A RIDICULOUS WOMAN!

Prior to securing my big fat and fabulous gay job I was selling things right and left. This included much of my vast collection of DVD's -- of which I still have far too many. Anyway, it was kind of funny because I would discover that I had DVD's I didn't even know I had. One of them was THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE which is now considered Maggie Smith's shining cinematic moment. I think she won the OSCAR for it either the year before Barbra or the year after. It makes no never mind. Anyway, I am not even sure why I have it, but I do. And, no one wanted to buy it. So, I sat down and watched it this weekend. ...twice.

I watched it twice because I could not decide what I thought of it.

This sometimes happens to me. I will see a film, hear a song or read a book and it will make some sort of impression on me that leaves me confused. I find myself asking, "Hey! What in the hell did I just watch?" or "Hey! What was the point of that?" or "Hey! Did I love that movie or really hate it?" or "Hey! Why are you talking to yourself?" ...well, as long as one doesn't answer the questions out loud sanity is probably safe.

Anyway, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE left me totally conflicted about how I felt. The acting is exceptional -- particularly Dame Maggie Smith who rocks the mike. However, I kept thinking that both Quintin Crisp and the lead actress in the BBC series "Keeping Up Appearances" must have both been inspired by her mannerisms in this film. The script is sort of non-committed. By that I mean it is not clear to me if Jay P Allen was trying to create a political film, a sexual melodrama or sort of over-the-top mixture of both. Like many films of the late 60's the film is conflicted between old Hollywood cinema and the new realism that was sweeping into motion pictures. This was one of the first film to carry the notorious "M" rating which would later become the "R" rating. ...I think Liz Taylor/Richard Burton scored the first "M" rating with VIRGINIA WOLF, but this film was not far behind.

I won't offer up any spoilers in case one of you might decide to view it. I am going to give my copy to Ing so that she might let me know her thoughts on it. However, the film (based on both a novel and a play of the same name) takes place in from 1932 to approx 1935 in England. The setting is a conservative/upper class all girls school where Miss Brodie (fast approaching 50) is the off-center/eccentric teacher who prefers to "groom" her "gaaahls" than actually teach them. She is a teacher of life. Much more concerned with art and the positives of Italian fascism than literature or history. Oh, and she believes that she is in her absolute glowing prime. She has the habit of selecting four girls from each glass upon whom she devotes all of her attention. One is picked because she is sensible. The other because she is stupid and can be made to do whatever Miss B decides is best. The other is selected because she is friends with the other three, but the forth is picked because she represents the "virtues" that matter most to this odd teacher ---- beauty, primal sex and grace. Essentially, Miss Brodie gets off on pimping the hot girl to the art teacher with whom she once had a torrid affair.

Now, the film never explains why Miss. Brodie is the way she is or why she does the things she does. Nor does the film ever really explore her devotion to the rise of fascism or her disdain for the French and Americans. I would love to see what a filmmaker today would do with the source material. "...do as I say not as I do, gaaaahls"

After I watched the film for the second time I came to the conclusion that this beautifully photographed film is just a mess of ideas all trapped within the context of filmed play. Is it a comedy? I'm not sure. Do I care about the characters? No, I don't. Is it a good film? I really am not sure. Did I like it? Yeah, I think I did sort of love it but I am unable to defend my opinion. I could easily understand someone not liking it. Oh, and did I mention Rod McKuen wrote the musical score??!?!?

60's oddness. But, the thing is --- I don't think I will ever forget this film.

And the final shot of a mean-spirited young woman who has esstenially slapped a bit of reality into the face of Miss Brodie by calling her down for selfish actions and reducing her to what the viewer knows she is all along -- "a ridiculous woman" is so strange as we see her back walking away from the camera and Miss Brodie screaming, "Assassin! Assassin! Assassin!"

I am going to re-write it. I am going to call it THE PRIME OF MISTER STANFIELD. I just need to decide who I want to corrupt and ruin. Too bad I don't teach. Damn!