Plot: What’s it about?
For many years, both mediums of film and television have covered the tale of the educator coming to a school, what he meant to the pupils around him and what he leaves in return. In the early fifties, an English production went to show the effects on the two of those as a man who goes through obstacles in life comes to it’s final chapters of The Browning Version.
It’s the end of another school year and the end for two of it’s gems in it’s education crown. The first, a younger teacher who wants nothing more than to keep the school spirit alive in sports. The other, a gentleman by the name of Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) is leaving due to his declining health. What should be a smooth transition into retirement becomes a re-evaluation of his life from the valuables once lost to his marriage which, behind his back, is suffering in sin thanks to a fellow colleague.
What looks to be an average end of year and time in life drama becomes a lot more as The Browning Version is headed by an excellent performance by Michael Redgrave. As Crocker-Harris, he seems emotionless and carries on his life accordingly but in between classes, the world around him comes down little by little and inside, Mr. Crocker-Harris wishes his life would have had more worth than not and sees that in the end, that’s the path he had chosen for himself and must abide by it, no matter how he feels in between.
On it’s whole one feels a sympathy towards our good schoolmaster with the world becoming blind between him. Nevertheless, there are a few things that keep him afloat and the ending of this film is one that especially tugged at this viewer’s heartstrings for he played no favorites and he makes no apologies despite its effects.
The rest of the cast holds its own well along Terence Rattigan’s superb words including Jean Kent as Crocker-Harris’ greedy wife and Brian Smith as Taplow, the one student that looks at his good schoolmaster as a little more than just a teacher with a straight face and a somber look.
The Browning Version set a standard as the anti-Mr. Chips (which this film takes a swing at throughout) and despite it’s depressing subject matter is short and far from routine thanks to all that is played out without being drawn out.
Video: How does it look?
The Browning Version is given a decent full frame transfer by Criterion. Despite some instances of print flaws in some shaking and some spotty scenes, the film as a whole looks good thanks to the restoration done by Criterion with the blacks and the whites not too apparant in this mostly daylight filmed drama. The picture quality keeps a nice contrast throughout and despite a few discrepancies manages to hold together nicely.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital Mono track does require a few times to raise the volume to catch every bit of dialogue and effects but within this mostly dialogue driven film, the words come out very clearly and the effects and score are given a bare minimum throughout all channels as most of the activity comes from the middle. This disc also has English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Criterion gives a handful of extras for this film right down to the quotes within the interactive menu and they start off with a commentary from film historian Bruce Eder. Here he gives an essay commentary that goes a bit into the making of the film as well as the backstories of its makers. It’s a pleasant listen and an interesting analysis that’s worthy after viewing the film.
After that there is a short TV interview with actor Michael Redgrave from 1958 that is a tip of the hat to the future in it’s Actor’s Studio format with interviewer and actor.
Finally, there is an interview with director Mike Figgis chatting about seeing the original film as well as a bit about adapting it many years later. With the non-fluff manner Figgis brought to the interview, it would’ve been a nice addition to include the updating of this film whether the film was average or not. There is no theatrical trailer and one of the few exceptions to the rule that it needs one for it would be a difficult movie to sell in those days.
With a first class performance by Michael Redgrave and an informative interview with it’s updating’s director, The Browning Version is another in the many Criterion Collection editions to not only give a solid film but also a satisfactory less is more approach with it’s fine extras.
