The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Rating:
Summary: A shattering flick
Review: The dialogue was creaky and childish, and it took me a long time to get used to it, though Maggie Smith brought it to life and made it take. The other actors were good enough, but less successful with it (except the hateful head mistress of the school, I hated her, she must be a good actress). Also on the negative side was the abundance of Parthian shots, the pithy little gotcha exit line as the character walks out and shuts the door. I can (sigh) still hear all those doors closing firmly. But other than this I loved the movie. Maggie Smith was wonderful, mixing humor with her madness. And her humor was deliciously subtle. I notice some of these reviewers (god bless them) gave away much of the plot, as usual. Don't read them. They'll just spoil a very good movie for you. Finally I think the title song "Jean" is very beautiful and muted, and if it hadn't become such a hit on the radio, it would have been just pleasant (I thought it was in keeping with the story, time and place), not familiar. I see I've really said nothing about the movie. I advise you to rent it before buying it (I did both), I doubt it's to everyone's taste.

Rating:
Summary: "One should never succumb to provincial ignorance."
Review: The film, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" is based on the novel by Muriel Spark. Jean Brodie (Maggie Smith) is an attractive spinster in her 30s. The year is 1932, and Miss Brodie teaches at the Marcia Blaine School in Edinburgh. While the headmistress remains somewhat suspicious of both Jean and her teaching methods, Miss Brodie is careful to ensure the loyalty of her girls. Miss Brodie is involved with two male teachers--the art teacher--who is married, and the music teacher who is single and very eligible. Miss Brodie is rather indiscreet with her pupils. While she encourages individualism, she also appeals to the ready romanticism of her teenage pupils. Miss Brodie is very strict about maintaining standards of behaviour, and she indulges a favoured group of girls with after hours outings and trips to the opera. Miss Brodie's lack of discretion leads to some serious consequences for her, and for some of her girls, and the film addresses many questions concerning the role of a teacher's responsibilities.

Maggie Smith as Jean Brodie is a joy to watch. She certainly must fit the author's physical image of the Scottish schoolteacher. While the plot is faithful to the book, the film's flavour is hampered by its 1960s style and by Hollywood overtones. Some of the scenes with the schoolgirls are slightly overwrought, so the film begins to feel like a mismatch between "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins". I should point out that while this is not a musical, there were moments when I anticipated the entire cast bursting into song. The Miss Brodie of the novel is a subversive--the Miss Brodie in the film version is an eccentric. The production is glossy--perhaps a little too glossy for this tale, and as a result, the film loses much of the bite of the Sparks novel, and this is a great shame--displacedhuman


Rating:
Summary: Went about it backwards, but...
Review: The first movie I ever saw Maggie Smith in was the hysterical whodunit spoof MURDER BY DEATH (which, by the way, was written by Neil Simon). After seeing her acting all silly in that one (by the way she has great comedic timing), it was difficult to watch her be so serious here...but after cramming the movie down my own throat a couple times, it finally dawned on me what a great actress Smith is. To be able to do something serious like this and then goofy like MURDER is a great feat, and my hat is off to Ms. Smith!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, iffy sound.
Review: The movie is fine but the entire family found Jean Brodie's voice to be reminiscent of chalk squacking on a blackboard. This was NOT the sound that I heard in the theaters. It seems that the lower overtones of the soundtrack have been lost to time -- or to poor dubbing.

I don't know whether this movie is destined to be released to CD or to being remastered to correct the harsh sound. If so, wait. If not, I hope that your TV set or receiver will permit you to turn down the treble and crank up the bass. It may help.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing film
Review: This film is an excellent psychological study of a spinister schoolteacher and the four girls who comprise the "Brodie set." Maggie Smith beautifully portrays the egocentrical and deluded Jean Brodie, who insists throughout the film that she is "in her prime," thereby excusing her from taking accountability for her actions. But you don't dislike Miss Brodie; in fact, the viewer simultaneously pities her and admires her. Maggie Smith brings a great deal of humanity to the role; we see both her grasp for control and her struggle with her weaknesses. Smith certainly deserved the 1969 Oscar for Best Actress.

Pamela Franklin is captivating in the role of self-righteous Sandy, the only girl in the Brodie set who appears to have any genuine intellect. Her gradual maturity throughout the film is quite credible, and I especially liked the scene near the beginning of the film where Sandy and Jenny discuss their views on sex. Both funny and sad. (However, I was a bit shocked by Sandy's nude scene. This film should have a PG-13 rating.)

The movie was filmed on location in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, and the outdoor scenes compliment Miss Brodie's lectures and opinions beautifully. A good, literary film that examines both the complexities about being a woman and what it means to be a teacher. I also highly recommend the novel by Muriel Spark.

Rating:
Summary: Maggie and Celia At Their Finest
Review: This has always been a favorite film of mine and now that is it
on DVD we have a letterboxed version. From the opening shots we
know we are in for a real treat. Maggie was just starting out in
the movies when she snared this role. Fox wanted Audrey Hepburn
or Deborah Kerr but Maggie made the role her own. She is not
alone. Celia Johnson as headmistress Miss Mackay is fabulous and
Gordon Jackson who later achieved world fame as Hudson in
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS is a superb Gordie Lowther. Smith and Johnson
both won British Academy Awards and a few weeks later Maggie was
an upset winner at the Oscars and there was hooting and hollering
and mass celebrations at our house. I am delighted that Fox has
put this on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: a wonderful movie maggie smith's best
Review: this is a movie I can see over and over agai

Rating:
Summary: How's that again?
Review: This is certainly a woman's picture, with all that implies. The men in it are without exception weaklings and dunderheads who allow themselves to be pushed around like hogs on ice by Scottish schoolmarm Jean Brodie and her female pupils. As for the plot it's none too clear; about what you'd expect from former mental patient Muriel Spark, authoress of the original novel. After half a dozen years or so of aimless romancin' and pontificatin' Brodie eventually is canned from the school for her Fascist leanings, although anyone who thinks pro-Fascism was unusual in Great Britain and especially Scotland during the 1930's needs a history refresher. Male viewers might want to catch Pamela Franklin with her clothes off about 90 minutes in.

Rating:
Summary: "POINTLESS"
Review: This is one of the worst movies I ever saw. I saw it theatrically when it came out and then saw it again twenty years later on TV, when I had hoped that a more adult perspective would enable me to appreciate the initial critics' reviews. WRONG! It was still awful. There didn't seem to be any point to character motivation (what little motivation there was). Then one day I saw the book in the library, and since the book is always better than the movie, I read it. No wonder the movie was pointless. The book was the same. Better to watch one or other of the versions of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips".

Rating:
Summary: A Movie That Really Stays With You!
Review: This is one of those rare movies that I want to see again and again. I first saw it a couple of years ago and was haunted not only by the Oscar-winning performance of Maggie Smith, but by the (I thought) incredible job done by Pamela Franklin as Sandy. I was so taken by Franklin that I've even tracked down and watched some of her early Disney films like 'A Tiger Walks', which is also good. As for the film itself, the plot is rich and full, the characters well developed, and the climactic scene gripping. I would definitely recommend seeing this movie! Just be prepared for it to stay with you long after the closing credits...