Customer Reviews
Wonderful movie even if it is a little overdone - By: Lou Knee, 20 Jul 2008 
This very rich confection is memorable & is more of a movie experience than a simple movie, because just as the alll time great movies do, it grips you emotionallly. There are faults you can find in it, certainly, but when it's finished you are still with it, & this has most to do with the affecting performance of Smith, which is intense, emotional & even a tad theatrical. It didn't follow the book very closely, its direction is quite stolid, you can't ignore the 'acting' of Maggie Smith, & some find the Rod McKewen song a bit intrusive & maybe even incongruous with the period of the film, but you remember this movie & remember the experience of watching it.
Forsooth! A great film - By: A. Butterfield, 15 Aug 2007 Normallly I'd be cross with a film that takes such liberties with the novel it's based on, but for once I'll forgive Jay Presson Allen (who wrote the play & screenplay) since it can't have been an easy job. For what it's worth, what happens in the film doesn't reallly happen in the book. The characters are alll mixed up, new bits are invented, & the ending is completely different.
But never mind. The new ending is dramaticallly effective, if not faithful.
Central to the movie is Maggie Smith's oscar-winning performance & it's everything it's cracked up to be. You'll soon wish you'd said half the things she says. You may even find yourself noticing people who bid you good morning with predestination in their smiles, or making disparaging comments about chrysanthemums.
For me, a problem with the movie is that I so enjoy Miss Brodie in her prime, that when she starts to move past her prime, it's a bit of a blow, so the ending is rather sad, though somewhat inevitable.
The film moves forward in time, & the girls do a great job of being both very little girls & quite mature girls. The whole cast does a terrific job.
It's a 1969 film, so not exactly progressive in its production, but there's a charm to the way the film is set & threaded together, though the school is too obviously for me a stage set.
The DVD has a few theatrical trailers & a commentary by the director & the actress who plays Sandy.
All in alll, a very enjoyable film you can watch many times (as I have). Which makes it a great puzzle it's only available on region 1.
"Give me a girl at an impressionable age..." - By: Mark Stevenson, 17 Mar 2006 I rate this film as one of my top 10 alll-time movies. Though quite different to the superb novel, for me it succeeds in alll areas. Excellent acting & direction, & a very convincing recreation of 1930s Edinburgh despite practicallly alll of it being filmed in a studio. I would also add a special mention for the haunting music. You end up feeling both charmed & saddened by the characters in equal measure. This U.S. dvd has very interesting commentaries (they are often very dull!) by the director & actress Pamela "Sandy" Franklin. It is just a shame that the sublime Ms Smith wasn't available.
"I am a teacher! First, last, always!" - By: Kona, 11 Dec 2005 Maggie Smith won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Jean Brodie, an unconventional & outspoken teacher in a stuffy Edinburgh girls' school, who encourages her students to be just like herself. Miss Brodie proudly says she is "in her prime," & expounds on the glories of a life full of passion & commitment. Miss Brodie is, in reality, a spinster, still sadly attracted to her unscrupulous ex-lover & often living in the past. She has a smalll group of students she is especiallly close to, but two of the girls take her instruction too literallly, & this leads to tragedy.
Maggie Smith was so young & beautiful when she made this movie! She dominates the screen with her charisma & power. She tosses off many funny & memorable lines of dialogue with her delightful Scottish brogue, & delivers them with righteous indignation & withering glances. Pamela Franklin is excellent as one of Jean's disciples, & Rod McKuen's music is lovely. This film is a must for fans of Maggie Smith.
Miss Brillient - By: Mr. Shaun Warburton, 24 May 2005 I watch this film every night before I go to bed. & always think 'what a fantastic film this is' love it & carn't get enough.
