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Mrs Brown
When Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert dies, she finds solace in her trusted servant, Mr. John Brown. But their relationship also brings scandal and turmoil to the monarchy.
1997 · Directed by John Madden · 105 min · Drama · History · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 7 frames
Tagline
Loyalty without question. Friendship without equal.
Plot
In 1863, hoping to subtly coax Queen Victoria toward resuming public life after two years of seclusion, Scottish servant John Brown is summoned to court. The plan succeeds a little too well for the liking of Victoria's Chief Secretary Sir Henry Ponsonby and The Prince of Wales as well as other members of the Royal Family; the public, press and politicians soon come to resent Brown's perceived influence over Victoria. Brown takes considerable liberties with court protocol, especially by addressing Her Majesty as "woman". He also quickly takes control over the Queen's daily activities, further aggravating the tensions between himself and the Royal Family and servants.
The moniker "Mrs Brown", used both at the time and in the film, implied an improper and perhaps sexual relationship. The film does not directly address the contemporary suspicions that Victoria and Brown had had a sexual relationship and perhaps had even secretly married, though cartoons from the satirical magazine Punch are shown as being passed around in Parliament (one cartoon is revealed to the camera, showing an empty throne, with the sceptre lying unhanded across it).
As a result of Victoria's seclusion, especially at Balmoral Castle in Scotland (something initially encouraged by Brown), her popularity begins failing and republican sentiment begins growing. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli's hold over the House of Commons weakens and there is a fear of rising anti-monarchical sentiment in the country. He convinces Brown to use his influence with Victoria to persuade her to return to the performance of her public duties, especially the speech from the throne at the opening of Parliament.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Jeremy Brock
- Cinematography: Richard Greatrex
- Edited by: Robin Sales
- Music: Stephen Warbeck
- Production design: Martin Childs
- Produced by: Sarah Curtis
Cast
- Judi Dench as Queen Victoria
- Billy Connolly as John Brown
- Geoffrey Palmer as Henry Ponsonby
- Antony Sher as Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
- Gerard Butler as Archie Brown
- Richard Pasco as Doctor Jenner
- David Westhead as Prince of Wales (Bertie)
- Georgie Glen as Lady Churchill
- Sara Stewart as Princess Alexandra
- Finty Williams as Princess Helena
Production
- Country: Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: BBC Scotland, GBH, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland
- Themes: assassination, england, scotland, widow, queen, prince, victorian england, royalty, 19th century, british monarchy
More by John Madden
On this film
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