- Actors: Albert Finney, Greta Scacchi, Matthew Modine, Julian Sands, Michael Gambon
- Directors: Mike Figgis
- Writers: Ronald Harwood, Terence Rattigan
- Producers: Garth Thomas, Mimi Polk Gitlin, Olivia Stewart, Ridley Scott
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Paramount
- VHS Release Date: 19 Mar 2001
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000059RES
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,691 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
From the Back Cover
As the term comes to an end at the private boy's school, the Abbey, the classics master Andrew Crocker-Harris ( Albert Finney) is also coming to the end of his long teaching career. Looking back on over two decades in the school, Crocker-Harris realises that his entire life has been a failure. He has not been able to inspire the boys with the love of classical literature, his popular and attractive wife ( Greta Scacchi) is having an affair with a young master ( Matthew Modine) and he faces a retirement of loneliness and ignominy.
Then the gift of the Browning version of the Agamemon by one of his pupils provides the unexpected source of inspiration, and the hope of happiness to come.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have been waiting for this film to come out on DVD for what seems like ages, (its been available in US format for some time). Why ? It is a quiet understated film - Albert Finney plays the part of an old style schoolteacher who is put upon by his wife and school head. He wants to be successful with the boys but is teaching a 'boring' subject and in a 'boring manner'. Towards the end the touching gift he receives, (can't say from whom as it will spoil it), on the verge of his retirement makes him assess his life, his relationships and his 'raison d'etre'. A failure is how he assesses himself but he did touch the lifes of many of his pupils and in that he was successful. What you see in this film is a master craftsman at work, very understated but the wealth of emotions is contained in a face that was designed, (the teacher he plays), to never show emotion. A truly brilliant understated film from a great 'character' actor.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Of course, Finney needs no intro- especially with his BAFTA. As remakes go, this one is exceptionally good (compared to the 1951 original with Michael Redgrave). Acclaimed director Mike Figgis took an old fashioned setting & brilliantly updated it so that the story occurs in the present. The scenes were beautifully shot too. The key scene where the boy, Taplow gave Andrew Crocker-Harris (Finney) the gift of the book was actually a great improvement compared to the original. Thought provoking, truly first class acting & totally enjoyable. Well done Mike Figgis- another excellent example of skillful direction. Praise to Albert Finney too- few films these days carry such a dignified performance.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
In my opinion, the best drama ever filmed! Albert Finney shows how an actor should perform, & makes one think about true feeling & the whole conception of what life is all about.
Mike Figgis directed the film extremely well, & the addition of a couple of extra scenes, compared to the 1951 original, as well as the great improvement on most other scenes, make this a mighty classic. Thank God for "The Browning Version" (1994).
Mike Figgis directed the film extremely well, & the addition of a couple of extra scenes, compared to the 1951 original, as well as the great improvement on most other scenes, make this a mighty classic. Thank God for "The Browning Version" (1994).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Little Men on the Shoulders of a Giant
This is a degradation of a masterpiece by one of our great dramatists. Figgis and Harwood are nothing compared to Terrence Rattigan and succeed only in dragging it into the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Howells
Seller: Cheap as Chips
I ordered "The Browning Version" on DVD from a seller who wasn't the cheapest, but was in the UK. Jon at "Cheap as Chips" responded very promptly to my request to have the DVD... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mrs. S. J. Hibbert
Peerless Performance from Albert Finney
This is a wonderful film which has so much to recommend it, but it is worth watching purely for Albert Finney's monumental and deeply moving portrayal of the central character. Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by David Mitchell
A little laborious and implausible
I went to boarding school, so the setting and characters were familiar. The film about English people being miserable, which is of course something they excel at. Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by William Cohen
"You have obtained exactly what you deserved"
"You have obtained exactly what you deserved; no less, and certainly no more." Thus intones as his catchphrase the sadistic and soon-to-retire Mr Crocker-Harris (played wonderfully... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2008 by Nicholas Casley
Terrence Rattigan at his best
Terrence Rattigan at his best
It was only a few years ago that I was lucky enough to see the original version of this story in the 1951 film. Read more
It was only a few years ago that I was lucky enough to see the original version of this story in the 1951 film. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2008 by Peter Wade
Brilliant, well-directed, deeply moving & the best acting!
Albert Finney needs no introduction; one of the best British actors ever. In this updated version of Terence Rattigan's play, Finney gives yet another commendable performance as a... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2001
equally sad and uplifting
everyone knows both Albert Finney and Greta Scacchi, many might perhaps believe they are actors who younger people may find it slightly hard to relate to: this film may be no... Read more
Published on 7 April 2001 by vegas_71@yahoo.co.uk
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