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Michael Redgrave gives the performance of a lifetime in this classic adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play. Public schoolmaster Crocker-Harris has become a bitter, disillusioned man. Stuck in a loveless marriage with a wife who openly cheats on him, the enthusiasm he once showed for his career and his pupils has long since vanished and The Crock has become a figure of disdain among the students whose life he has made a misery. With ill-health forcing him to resign his long-standing post a simple act of kindness from one boy has a profund impact on the seemingly heartless master.
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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful
In a classroom of a British public school modeled on Harrow, students are waiting for their classics master, Andrew Crocker-Harris. "I don't think the Crock gets a kick out of anything," says Taplow, one of the students. "In fact, I don't think he has any feelings at all. He's just dead, that's all...He can't hate people and he can't like people. And what's more, he doesn't like people to like him. If he'd give me a chance, I think I'd quite like him." "What"" says another student. "Well, I feel sorry for him, which is more or less the same thing, isn't it?"
Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) is a middle-aged teacher, pedantic, precise, not so much dead inside as numb. He has taught 18 years at the school as the lower fifth classics master. He was once a brilliant scholar and could see a wonderful career as a teacher. His wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has become a shrew. She had her ambitions, too, and they eroded in the face of the couple's incompatibility. Millie longs for passion, intensity and respect; Crocker-Harris can provide none. His view of love has been almost platonic. It is apparent their intimate life has been nonexistent for years. "I may have been a brilliant scholar," Crocker-Harris says at one point, "but I was woefully ignorant of the facts of life." In this mix of frustration and deadened emotion is Frank Hunter (Nigel Patrick), the charming, smart upper fifth science master, a colleague of Crocker-Harris, who is cuckolding him.
The story takes place over two days at the end of term. Crocker-Harris is having to retire because of ill health. He'll be moving to a much smaller school, earning very little money, and is resigned to further failure.... Read more ›
Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) is a middle-aged teacher, pedantic, precise, not so much dead inside as numb. He has taught 18 years at the school as the lower fifth classics master. He was once a brilliant scholar and could see a wonderful career as a teacher. His wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has become a shrew. She had her ambitions, too, and they eroded in the face of the couple's incompatibility. Millie longs for passion, intensity and respect; Crocker-Harris can provide none. His view of love has been almost platonic. It is apparent their intimate life has been nonexistent for years. "I may have been a brilliant scholar," Crocker-Harris says at one point, "but I was woefully ignorant of the facts of life." In this mix of frustration and deadened emotion is Frank Hunter (Nigel Patrick), the charming, smart upper fifth science master, a colleague of Crocker-Harris, who is cuckolding him.
The story takes place over two days at the end of term. Crocker-Harris is having to retire because of ill health. He'll be moving to a much smaller school, earning very little money, and is resigned to further failure.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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Unfortunately I missed the first half hour of this due to the news [so I've just bought the DVD]. I liked it a lot more than the critics did. I don't think the apology at the end is out of character, I think the boys' reception of it is. I haven't read the Agamemnon for many years, so I don't know if there are relevant details in it, but the use of it without having too many parallels, such as Michael Redgrave's wife really killing him, made it far more universal.
I wrote the above about 5 years ago. I realise upon reading the reviews that précis aren't quite enough to describe this film. The key is to know the story of Agamemnon who "followed the rules" by sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis in order to enforce the Trojan War, thereby doubly displaying a lack of humanity. The Browning version given as a gift simultaneously tells Redgrave's character what's wrong with him and reminds him that there was always an alternative path in life.
I wrote the above about 5 years ago. I realise upon reading the reviews that précis aren't quite enough to describe this film. The key is to know the story of Agamemnon who "followed the rules" by sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis in order to enforce the Trojan War, thereby doubly displaying a lack of humanity. The Browning version given as a gift simultaneously tells Redgrave's character what's wrong with him and reminds him that there was always an alternative path in life.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Harry18
This is a classic with a capital "C". Initially, it seems that the characters are too stereotyped but then as the film develops the layers of the characters' personalities come to the fore. I would strongly recommend that you have a box of kleenex to hand both for the moments of sadness as well as the uplifting moments of joy.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Wade
VINE™ VOICE
'Himmler of the lower fifth'.
I hesitate to write a review as the first review is so brilliant but I will. I wrote review of the more recent Browning version but this is better.
It is about restraint but it is also about someone who follows the rules and becomes brilliant scholar then becomes a school teacher and follows the rules as the world changes around him.
he thinks by doing his duty that he will be a success but has no sense of humour. As a result he is not popular and becomes a figure of fun then of fear. His final speech against all the odds a triumph with the boys and the school as he admits he has failed.
