The Browning Version (1951)

[Mofo Rising]

I've been watching these Criterion movies for a while. Often times they are a chore, making it through what one person thinks is a movie worth preserving.

Other times they are an unexpected treat. This movie is one of those.

The Browning Version is a tale of a teacher that all have us have learned to hate. The lead character, Crocker-Harris, is a didactic and unpleasant character; pedantic and rule-obsessed, you can not sympathize. But as the movie continues, he is presented as a brilliant interpreter of Greek classics, a genuine enthusiast who for multiple reasons failed as a teacher to others of the things he genuinely loved.

We, as the audience of this movie, approach his every misguided choice anew. The film never flinches to explore every wrong choice, and Michael Redgrave (the lead actor) never fails to explore every avenue.

This film would be miserably depressing, if it were not for the lifeline for a single student who seems to understand Crocker-Harris' love of literature, and what he could have been.

It really is a very good movie. Based on a play. The director Anthony Asquith also directed a version of Pygmalion, which I didn't think I'd like but thoroughly enjoyed.

I can not recommend The Browning Version enough. It's one of my best surprises of the year.

[Psycho Circus]

I totally agree, I watched this film for the first time a couple of years back, because there was nothing else on. Now, I usually can't bear watching black & white flicks, unless it's "Nosferatu" or "Spider Baby", but I was pleasantly surprised myself by what a good film this actually is, it is very well written and very well acted. I challenge anyone not to sit through 'til the end and say that this film in not genuinely touching. 8/10