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The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie [1969]

The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie [1969]
Director: Ronald Neame
Actors: Maggie Smith, Robert Stephens, Pamela Franklin, Gordon Jackson, Celia Johnson
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Category: Video

Buy New: £14.42



New (4) Used (6) Collectible (4) from £10.99

Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars 8 reviews
Sales Rank: 1919

Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 111
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1

EAN: 5013738174450
ASIN: B00004CJRY

Theatrical Release Date: January 1969
Release Date: September 22, 1997
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: NEW & SEALED VIDEO.....RAPID DISPTCH BY UK SELLER

Similar Items:

  • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Penguin Modern Classics)
  • The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne [1988]
  • My House In Umbria [2003]
  • Tea With Mussolini
  • Becket [1964]

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
Maggie Smith is so witty and commanding in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that you might forget the script paints Jean Brodie as an ultimately self-deluding spinster. Dame Maggie won the first of her two Oscars for playing a teacher in 1930s Edinburgh more in thrall to her romantic notions of art and beauty than the real world (she exalts the Mona Lisa and Mussolini with equal fervour), a cultivator of worshipping "Brodie Girls". Smith's expert playing makes many of the brogue-heavy Brodie-isms worth memorising ("She seeks to intimidate me by the use of quarter-hours") and raises the picture above its generally theatrical style. Real-life husband Robert Stephens plays Jean's married lover; Celia Johnson excels as the hostile headmistress; and Pamela Franklin is the deadpan whistle-blower within Miss Brodie's coven. The dippy music of Rod McKuen helps mark the movie as more of a reflection of the 1960s than the 30s. --Robert Horton


Customer Reviews:   Read 3 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful movie even if it is a little overdone   July 20, 2008
This very rich confection is memorable and is more of a movie experience than a simple movie, because just as the all time great movies do, it grips you emotionally. There are faults you can find in it, certainly, but when it's finished you are still with it, and this has most to do with the affecting performance of Smith, which is intense, emotional and even a tad theatrical. It didn't follow the book very closely, its direction is quite stolid, you can't ignore the 'acting' of Maggie Smith, and some find the Rod McKewen song a bit intrusive and maybe even incongruous with the period of the film, but you remember this movie and remember the experience of watching it.


5 out of 5 stars Forsooth! A great film   August 15, 2007
Normally I'd be cross with a film that takes such liberties with the novel it's based on, but for once I'll forgive Jay Presson Allen (who wrote the play and screenplay) since it can't have been an easy job. For what it's worth, what happens in the film doesn't really happen in the book. The characters are all mixed up, new bits are invented, and the ending is completely different.
But never mind. The new ending is dramatically effective, if not faithful.
Central to the movie is Maggie Smith's oscar-winning performance and it's everything it's cracked up to be. You'll soon wish you'd said half the things she says. You may even find yourself noticing people who bid you good morning with predestination in their smiles, or making disparaging comments about chrysanthemums.
For me, a problem with the movie is that I so enjoy Miss Brodie in her prime, that when she starts to move past her prime, it's a bit of a blow, so the ending is rather sad, though somewhat inevitable.
The film moves forward in time, and the girls do a great job of being both very little girls and quite mature girls. The whole cast does a terrific job.
It's a 1969 film, so not exactly progressive in its production, but there's a charm to the way the film is set and threaded together, though the school is too obviously for me a stage set.
The DVD has a few theatrical trailers and a commentary by the director and the actress who plays Sandy.
All in all, a very enjoyable film you can watch many times (as I have). Which makes it a great puzzle it's only available on region 1.



5 out of 5 stars "Give me a girl at an impressionable age..."   March 17, 2006
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I rate this film as one of my top 10 all-time movies. Though quite different to the superb novel, for me it succeeds in all areas. Excellent acting & direction, and a very convincing recreation of 1930s Edinburgh despite practically all of it being filmed in a studio. I would also add a special mention for the haunting music. You end up feeling both charmed & saddened by the characters in equal measure. This U.S. dvd has very interesting commentaries (they are often very dull!) by the director & actress Pamela "Sandy" Franklin. It is just a shame that the sublime Ms Smith wasn't available.


5 out of 5 stars "I am a teacher! First, last, always!"   December 11, 2005
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Maggie Smith won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Jean Brodie, an unconventional and outspoken teacher in a stuffy Edinburgh girls' school, who encourages her students to be just like herself. Miss Brodie proudly says she is "in her prime," and expounds on the glories of a life full of passion and commitment. Miss Brodie is, in reality, a spinster, still sadly attracted to her unscrupulous ex-lover and often living in the past. She has a small group of students she is especially close to, but two of the girls take her instruction too literally, and this leads to tragedy.

Maggie Smith was so young and beautiful when she made this movie! She dominates the screen with her charisma and power. She tosses off many funny and memorable lines of dialogue with her delightful Scottish brogue, and delivers them with righteous indignation and withering glances. Pamela Franklin is excellent as one of Jean's disciples, and Rod McKuen's music is lovely. This film is a must for fans of Maggie Smith.


5 out of 5 stars Miss Brillient   May 24, 2005
 3 out of 6 found this review helpful

I watch this film every night before I go to bed. and always think 'what a fantastic film this is' love it and carn't get enough.

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