listening to dialogue; also this is not history, it is fictionalized biography. This means the Beau Brummell we are given is the one to be judged; and frankly anyone who is the enemy of a half-mad pseudo-Christian monarch, and who tries to influence his son to be even marginally a better man and less of a dress parade fop, is an historical character worth making a movie about. Furthermore, any comparison between this film and "The Madness of King George", a naturalistic biography of a half-mad king is ridiculous; this is fiction, the latter cannot aspire to be anything comparable. The film is physically quite beautiful. Richard Addinsell and Miklos Rosza provided music, Oswald Morris the glowing cinematography and Elizabeth Haffenden the very striking and lovely period costumes.. With art direction by Alfred Junge, gorgeous bewigged hair and Joan Johnstone's makeup, the film looks quite lovely at all points. The storyline, which sometimes betrays its stage origins, in my judgment never really falters. George Brian Brummell attracts  the attention of the young Prince of England by critiquing his overly-elaborate redesign of the royal guard's uniforms. It's about all he has to do except wish he could marry his mistress, which his father will not allow. Brummell's audacity and subtle praise of his latent potential then causes him to make Brummell his chief unofficial adviser. He introduces pipe-stem trousers and the ancestor of the modern dress suit in place of the foppish fashions of the period; and he conducts himself honestly while hoping to free the prince from his father's madness and general tyranny. He is liked and respected by the ethical men at a corrupt and dangerous imperial court--remember we revolted against the mad king's family in the colonies--but eventually runs afoul of the king's touchiness, and to Lord Byron at a party instead of issuing an apology, asks of George Gordon, Lord Byron, "Gordie--who's your fat friend?" The Prince fails to forgive him for the intemperate remark; and Brummell is driven from court and only reconciled with the king as he lies dying. in poverty. This powerful and often thematic narrative may be a bit slow here and there, but intelligent dialogue, powerful confrontations and good acting make it a standout, compared to nearly every historical film made since its original release. In the title role, Stewart Granger is very good and charismatic. Even better perhaps are Robert Morley as the mad King, Peter Ustinov as the Prince, James Donald as Lord Mercer and Rosemary Harris as Mrs. Fitzherbert, the Prince's mistress. Other fine actors in this well-played feature include Peter Dyneley, James Hayter, Noel Willman as Lord Byron, Paul Rogers as Mr. Pitt, Peter Bull and Henry Oscar. As Lady Pamela, Brummell's love, Elizabeth Taylor lacks something in every department except looks; even after her relative shortcomings in classical films such as "ivanhoe" and this entry, studio heads hired her to play classical parts. I have always wondered why. Granger, handsome lead, was brought to star in a number of projects for the studio; he did not do a poor job in any one of them and turned in a very good one wherever, as here, he was able to inject humor into his part. This is a very fine, dignified and rewarding historical fictionalized biography, unlike so many before and since. It is very underrated.