As the previous reviewer so rightly say the main performance is restrained and masters of that time and class would regard it as being flashy or rude to draw attention to themselves and become popular which was what his contemporaries
When i was young I used to avoid any film that was based on a play because I knew there would be very little action and a lot of talking. Now I think entirely the opposite as I know that a play needs to be well constructed
Now if I see the words based on a true story I don't bother as usually the truth is far too boring and has no particular merit just because it is true.
It is a universal story as there are a lot more aspects to being brilliant than just being brilliant at your job.
It also reminds me of my school which although in the 60s and a state grammar school was housed initially in a very old building and used to have old traditions which it had aped from public schools like those depicted in the film. I had masters who did not spend any time currying favour with the pupils and just taught the way they had always taught.... Read more ›
I hesitate to write a review as the first review is so brilliant but I will. I wrote review of the more recent Browning version but this is better.
It is about restraint but it is also about someone who follows the rules and becomes brilliant scholar then becomes a school teacher and follows the rules as the world changes around him.
he thinks by doing his duty that he will be a success but has no sense of humour. As a result he is not popular and becomes a figure of fun then of fear. His final speech against all the odds a triumph with the boys and the school as he admits he has failed.
As the previous reviewer so rightly say the main performance is restrained and masters of that time and class would regard it as being flashy or rude to draw attention to themselves and become popular which was what his contemporaries
When i was young I used to avoid any film that was based on a play because I knew there would be very little action and a lot of talking. Now I think entirely the opposite as I know that a play needs to be well constructed
Now if I see the words based on a true story I don't bother as usually the truth is far too boring and has no particular merit just because it is true.
It is a universal story as there are a lot more aspects to being brilliant than just being brilliant at your job.
It also reminds me of my school which although in the 60s and a state grammar school was housed initially in a very old building and used to have old traditions which it had aped from public schools like those depicted in the film. I had masters who did not spend any time currying favour with the pupils and just taught the way they had always taught.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By lycidas
'Wilson, you were late for chapel this morning'. Thus does the pedantic Crocker-Harris initiate his role. The characters are quite believable, even the serpentine headmaster who fluffs a pupil's name. The Browning version of the Agamemnon in fact does little credit to the Greek original, and its introduction is merely a ploy foe bringing Taplow into the picture. Despite the public school ambience the plot does have its flaws. No classics teacher would ever leave his school without a pension nor would such a qualified pedagogue end up teaching in a school for backward boys. The idea of one of its teachers playing in a test match for England also beggars belief. Public schools do employ ex-county cricketers as cricket coaches, and Dennis Silk even became a headmaster, but Bill Travers looks decidedly uncomfortable in the role of the popular sportsmaster. When the 'Crock' makes his apologetic speech in the crowded chapel we realise the sincerity which surrounds his failure as a teacher. But would any teacher, whether in a state or independent school, ever admit in full public view to being a failure ? I doubt it very much. One thing I would say is that Michael Redgrave who brought the Eric Portman stage role to the screen is far superior to Albert Finney who resembles a butcher rather than a teacher.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Browning Version (1951) DVD
The Browning Version, (1951) DVD. Acting , plot, v. good. Sound (speech) awful, not acceptable. Thinking of returning it, a shame. Read more
Published 20 days ago by standingone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent adaptation of Rattigan's play
Michael Redgrave excels here as Crocker Harris, a distinguished Classics scholar whose life has come to almost nothing during his 18 years as a teacher at a prep school. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Andrew Finch
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a Crocker!
Rattigan's brilliant and significant one-act play is very well opened-up and soberly directed (appropriately) so it is a proper film with convincing performances throughout. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mario
4.0 out of 5 stars
DVD "The Browning Version
DVD "The Browning Version)
Another "gem" to cherish - such an inspiring film. Read more
Another "gem" to cherish - such an inspiring film. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mary, Little Bay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolute perfection!
This is the best British film of all time - bar none! Everything about it is perfect. The star of course made it memorable. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Eternal Moments
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing performance, a moving film
While there is some creakiness and overacting in the sub-plots,
Michael Redgrave's amazing performance as a repressed, unliked,
and unlikable school teacher spending his... Read more
Michael Redgrave's amazing performance as a repressed, unliked,
and unlikable school teacher spending his... Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2011 by K. Gordon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Browned Off?
In the director's commentary (an extra in the DVD), it appears that both the 1951 film and the 1980s revamp expanded quite considerably on Terence Rattigan's fine play, to the... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2010 by BM Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real classic; a great nostalgic treat
It was wonderful to find the DVD of this great Rattigan play with the original cast. The play was everything I had remembered from the time I first saw it more than 40 years ago. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Marian2854
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
The Browning Version [1951] [DVD]
This has to be one of the very best dramas I have ever seen. Michael Redgrave is both subtle & quite touching. Read more
This has to be one of the very best dramas I have ever seen. Michael Redgrave is both subtle & quite touching. Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by Eddie Nguyen
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