MRS BROWN

UK, 1997, 103 minutes, Colour.
Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher.
Directed by John Madden.

Victorian society and parliamentarians of the 1860s referred to the queen as Mrs Brown because of her friendship with John Brown, the Scotsman who served her loyally (and sometimes controlled her household) after the death of Prince Albert.

Movie buffs will remember The Mudlark of almost 50 years ago, with Irene Dunne as the queen, Finlay Currie as Brown and Alec Guinness as Disraeli.

The striking cast now is Judi Dench, giving a fine performance as the queen, Billy Connolly surprisingly effective as Brown and Antony Sher as Disraeli. The re-creation of the period will delight those who like historical dramas and there is plenty to hold the attention concerning politics and the lives of members of royal families. This makes it a thoughtful entertainment.

1.The Victorian era? England in the 19th century? Comparisons with the 20th century - and 20th century monarchy?

2.Audience knowledge of and interest in Queen Victoria, her life, her relationship with her husband, family? The British Empire? Disraeli and his influence on her? The friendship and relationship with John Brown?

3.The re-creation of period, costumes and decor, lighting and atmosphere? Isle of Wight and Scottish locations? Palaces, the countryside, the highlands, the coast? London? The musical score and its classic style?

4.The title, as spoken by Disraeli? The foundation for the title in the friendship and love between the Queen and John Brown?

5.The initial information about Queen Victoria, her age and experience, marriage, the death of Prince Albert? Her grief and her long mourning through the 1860s? Her popularity and the waning of her popularity? Her being out of public life? Her refusal to participate in government? The court on the Isle of Wight and Balmoral, the formality and the control?

6.The introduction to John Brown: the opening, the chase in the woods, his loyalty to the Queen, firing the gun? The bust falling in slow motion? The explanation of these scenes at the end?

7.Judi Dench as Queen Victoria? Age and appearance, her dress, hairstyles? Formal and reserved? The 19th century queen? In the palace, the attendants? The meals and their formality, good manners? Her sewing, being retired from public life? Her refusal to look at the despatches? Being managed by Sir Henry and Dr Jenner? Her attitude towards the Price of Wales and his wife, her other children? Her allowing her grief to take over her whole life? Her statement that she would interpret everything as the Prince would have done things?

8.Billy Connolly as Brown? Screen presence and style? Coming from Scotland, his friendship with the Prince, loyalty to him - and the Queen's memory of his saving the family and including it in her memoirs? His plain talking, abrupt with the Queen and her angry reaction? Standing with the pony, his discussion about orders? His bluntness with the Queen? Her looking out the window at him, rebuking him? The invitation to ride and to take the air?

9.Her change, the attraction to Brown, going riding? Talking plainly with him? Going for the swim (and its strong formality with the box and the costumes and the hats)? Her decision to visit the Scots family and enjoying it, setting the table, coming back late, having the whisky? Her relationship with her children, more emotional - while antagonistic towards the Prince of Wales? The growth of friendship? Her love for Brown but 19th century platonic friendship? Treating Brown better than the other servants, taking orders from him, his control of her life instead of control by Sir Henry?

10.The change in Brown? The discussions with Archie about dealing with the Queen? His raucous going for a swim with Archie - and his growing formality, his loyalty to the Queen, respect, the sense of duty? Yet his love and his inability to express it? His being with the servants, the disdain, taking the head of the table? His becoming more autocratic - with Sir Henry, Dr Jenner, rebuking the Prince of Wales and insulting him? Controlling the Queen's appointments? Knowledge of this getting around England, the reports in the papers, the cartoons? Brown's promise to the Queen that she should not have to go back to her duties?

11.The Prince of Wales, the frustration, the Queen's severity about the smoking room closing at midnight, his being barred from her presence by Brown and being ridiculed, the discussions with Disraeli, wanting to take the throne? His illness and his mother going to his side? The reappearance together in London - and his story of Brown's thwarting the assassination attempt - the blend of mockery and respect? (And the Queen stating that she would strike a medal for Brown?)

12.Anthony Sher as Disraeli, the presentations of Disraeli in art and in previous films? His speeches in the Parliament, his fixed smile, Tory attitude, empire? Discussions with Lord Stanley and advice from him? The bills, especially concerning the independence of the Irish Church? The threat of disestablishing the monarchy? His political prowess, meeting people, rebuking the woman telling the jokes about the Queen? His discussions with the Prince of Wales? Ignoring the Queen in practice, referring to her as Mrs Brown? The uproar in the Parliament, his slender lead and his decision to go to Scotland? Being welcomed by the court, becoming part of the entourage, travelling with the Queen, listening to her singing and being with the children, her outbursts? The climbing of the mountain with Brown and persuading him to let the Queen go back to London?

13.Brown and his continued concern about the safety of the Queen, his formal presence, always being there? The sequence of the picnic and the newspaper reporters with their telescopes, his coming up behind them, scattering them - and the echoes of 20th century paparazzi? His place on the coach, present with the Queen in London, his running to stop the assassination attempt, his sombre stance while he was being mocked at table, the Queen and her decision to strike the medal for him? His going out into the property to chase the poachers? His loyalty to the Queen, getting pneumonia, her visit to him, the refusal of the kiss, the physical contact by touch and the kiss of hands? His death - and Sir Henry and Dr Jenner and the others obliterating his memory, especially getting his diary?

14.Sir Henry, the courtier, the politician, his control of the court, attempts to control Brown, his being usurped? The revenge by Sir Henry? Dr Jenner and his presence, help for the Queen, his help being usurped by Brown? The reaction to the drinking of the whisky...?

15.The ladies-in-waiting, their attendance on the Queen, giving her information?

16.The background of politics in the 19th century, the ladies and their jokes, punch? The Houses of Parliament and the speeches? The bills? The promotion of Empire?

17.The Scots family that the Queen visited, their nervousness, curtsies? The enjoyable evening together? The Queen experiencing the common touch?

18.The change in Queen Victoria, her being hurt by Brown's not fulfilling his promise, her being ill again? Recovery, the meal, hearing of the Prince of Wales's illness, hurrying to London, his recovery? Her discussions with the Dean of Windsor? Her book and its literary merit and her discussion with Brown? Her growing popularity with the public? The royal appearances? The passing of 15 years?

19.The servants, their jealousies, the relationship with Brown? Archie and his work, his trying to advise his brother - especially about the diary?

20.Brown and his illness, the Queen going to see him, the tenderness of their final visit together? True love?

21.A portrait of Queen Victoria, the history of the English monarchy? The 19th century? The crises of the late 20th century?