The Browning Version

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The Browning Version

1951

1h 30m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

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18 Reviews

95%

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500+ Ratings

Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) has been forced from his position as the classics master at an English public school due to poor health. As he winds up his final term, he discovers not only that his wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has been unfaithful to him with one of his fellow schoolmasters (Nigel Patrick), but that the school's students and faculty have long disdained him. However, an unexpected act of kindness causes Crocker-Harris to re-evaluate his life's work.

Variety Staff

Variety

The role of the retiring master is not an easy one, but a prize in the right hands. Michael Redgrave fills it with distinction.

Mar 26, 2009

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Tom Milne

Time Out

Worth watching for Redgrave's powerfully detailed performance as the schoolmaster.

Jun 24, 2006

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 5/5

Nov 12, 2004

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The year's top acting job, beyond any doubt-beyond any doubt of mine, at least-was that of Michael Redgrave as the despairing schoolmaster in The Browning Version, a superior item from Britain.

Nov 26, 2019

Full Review

Tomas Trussow

The Lonely Film Critic

When you have Michael Redgrave giving one of the best performances in cinematic history on top of it all, there's not much else left to say other than: bravo.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jun 11, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It's a blues pic for teachers that lays down some hope in the end.

Rated: B

Apr 14, 2010

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William R

Fantastic, quite sad but brilliant, far better than the 1994 version.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/24

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Audience Member

Michael,Redgrave’s performance in this movie is incredibly moving.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/19

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Audience Member

One of the greatest of Rattigan's work, and greatest plays of all time. The acting is consistently superb, as is the direction and the cinematography. This is NOT a comedy, but full-on drama. I've seen it countless times on a VHS version I have, but definitely replace it with a DVD/Blu-Ray if available.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

I really liked this movie, a realistic take on regret. Redgrave is wonderful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

The first part is a bit too cliched, but then the film improves somewhat at the end.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Brilliant work by all here. This is how slow burning powerful drama is done. A masterclass on tone, pitch, and subtlety. There is a clarity of revealing by layers in a well written pot boiler. The power of words to convey powerfully hidden emotions in polite society. Brilliant work by all. I was shocked when I saw the it was a stage play originally, bc it is enhanced by strong, lean cinematography. All the cylinders are firing here. A part of me wanted a touch more for the epilogue to fill it more completely, and it turns out the writer added what is now the ending. I still wanted more interaction to signify a step in the right direction beyond the speech which ends the play. Still a great work, I cant commend this enough for its controlled burn. Fascinating. 4.5 out of 5

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Anthony Asquith

Director

Michael Redgrave

Andrew Crocker-Harris

Jean Kent

Millie Crocker-Harris

Nigel Patrick

Frank Hunter

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Frobisher

Ronald Howard

Gilbert

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Synopsis

Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) has been forced from his position as the classics master at an English public school due to poor health. As he winds up his final term, he discovers not only that his wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has been unfaithful to him with one of his fellow schoolmasters (Nigel Patrick), but that the school's students and faculty have long disdained him. However, an unexpected act of kindness causes Crocker-Harris to re-evaluate his life's work.

Director: Anthony Asquith
Producer: Teddy Baird, Earl St. John
Screenwriter: Terence Rattigan
Production Co: Javelin Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m