Beau Brummell (1954)

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

Clyde Fitch (play)
Karl Tunberg (writer)

Release Date:

18 March 1955 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Captain George Brummell is an upper-class dandy. He has to leave the army after having insulted the crown prince...

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Insult | Dandy | Beautiful Woman | Class Status

Cast

Stewart Granger	...	George Bryan 'Beau' Brummell
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Lady Patricia Belham
Peter Ustinov	...	George IV Prince of Wales
Robert Morley	...	King George III
James Donald	...	Lord Edwin Mercer
James Hayter	...	Mortimer
Rosemary Harris	...	Mrs. Maria Anne Fitzherbert
Paul Rogers	...	William Pitt
Noel Willman	...	Lord George Gordon Byron
Peter Dyneley	...	Midger
Charles Carson	...	Sir Geoffrey Baker
Ernest Clark	...	Doctor Warren
Peter Bull	...	Mr. Fox
Mark Dignam	...	Mr. Burke
Desmond Roberts	...	Colonel

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound encoding) (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16960, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The film had troubles with the US censor, the Production Code Administration because of the apparent justification of the immoral relationship between the Prince Regent and Mrs Fitzherbert, because a steward at a gentlemen's club had the manner of a 'sex pervert', because the Prince checks the gender of a dog and use of the word 'damn'. Changes were made but the running time remained the same.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When the mad King George III hides from Brummel and the prince behind the draperies, the boom shadow makes a prominent appearance on the wall at the top right of the screen.

Quotes:

Lord George Gordon Byron: The trouble with most men of superior intellect is their pride. And a proud man can be just as foolish as a fool.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Beau Brummel (1913)

Ustinov was Fantastic

Enjoyed this film, however, I doubt very much if England found this a wonderful film to view. I know for a fact that this film was shown special to the royal family and they were simply shocked at how crazy their ancestors were portrayed in this film. It was from that time on, that all films ever shown to the royal family were to be screened first. Peter Ustinov,(Prince of Wales),"The Bachelor",'99 played the role of a fat prince who did not have a mind of his own or in other words, was a complete WIMP. Stewart Granger,(Beau Brummell), "The Trygon Factor",'66, was a care free character in the British Military and said what he wanted and did exactly what he wanted and lived off people. Beau also became good friends with Prince of Wales, after almost spitting in his face on different occasions. Elizabeth Taylor,(Lady Patricia Belham),"A Little Night Music",'78, was very pretty and played a rather quiet and confusing young lady, who did not know just what she wanted in life. Entertaining film, but not the greatest, but excellent acting.