The Browning Version (1951)

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (by)
Terence Rattigan (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1951 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Forced to retire from an English public school. a disliked professor must confront his utter failures as a teacher, a husband, and a man.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | English Public School | Classical Greek | Headmaster | Adultery

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Andrew Crocker-Harris
Jean Kent	...	Millie Crocker-Harris
Nigel Patrick	...	Frank Hunter
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Frobisher (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
Brian Smith	...	Taplow
Bill Travers	...	Fletcher
Ronald Howard	...	Gilbert
Paul Medland	...	Wilson
Ivan Samson	...	Lord Baxter
Josephine Middleton	...	Mrs. Frobisher
Peter Jones	...	Carstairs
Sarah Lawson	...	Betty Carstairs
Scott Harold	...	Rev. Williamson
Judith Furse	...	Mrs. Williamson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vivienne Gibson	...	Mrs. Saunders (uncredited)
Joan Haythorne	...	Mrs. Wilson (uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield	...	Taxi driver (uncredited)
Russell Waters	...	School doorman (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Asquith

Writing credits
Terence Rattigan		(by)
Terence Rattigan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Teddy Baird	....	producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Desmond Dickinson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John D. Guthridge

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Carmen Dillon

Makeup Department
Biddy Chrystal	....	hair stylist
W.T. Partleton	....	makeup artist (as W. Partleton)

Production Management
Andrew Allan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Pollock	....	assistant director
Bert Batt	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Stanley Hosgood	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bert Gaiters	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Dennis	....	sound recordist
Dino Di Campo	....	sound editor
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
E.G. Daniels	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	first assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)
C. Le Mesurier	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Dudley Messenger	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
H.A.R. Thomson	....	camera operator (as Russell Thomson)
Cornel Lucas	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Reginald H. Morris	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Tony Young	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne Caffin	....	dress supervisor
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (uncredited)
Bob Rayner	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (uncredited)

Music Department
Arnold Bax	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Kenneth Essex	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Maggie Unsworth	....	continuity (as Margaret Sibley)
Arthur Alcott	....	production controller (uncredited)
Ken Green	....	publicity manager (uncredited)
Jean Hall	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)
Norman Hudis	....	floor publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Javelin Films

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1951) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Victory Films (1951) (France) (theatrical)
• Rank Film (1951) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• D&P Studios  logo

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | France:U | USA:Approved (PCA #15027) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Javelin Films

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The Browning Version" by Terence Rattigan opened at the Coronet Theater on October 12, 1949, ran for 69 performances and starred Maurice Evans.

Quotes:

Frobisher: A good chap, Hunter, in many ways but no sense of discipline and of course like all scientists a trifle narrow minded.

Movie Connections:

References Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Soundtrack:

Fifth symphony

Impossible to turn away

Not a review...just an anecdote.

My wife and I were preparing to attend a party and I turned the TV on as I was getting dressed. The Browning Version had just begun. I had never seen it but after a few minutes, found myself sitting on the bed, still watching. My wife came in to ask why I wasn't getting ready and I pointed to the TV saying, "This is a great movie and I have no idea what it is." She sat down and watched a few minutes to see what I was talking about.

we never made it to the party.

Emotionally engrossing with sterling performances. Very glad to see this finally coming out as a Criterion Collection DVD.