The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (1969): Maggie Smith, Pamela Franklin, Celia Johnson, Robert Stephens, Gordon Jackson, Jane Carr, Diane Grayson, Shirley Steedman, Lavinia Lang, Antoinette Biggerstaff, Isla Cameron, Rona Anderson, Margo Cunningham, Molly Weir, Ann Way, John Dunbar, Lesley Paterson, Heather Seymour, Gillian Evans, Antonia Moss, Kristin Hatfield, Diane Robillard, Jennifer Irvine, Janette Sattler, Helen Worth....Director Ronald Neame..Screenplay Jay Presson Allen.
"Young girls, I'm in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders...Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life"....
Released in 1969, this is Director Ronald Neame's film adaptation of the Broadway play by Jay Presson Allen which was itself based on the novel by Muriel Spark. Celebrated British actress Maggie Smith had performed the role of Miss Jean Brodie on stage and was the first choice to play the role for the film, with terrific reason. She won the Oscar for Best Actress 1969. The film is set in 1930's Edinburgh, Scotland, before the onset of WWII, as Fascism rises in Europe. Smith portrays Jean Brodie, an eccentric, idealistic, emotional, art-loving, freethinking and influential schoolteacher for a conservative private school for young girls. She is essentially a free spirit, a liberated woman who in her own words "puts old heads on young shoulders" and teaches young girls to blossom into individual, independent and adventurous heroines who think for themselves and who inspire others. But her methods - namely extracurricular activities such as outdoor picnics, boat trips, attending art galleries and the opera- are contrary to the principles of the school. Moreover, her constant lectures about non-conformity to the status quo, sexual freedom and discovering one's self is completely out of tune with the repressive conditions of the time. In effect, she's preaching the same things which were to be found in college campuses in the late 1960's. This causes controversy, especially when she butts head with the school headmistress Miss Mackay (wonderfully played by veteran British actress Celia Johnson). Things become even more difficult when she becomes the center of a love triangle. She is loved by two men - the shy music/voice teacher Gordon Lowther and the married-wit-children art teacher Teddy Lloyd (Robert Stephens). She was formerly Mr. Lloyd's lover but she has now become Mr. Lowther's lover. Her class of young girls, at an age in which they become curious about sexuality, discover Miss Brodie's love affairs, though keep it to themselves. While most of the girls follow her blindly, one girl - Sandy (Pamela Franklin)decides that she will not conform to Miss Brodie's teachings, this occurring when she develops into womanhood and finally thinks for herself. So ultimately, the story's theme is about the relationship between teacher and pupil. Miss Brodie admires Fascism, something which seems to have happened after her time in Italy under the rule of Mussolini. When she passes on the spirit of zeal and fervor to her most impressionable student - Mary (Jane Carr), it results in Mary leaving England to find her brother who has gone to fight in Spain. Due to misinformation, she seeks Franco's army to fight along with them but dies tragically. This finally strikes a blow to Sandy who betrays her teacher telling the administrators that she was responsible for teaching sedition and radical politics. Sandy's betrayal is at once a seemingly spiteful act and proof enough that she is possibly her most "dependable" student who has learned and applied her own teacher's lessons. Though it was not quite as Miss Brodie wanted, Sandy has proved to be her own woman and has freed herself from conforming. Everything has backfired. Miss Brodie is quite Fascist and dictator-like in her own way, teaching independence and liberalism but only as long as the girls grow up to be quite like her. Maggie Smith and Pamela Franklin take the lead in this drama, both having terrific chemistry, especially noteworthy is the final confrontation scene. This is possibly Maggie's Smith greatest role and one she must be very proud of. Wonderful script and bittersweet music by Rod McKuen, which won another Oscar for Best Music (The Title Song "Jean"). Filmed on location in England and Edinburgh. This is a must-see film for fans of Maggie Smith and those who love engaging drama.
"Young girls, I'm in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders...Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life"....
Released in 1969, this is Director Ronald Neame's film adaptation of the Broadway play by Jay Presson Allen which was itself based on the novel by Muriel Spark. Celebrated British actress Maggie Smith had performed the role of Miss Jean Brodie on stage and was the first choice to play the role for the film, with terrific reason. She won the Oscar for Best Actress 1969. The film is set in 1930's Edinburgh, Scotland, before the onset of WWII, as Fascism rises in Europe. Smith portrays Jean Brodie, an eccentric, idealistic, emotional, art-loving, freethinking and influential schoolteacher for a conservative private school for young girls. She is essentially a free spirit, a liberated woman who in her own words "puts old heads on young shoulders" and teaches young girls to blossom into individual, independent and adventurous heroines who think for themselves and who inspire others. But her methods - namely extracurricular activities such as outdoor picnics, boat trips, attending art galleries and the opera- are contrary to the principles of the school. Moreover, her constant lectures about non-conformity to the status quo, sexual freedom and discovering one's self is completely out of tune with the repressive conditions of the time. In effect, she's preaching the same things which were to be found in college campuses in the late 1960's. This causes controversy, especially when she butts head with the school headmistress Miss Mackay (wonderfully played by veteran British actress Celia Johnson). Things become even more difficult when she becomes the center of a love triangle. She is loved by two men - the shy music/voice teacher Gordon Lowther and the married-wit-children art teacher Teddy Lloyd (Robert Stephens). She was formerly Mr. Lloyd's lover but she has now become Mr. Lowther's lover. Her class of young girls, at an age in which they become curious about sexuality, discover Miss Brodie's love affairs, though keep it to themselves. While most of the girls follow her blindly, one girl - Sandy (Pamela Franklin)decides that she will not conform to Miss Brodie's teachings, this occurring when she develops into womanhood and finally thinks for herself. So ultimately, the story's theme is about the relationship between teacher and pupil. Miss Brodie admires Fascism, something which seems to have happened after her time in Italy under the rule of Mussolini. When she passes on the spirit of zeal and fervor to her most impressionable student - Mary (Jane Carr), it results in Mary leaving England to find her brother who has gone to fight in Spain. Due to misinformation, she seeks Franco's army to fight along with them but dies tragically. This finally strikes a blow to Sandy who betrays her teacher telling the administrators that she was responsible for teaching sedition and radical politics. Sandy's betrayal is at once a seemingly spiteful act and proof enough that she is possibly her most "dependable" student who has learned and applied her own teacher's lessons. Though it was not quite as Miss Brodie wanted, Sandy has proved to be her own woman and has freed herself from conforming. Everything has backfired. Miss Brodie is quite Fascist and dictator-like in her own way, teaching independence and liberalism but only as long as the girls grow up to be quite like her. Maggie Smith and Pamela Franklin take the lead in this drama, both having terrific chemistry, especially noteworthy is the final confrontation scene. This is possibly Maggie's Smith greatest role and one she must be very proud of. Wonderful script and bittersweet music by Rod McKuen, which won another Oscar for Best Music (The Title Song "Jean"). Filmed on location in England and Edinburgh. This is a must-see film for fans of Maggie Smith and those who love engaging drama.