Mrs Brown (1997)

Director:

John Madden

Writer:

Jeremy Brock (writer)

Release Date:

18 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Queen Victoria, the world's most powerful woman. John Brown, a simple Scottish Highlander. Their extraordinary friendship transformed an empire.

Plot:

Queen Victoria is deeply depressed after the death of her husband, disappearing from public. Her servant Brown...

Plot Keywords:

Queen Of England | 1860s | 1880s | Historical | Royalty

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Queen Victoria
Billy Connolly	...	John Brown
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Henry Ponsonby
Antony Sher	...	Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
Gerard Butler	...	Archie Brown
Richard Pasco	...	Doctor Jenner
David Westhead	...	Prince of Wales (Bertie)
Bridget McConnell	...	Lady Ely
Georgie Glen	...	Lady Churchill
Catherine O'Donnell	...	Lady-in-Waiting
Sara Stewart	...	Princess Alexandra
Finty Williams	...	Princess Helena
Claire Nicolson	...	Princess Louise
Hattie Ladbury	...	Princess Alice
Oliver Kent	...	Prince Alfred

Also Known As:

Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (USA)
Mrs Brown (USA)
Sua Majestade, Mrs. Brown (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Dame Brown (Canada: French title) [fr]
Dame de Windsor, La (France) (dubbed version) [fr]
Hänen majesteettinsa rouva Brown (Finland) [fi]
Hennes Majestät Mrs. Brown (Sweden) [sv]
Ihre Majestät Mrs. Brown (Germany) [de]
Iubirea secreta a reginei Victoria (Romania) [ro]
Jej wysokosc pani Brown (Poland) [pl]
Mia regina, La (Italy) [it]
Sa majestat, Mrs. Brown (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Sadik arkadas (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Su majestad, Mrs. Brown (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG for a beating, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | Ireland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardverikie estate, Highlands, Scotland, UK

Company:

BBC Scotland

Trivia:

Gerard Butler (Archie) became hypothermic after filming the scene in which he and Billy Connolly (John Brown) run naked into the ocean.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When John Brown and his brother have just been for a swim, they are drying themselves off on shore. Just to the left of his brother, there is someone windsurfing in the background. Windsurfing was not introduced in England until the latter part of the 20th century.

Quotes:

Queen Victoria: [to Prime Minister Disraeli] How dare the Irish break with the Anglicans? If Albert were alive today he would never allow the Crown to give up Church patronage. No, the Irish must be told, very firmly, to stay exactly where they are. It is the thin edge of the wedge, Mr Disraeli. Next, you will be telling me that the Crown no longer governs this nation.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Excellent, but not a romance

This is a phenomenal movie, but I am rather peeved at the way it has been marketed. When I rented the movie, the blurb on the box luridly touted the "forbidden passion between a rugged Scotsman and the most powerful woman in the world." Other marketing of the film is similar. That's not what the movie is about at all!! It is a very sad commentary on our society if a moving drama about terrible grief being assuaged through loyal friendship cannot be accepted for what it is. Is the American public really that shallow? I don't know whether to blame movie execs for dumbing down the presentation of their product to titillate the lowest common denominator, or the American public for maybe actually being that way.

Diatribes aside, Dench and Connolly are phenomenal. Victoria and Brown are complex characters with conflicting emotions, and one almost feels able to look upon their souls in this portrayal. Antony Sher was delightful as the orator/politician Benjamin Disraeli, at the same time both wise and gently pompous. The makeup job was so good that I actually recognized him as Disraeli before his name was mentioned.

If you are disappointed because this is not a puerile romance, shame on you. These are real people with real emotions. This moving story of grief and friendship is definitely one of the best of the year.