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The Browning Version

Play trailer Poster for The Browning Version 1951 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) has been forced from his position as the classics master at an English public school due to poor health. As he winds up his final term, he discovers not only that his wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has been unfaithful to him with one of his fellow schoolmasters (Nigel Patrick), but that the school's students and faculty have long disdained him. However, an unexpected act of kindness causes Crocker-Harris to re-evaluate his life's work.
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The Browning Version

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
The role of the retiring master is not an easy one, but a prize in the right hands. Michael Redgrave fills it with distinction. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Jun 24, 2006
Worth watching for Redgrave's powerfully detailed performance as the schoolmaster. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Jan 10, 2004
What begins as an anti-Goodbye, Mr. Chips ends, thanks to some psychological point stretching, as an imitation of it. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Nov 26, 2019
The year's top acting job, beyond any doubt-beyond any doubt of mine, at least-was that of Michael Redgrave as the despairing schoolmaster in The Browning Version, a superior item from Britain. Go to Full Review Tomas Trussow The Lonely Film Critic Jun 11, 2019
4.5/5
When you have Michael Redgrave giving one of the best performances in cinematic history on top of it all, there's not much else left to say other than: bravo. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Apr 14, 2010
B
It's a blues pic for teachers that lays down some hope in the end. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Henry D @Henry_Domke Apr 10, 2026 A painful, quietly devastating tragedy, expressed with dignity and restraint, with a superb performance by Michael Redgrave. As an unpopular schoolmaster faces early retirement due to heart disease, he encounters a mix of cruelty and unexpected kindness that gradually reveals the life he has led and the man he has been. The film is understated, but precise and unsentimental. See more William R @RT44948488 Jan 24, 2024 Fantastic, quite sad but brilliant, far better than the 1994 version. See more Aug 27, 2019 Michael,Redgrave’s performance in this movie is incredibly moving. See more Aug 6, 2018 One of the greatest of Rattigan's work, and greatest plays of all time. The acting is consistently superb, as is the direction and the cinematography. This is NOT a comedy, but full-on drama. I've seen it countless times on a VHS version I have, but definitely replace it with a DVD/Blu-Ray if available. See more Feb 11, 2018 I really liked this movie, a realistic take on regret. Redgrave is wonderful. See more Nov 7, 2016 The first part is a bit too cliched, but then the film improves somewhat at the end. See more Read all reviews
The Browning Version

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Cast & Crew

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Anthony Asquith

Director

Michael Redgrave

Andrew Crocker-Harris

Jean Kent

Millie Crocker-Harris

Nigel Patrick

Frank Hunter

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Frobisher

Ronald Howard

Gilbert

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The Browning Version

The Browning Version (1951) The Browning Version (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave) has been forced from his position as the classics master at an English public school due to poor health. As he winds up his final term, he discovers not only that his wife, Millie (Jean Kent), has been unfaithful to him with one of his fellow schoolmasters (Nigel Patrick), but that the school's students and faculty have long disdained him. However, an unexpected act of kindness causes Crocker-Harris to re-evaluate his life's work.
Director
Anthony Asquith
Producer
Teddy Baird, Earl St. John
Screenwriter
Terence Rattigan
Production Co
Javelin Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 30m
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