Mrs Brown (1997)

Director:

John Madden

Writer:

Jeremy Brock (writer)

Release Date:

18 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Queen Victoria, the world's most powerful woman. John Brown, a simple Scottish Highlander. Their extraordinary friendship transformed an empire.

Plot:

Queen Victoria is deeply depressed after the death of her husband, disappearing from public. Her servant Brown...

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Queen Victoria | Servant | Victorian Era | Royalty

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Queen Victoria
Billy Connolly	...	John Brown
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Henry Ponsonby
Antony Sher	...	Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
Gerard Butler	...	Archie Brown
Richard Pasco	...	Doctor Jenner
David Westhead	...	Prince of Wales (Bertie)
Bridget McConnell	...	Lady Ely
Georgie Glen	...	Lady Churchill
Catherine O'Donnell	...	Lady-in-Waiting
Sara Stewart	...	Princess Alexandra
Finty Williams	...	Princess Helena
Claire Nicolson	...	Princess Louise
Hattie Ladbury	...	Princess Alice
Oliver Kent	...	Prince Alfred

Also Known As:

Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (USA)
Mrs Brown (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG for a beating, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | Ireland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardverikie estate, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company:

BBC Scotland

Trivia:

Gerard Butler's first film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After the Mass of Thanksgiving at St. George's, Windsor for the recovery of the Prince of Wales from an attack of typhoid in 1871, all the royal carriages bear the monogram "VRI" standing for Victoria Regina Imperatrix (Victoria, Queen and Empress). Victoria was not created Empresss of India until 1876, when the "I" was added to the royal monogram.

Quotes:

Queen Victoria: [Queen spills water down her front]
John Brown: Honest to God woman, I never thought I'd see you in such a state, you must miss him dreadfully.
Queen Victoria: You do not! - he- Get him out!
[heads towards door]
Queen Victoria: GET HIM OUT! GET HIM OUT!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998) (TV)

Good, meticulously crafted, no-compromise drama

This is not, as one might think, a romantic film about a queen who falls in love with a subject -- although that's technically its story, and although it seems to aspire to the category of romantic, bittersweet drama. For that it's too harsh and cold, and my experience is that women in particular will be disappointed that at no point in the film will the central characters "succumb to their yearnings". True, this is an epic, sweeping, costume drama, but it's one that stays so true in its wish to portray history and reality correctly, that the grand love scenes are ruled out by its no-compromise attitude.

Beyond that (it's by no means a criticism), Mrs. Brown is a touching, very entertaining, extremely well acted drama. Unlike many other films set in this era, the sets aren't overdone, and the people are portrayed (as I imagine it) realistically. Despite its focus on realism, it comes off as an extremely emotional (much thanks to Billy Connolly's performance) story about personal and political conflicts.

Finally, I believe the political angle of the film will confuse some people who won't understand the issues at stake (this is how my girlfriend reacted -- she couldn't follow much of the narrative in the last hour or so); but those who do will be thrilled.