Review of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) by Issac L — 08 Aug 2012

Dame Maggie Smithâ(TM)s first Oscar-winning film, she is Miss Jean Brodie, a zealous teacher in her prime (30s) at a conservative all-girl boarding school in Edinburgh in 1930s. Whose unorthodox teaching method gathers her a group of âBrodieâ(TM)s galsâ?, whom she proudly acclaims as âcrème de la crèmeâ?, but her battle with the old-fashioned principal (an equally excellent and Celia Johnson), her emotional entanglements with two fellow teachers, Teddy (Robert Stephens) and Gordon (Gordan Lowther), may not be the most distraught concerns, when inside her own clique of âcrème de la crèmeâ?, there are betrayal, questions and decrying after her blind adulation of Fascism triggers one of her girlâ(TM)s death.

The film is adapted from Muriel Sparkâ(TM)s novel and based on Jay Presson Allenâ(TM)s play, who is also the screenwriter. With indoor settings occupy most of the film narrative, the film is exactly the sort of a warm bed for many breath-stopping two-handers, Smith and Johnsonâ(TM)s confrontation is marvellous, and the near-end showdown between Smith and Franklin is even more merciless and astonishing (Pamela Franklin is unbelievably snubbed by the Academy for her brave and searing flair in such a sophisticated role as the teenager Sandy); however Smithâ(TM)s quintessential poignancy has been immaculately demonstrated during the monologue scenes when she is playing slides in the classroom, itâ(TM)s the âcrème de la crèmeâ? of her long-lasting career.

Starts as a farce of the equivalent of a female version of DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989, a 7/10), but this film goes farther and digs deeper into the dark side of the humanity, the moral criterion is a moot, one could feel sympathy towards Miss Brodieâ(TM)s plight, but her story is not entirely guiltless. Director Ronald Neame has never acquired much fame as a director, but this one is a pure theatrical gem which hopefully has done some justice to him.