Mrs. Brown (1997)

Mrs. Brown

Call No: PN1995.9.H5 M77 1990z

I realize that this is the second Judi Dench film that I’ve reviewed this week, but in my defense I’ve wanted to watch Mrs. Brown for some time now, and had no idea that she would be in Chocolat. Of course, watching too much Judi Dench is never a problem – the woman is a powerhouse of talent that often leaves you nothing short of impressed. It’s no wonder that she’s been knighted. If anything, I’m surprised it took them so long to do it.

Mrs. Brown tells the story of Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) and her years of friendship with John Brown (Billy Connolly). After years of mourning the death of her husband Prince Albert, Queen Victoria is surprised by the request and arrival of John Brown, a Scottish stable attendant and gardener whom her husband was fond of. Determined to do something about the Queen’s misery, the headstrong Brown slowly begins to make a difference, pulling the Queen back to joys of life. Unfortunately her servants and politicians become concerned with Brown’s unquestionable influence over the Queen, calling her “Mrs. Brown”, and determine to do something about it. As a result, the friendship between Queen Victoria and John Brown is put to the test. But when two worlds are pulling apart, is it really strong enough to survive?

The two leads were exceptionally well cast. I had only ever seen Billy Connolly perform stand-up before, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was able to pull of such a dramatic role. A large part of his character relies on the boisterousness and sharpness that he uses in his comedy, so it seemed to be a simple case of redirection. Brown is an isolated character with his own definition of what dedication and loyalty is, and he follows it to the letter (as a side note, look for a young Gerard Butler playing his cousin). I was impressed with Connolly’s performance, which of course had to be exceptional to keep up with such an acting presence as Dame Judi Dench.

While she seems born for the regal and authoritative roles that she seems to continue playing (e.g. Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love, Lady Catherine De Bourg in Pride and Prejudice... M in the James Bond films), there’s something about her role as Victoria that takes it a step further. We see Victoria, not as mere royalty, but as a human being. She admits to being afraid of returning to power, of giving up the happiness and calm that she’s only just rediscovered. We see the woman behind the crown, and we sympathize with her. This isn’t a clichéd queen, a royal who has been spoiled all her life and suddenly realizes that she should assume responsibility with a grand flourish of music. This is a woman who has lost the most important person in her life, has finally found someone who can help her regain some semblance of a life, and who she must fight to keep because of outside influences. Dame Judi pulls it all off with a sense of grace, a feel of royalty and a hint of helplessness.

After much persistence, John Brown convinces the Queen to go for a ride.

The story itself was loosely based on a true story. There was a John Brown who played an important role to the Queen, but to what extent I don’t know. One thing I would recommend when watching the film is to make a note of the dates. Occasionally time will jump forward with a display of the year. Their friendship was long, making John Brown’s dedication all the more admirable. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and feel like something a little different, give this a try. It’s an interesting character study, and the expected romantic overtones are subtle and underplayed.