Fascinating character study of a type most of us who have not been home schooled have had to deal with at some time or other, namely the teacher as cult figure who makes the class all about them rather than the subject they're teaching. In the right hands, like those of Mr. Holtby in my tenth grade English class at University High, it can be a stimulating experience. In the wrong hands, like those of the title character in this film, it can be downright dangerous. And Maggie Smith, in her deserved Oscar winning performance, brings out the perils as well as the charms and excitement of being one of Miss Brodie's "girls". Also good as the most resentful of her pupils, and the one who brings her down, is a kid actor named Pamela Franklin who, for some reason, never made it as big as I thought she would.
Unfortunately, the characters surrounding these two are on the caricatured side. You know, the uptight, prudish headmistress, the painfully shy choirmaster, the libidinous art teacher. And scenes with the students tend to descend into semi hysterical gasping, shrieking and tittering. Plus, the whole feel of the film is that of director Ronald Neame trying to keep up (or tagging along) with scenarist Jay Presson Allen. Certainly expected more from the director of "Horse's Mouth" and "Tunes Of Glory", the later of which is a much more vivid evocation of Edinburgh even though, unlike this one, it was largely shot on a sound stage. B minus.
PS...Had to pull the plug on the end credits 'cause Rod McKuen's Oscar nominated song was literally making me want to puke and there wasn't a receptacle handy.
Unfortunately, the characters surrounding these two are on the caricatured side. You know, the uptight, prudish headmistress, the painfully shy choirmaster, the libidinous art teacher. And scenes with the students tend to descend into semi hysterical gasping, shrieking and tittering. Plus, the whole feel of the film is that of director Ronald Neame trying to keep up (or tagging along) with scenarist Jay Presson Allen. Certainly expected more from the director of "Horse's Mouth" and "Tunes Of Glory", the later of which is a much more vivid evocation of Edinburgh even though, unlike this one, it was largely shot on a sound stage. B minus.
PS...Had to pull the plug on the end credits 'cause Rod McKuen's Oscar nominated song was literally making me want to puke and there wasn't a receptacle handy.