THE BROWNING VERSION
UK, 1951, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Michael Redgrave, Jean Kent, Nigel Patrick, Wilfred Hyde White, Bill Travers, Ronald Howard.
Directed by Anthony Asquith.
The Browning Version was adapted from his own play by Terence Rattigan. It was directed by Anthony Asquith who collaborated with Rattigan on a number of films including The V.I.Ps.
The film focuses on a disenchanted schoolmaster and his having to cope with his unpopularity, the infidelity of his wife, his inability to communicate with his colleagues. Michael Redgrave gives a superb performance as the broken Andrew Crocker Harris who ultimately is able to transcend himself. The occasion is a tribute from a student, the translation by Robert Browning of the Agamemnon. His speech at the end is a moving summing-up of the experience of the sad master. Jean Kent is brittle as his unfaithful wife, Nigel Patrick sympathetic as the teacher. There is interesting support from Wilfrid Hyde White as the headmaster and Bill Travers as the sportsmaster.
The film is in the tradition of Goodbye Mr. Chips - but in reverse in terms of popularity and the warmth between husband and wife. An excellent British film of the '50s.
1. Interesting drama? Insight into human nature?
2. Terence Rattigan's play, adaptation for the screen? The strength of the drama, the quality of the dialogue and interactions? The opening out of the play? The strength of the cast?
3. Black and white photography, the atmosphere of the school, the confined playing to school and home? Authentic?
4. The tradition of Goodbye Mr. Chips? The film as an anti-Mr. Chips? The film's comment on British education? Teachers and the effect of their devotion to students? A tribute to English education?
5. The quality of Michael Redgrave's performance as Crocker Harris? Appearance, manner, age, health? The experience of his career? Sense of failure? Narrow outlook? The passing of the years, the conduct of his classes, brittle and formal? Lack of relationship with the boys? Enduring his classes? Nicknames: the Crock, the Himmler of the Lower Fifth? The effect on him as a person, his health? A pathetic figure? The headmaster and his attitudes, despising him? Treating him brutally? The lack of relationship with the staff? Ridicule and mockery? No expectations of him? A sad ending to his career?
6. Crocker- Harris and his relationship with Millie? His motive in marrying her, the brittleness of their marriage and the passing of the years, his love for her? Permitting her her affairs? Her taunting him with them? Her controlling him and his having to cope? Allowing her her way? Millie and her presence, manner, the disappointments of her life, ambition, cold, resentment and anger, her jeering at her husband? Her keeping face? The headmaster and her charm? Frank and the affair, her possessiveness over him?
7. Frank as a genial teacher, friendship with Crocker- Harris, popular with the boys, smooth manner, the infatuation with Millie, the affair with her? His feelings as regards Crocker Harris and the truth?
8. Taplow and the boys, the mockery of Crocker- Harris, the behaviour in class? Lack of interest in the classics? Taplow and his bringing of the gift? Crocker Harris's reaction, emotional? His being touched? Millie's bitter suggestion about Taplow's motives? The effect on Crocker-Harris?
9. The sequence with the new teacher, the teacher not aware of Crocker- Harris's sensibilities, the discussion about the Himmler of the Lower Fifth? His apology for having hurt him?
10. Millie's bitterness and Crocker- Harris's ability to make a final decision, the support of Frank who could see through Millie? His freedom? Allowing Millie to go her way? Some self-respect?
11. Crocker-Harris? and the speech, the timing, the attitude of the headmaster, Fletcher as the sports hero? His making a decision, the beginnings of his speech, ineffective, putting away a text, speaking spontaneously, the outpouring of his experience, the reaction of the staff and the students, of the headmaster?
12. The film's comment on the teaching career, the demands, subjects, the classics and their power, lack of impact on contemporary students? Teachers being defeated by their students, their inability to cope? The pathos of the failed teacher?
13. The film's detailing the life of the school - classes, punishments, sport, teachers as idols? The socialising of the boys with the staff? The common-room, the staff and their jokes, infighting? Snobbery?
14. The quality of the film, a literate film? The British industry of the '50s?
