Sometimes 10/10 isn’t enough. The classic 1969 film gets a rebirth for the British Film Festival in a glorious new print that brings back to life a cinematic gem for the ages.
The film is directed with deftness and care by Ronald Neame (who early in his career helped David Lean produce his two early Dickens adaptations of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist but would later direct films such as The Odessa File and The Poseidon Adventure amongst many others). It began life as a novel by Muriel Sparks before being adapted into a Tony Award winning play by Jay Presson Allen who would also write the screenplay for the film.
Jean Brodie (Maggie Smith) is a junior school teacher at the fictional Mary Blaine’s School for Girls in Edinburgh in 1932. She inspires her girls to rise above their own curriculum, which raises the ire of the school Principal (Celia Johnson- in a BAFTA winning role) as well as several other teachers.
Outside of the classroom, Miss Brodie has to deal with the affections of a past affair with the married Mr Lloyd (Robert Stephens) whilst being in a secret relationship with the school’s music teacher, Mr Lowther (Gordon Jackson). She is especially fond of four girls: Sandy, Monica, Jenny and Mary (Pamela Franklin, Shirley Steedman, Diane Grayson and Jane Carr respectively), who she continues to see after they leave her classroom and it is these girls and their actions which cause the life choices and worldview, as well as the career, of Miss Brodie to unravel.
Smith, in a role that would garner her a Best Actress Oscar, gives an acting masterclass imbuing the character of Jean Brodie with so much life. Every gesture and vocal inflection is considered, yet never looks it. As wonderfully comic as she is in the first half of the film, it is her work in the second half which marks this as one of the greatest performances ever committed to celluloid.
The supporting cast is also superbly chosen. As the two lovers of Jean Brodie, both Gordon Jackson and Robert Stephens give heartfelt and genuine performances. Whilst Stephens is especially good in his more confronting scenes, Jackson does some of his best work when saying absolutely nothing. Celia Johnson as Principal Mackay is also the paragon of British conservatism, fighting tooth and nail against the reckless Jean Brodie and her unorthodox methods. Of the four schoolgirls, both Pamela Franklin and Jane Carr give remarkable performances. Franklin especially gives a highly nuanced characterisation of Sandy (this role would garner her a Best Supporting Actress award from the National Board of Review, USA).
Neame never lets the action falter and every shot selection is perfect. He is not afraid to let an actor’s face dominate the screen when needed, nor when to show the broader picture. His best work comes in the more intimate scenes with only one or two characters. The costuming (by Joan Bridge and Elizabeth Haffenden) is outstanding and the use of a sparse musical score (with original music by Rod McKuen) is a masterstroke.
This is a film to be savoured over and over again. Its story carries an important message and asks awkward questions of its audience. Seeing this amazing film on the big screen is a rare gift. Go see it while you can.
Reviewed by Rodney Hrvatin
Twitter: @wagnerfan74
Rating out of 10: 10
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will screen again on 12 November 2015 for the BBC First British Film Festival, which runs 28 October – 18 November 2015 exclusively at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.
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