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The Browning Version

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6.5/10 • 53

1994-06-081h 37m

Drama

The greatest lessons in the life and the ones learned by heart.

Andrew Crocker-Harris is an embittered and disliked teacher of Greek and Latin at a British prep school. After nearly 20 years of service, he is being forced to retire for 'health reasons', and perhaps may not even be given a pension. The boys regard him as a Hitler, with some justification. His unfaithful wife Laura tries to hurt him in any way she can. Andrew must come to terms with his failed life and at least regain his own self-esteem.

Directors
Mike Figgis
Writters
Ronald Harwood
Editors
Ronald Harwood, Hervé Schneid

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Albert Finney

    Albert Finney

    Andrew Crocker-Harris

  2. Greta Scacchi

    Greta Scacchi

    Laura Crocker-Harris

  3. Matthew Modine

    Matthew Modine

    Frank Hunter

  4. Julian Sands

    Julian Sands

    Tom Gilbert

  5. Michael Gambon

    Michael Gambon

    Dr. Frobisher

  6. Ben Silverstone

    Ben Silverstone

    Taplow

  7. Jim Sturgess

    Jim Sturgess

    Bryant

  8. Joseph Beattie

    Joseph Beattie

    Wilson

  9. Marc Bolton

    Marc Bolton

    Grantham

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 18, 2025

7/10

I'm not usually a fan of remakes, especially as the 1951 iteration of this story featuring Michael Redgrave is a powerful piece of drama. Who better, though, than Albert Finney to pick up the mantle and offer us his own interpretation of this curmudgeonly ancient languages master at a public school who is facing retirement? Mike Figgis has updated the Rattigan text to bring it into the 1990s, but the plot remains essentially the same. He is married to a younger women "Laura" (Greta Scacchi) who is a bit fed up with him and quite attracted to "Frank" (Matthew Modine). He's an American who is gradually settling into his new British surroundings' and is conflicted by his extra-martial enthusiast. We know that "Crocker-Harris" (Finney) is aware of his wife's peccadilloes - "Frank" is not the first, and what follows now is a gradual reassessment of his life. A life without a pension, without the respect of his peers, without the appreciation of his pupils, without the love of his wife. Also central to this story is the young "Taplow" (Ben Silverstone) who, alone amongst the student body, has a degree of respect for this teacher. Perhaps it's because he wishes to swap to science next term, or perhaps because he sees something of the vulnerable in the older, lonelier man? As that final day and it's speech gets closer, things come to an head that is poignantly inconclusive. Finney is on good form here as is Michael Gambon as the headmaster obsessed with the cricket team and with placating the snooty parents who the school afloat, and the young Silverstone. This update sexualises some of the characters in a way that's a little unnecessary, but for the most part it's a stylishly produced film that is faithful to an original story of privilege, relevance, tradition, age, change - and bicycles.

Media

  • The Browning Version poster
  • The Browning Version poster
  • The Browning Version poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
$487,391.00
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