The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie *** (1969, Maggie Smith, Robert Stephens, Pamela Franklin, Celia Johnson, Gordon Jackson, Jane Carr) – Classic Movie Review 4,020

Maggie Smith won the 1970 Best Actress Oscar for her delightful playing of the headstrong Thirties Edinburgh schoolmarm Jean Brodie, in the enjoyable 1969 drama film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

When she was still in the first flush of her brilliant prime, Dame Maggie Smith won the 1970 Best Actress Academy Award (her first of two Oscars so far) for her delightful playing of the headstrong Thirties Edinburgh schoolmarm Jean Brodie, in director Ronald Neame’s 1969 drama film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Miss Jean Brodie is a young woman self-described as ‘in her prime’, who holds a powerful sway over her impressionable 12-year-old ‘little girls’, ignoring the curriculum and provocatively teaching them her romantic view of the world.

After a 12-year absence from movies, Celia Johnson is also still in her prime as the shocked headmistress Miss Mackay, and Smith’s real-life husband at the time Robert Stephens, plays a romancing art teacher, Teddy Lloyd.

Jay Presson Allen (1922–2006) adapts her own stage play version of Muriel Spark’s 1961 novel. Director Ronald Neame’s 1969 film is a bit stagey and creaky but it is very enjoyable nonetheless, thanks to the sparky wit, Miss Smith and Miss Johnson, and some fine support.

The film was also nominated for Best Original Song for its theme song ‘Jean’ at the 42nd Academy Awards. It was written by US poet and composer Rod McKuen, who also recorded it. ‘Jean’ was also recorded by the American singer Oliver, reaching #2 on the US pop charts.

Rona Anderson (3 August 1926 – 23 July 2013) married Gordon Jackson in 1951 after appearing together in Floodtide (1949).

Also in the cast are Pamela Franklin, Gordon Jackson (1923–1990), Jane Carr, Diane Grayson, Shirley Steedman, Lavinia Lang, Antoinette Biggerstaff, Margo Cunningham, Isla Cameron, Rona Anderson (1926–2013), Ann Way (1915–1993), Molly Weir (1910–2004), Helena Gloag, John Dunbar, Heather Seymour and Lesley Patterson.

It was released in cinemas in the UK on 24 February 1969 and in the US on 2 March 1969.

A Scottish Television seven-episode TV serial for ITV followed in 1978 with Geraldine McEwan.

Jay Presson Allen had previously created a very successful play out of Muriel Spark’s provocative and challenging short novel and Vanessa Redgrave triumphed in the lead role on the London stage. Nevertheless, the role of Jean Brodie was initially offered to Julie Andrews. The play, of course, takes considerable liberties with such a complex novel.

The film was not quite as successful as the play. The film cost $2.76 million, and took $3 million at the US box office.

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith CH DBE (28 December 1934 – 27 September 2024)

Maggie Smith was married to Robert Stephens from 29 June 1967 to 6 April 1975 and after that to writer Beverley Cross from 23 June 1975 until his death on 20 March 1998. Her second Oscar was as Best Supporting Actress in California Suite (1978). She has four other Oscar nominations: Othello, Travels with My Aunt, A Room with a View and Gosford Park.

She also received a Tony Award, four Primetime Emmy Awards, five British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and five Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Rona Anderson was born and brought up in Edinburgh but had an English accent. Her husband, Gordon Jackson, was born in Glasgow in 1923. Her first major film was Sleeping Car to Trieste (1948), she played Alice in Scrooge (1951), and appeared in Man with a Gun (1958), but The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was her last major film appearance. 

The cast are Maggie Smith as Jean Brodie, Robert Stephens as Teddy Lloyd, Pamela Franklin as Sandy, Gordon Jackson as Gordon Lowther, Jane Carr as Mary McGregor, Shirley Steedman as Monica, Diane Grayson as Jenny, Celia Johnson as Miss Mackay, Margo Cunningham as Miss Campbell, Isla Cameron as Miss McKenzie, Molly Weir as Miss Allison Kerr, Helena Gloag as Miss Ellen Kerr, Rona Anderson as Miss Lockhart, Ann Way as Miss Gaunt, Lavinia Lang, Antoinette Biggerstaff, Heather Seymour and Lesley Patterson.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4,020

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Rona Anderson married Gordon Jackson in 1951.