The Browning Version (1994)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Mike Figgis

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (play)
Ronald Harwood (writer)

Release Date:

12 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The greatest lessons in life are the ones learned by the heart.

Plot:

Andrew Crocker-Harris is an embittered and disliked teacher of Greek and Latin at a British prep school...

Plot Keywords:

England | Teenage Boy | Teacher Of Classical Languages | Boy Rear Nudity | Student Mentor Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Andrew Crocker-Harris
Greta Scacchi	...	Laura Crocker-Harris
Matthew Modine	...	Frank Hunter
Julian Sands	...	Tom Gilbert
Michael Gambon	...	Dr. Frobisher
Ben Silverstone	...	Taplow
Jim Sturgess	...	Bryant (as James Sturgess)
Joseph Beattie	...	Wilson
Mark Bolton	...	Grantham
Tom Havelock	...	Laughton
Walter Micklethwait	...	Buller
Jotham Annan	...	Prince Abakendi
David Lever	...	David Fletcher
Bruce Myers	...	Dr. Rafferty
Maryam d'Abo	...	Diana

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:12 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Norway:15 | Spain:T | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Milton Abbey School, Blandford, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Percy Main

Trivia:

Originally developed as a Ridley Scott directorial project.

Quotes:

Andrew: In the Cold War, everyone wanted to learn Russian. Then came Perestroika; Russian wasn't trendy any more.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Browning Version (1951)

Soundtrack:

Galop (Can-Can)

a well-done "small" film.

This is one of those movies that are easy to overlook because of their lack of special effects, bone-rattling audio, and sexual situations. Nevertheless, The Browning Version tells a poignant story of an aging teacher who is being shunted aside in favor of a younger replacement. Albert Finney is wonderful as Crocker-Harris, "the Hitler of the lower sixth," whose health is failing and whose enthusiasm for teaching is gone. Greta Scacchi is equally good as his unfaithful wife. Her nuanced performance is one way in which this version is superior to the much-admired Michael Redgrave issue of 1951. In the latter, Jean Kent plays an unrelenting bitch who cares not a whit for her husband's plight. One cannot, under any circumstances, imagine how the two characters ever got together. In the new rendition, however, one can see how the lovely Miss Scacchi might have fallen for the athletically built Finney. As a result, one can better appreciate the disillusionment and bitterness that inform her character as she contemplates what he has become.