Mrs. Brown

**morrison** · 15th March 07, 02:34 PM

Saw a movie a few days ago on one of the classic movie channels. Mr Brown was the title, and it was about a widowed queen of her United Kingdom that was recovering her wit after the loss of her husband whom had been denied royal status.

**Colin** · 15th March 07, 02:38 PM

Do you mean Mrs. Brown with Judi Dench and Billy Connelly? That's a good movie.

**Big Paul** · 15th March 07, 02:40 PM

I think you mean Mrs. Brown.

Here are a couple pics from the movie. BTW that's Billy Connolly in the kilt.

**morrison** · 15th March 07, 02:52 PM

Yes, Big Paul and Colin, "Mrs. Brown," is the one. At one point she introduced, "This is my good John Brown," with impudence and a certain command of respect for her close friend. An excellent movie. Well told, produced and acted. Should have won more awards. I'm immensely pleased that it won so many nominations for prizes and Oscars!

**Colin** · 15th March 07, 02:59 PM

I actually borrowed that from the library again just a week or two ago. You are quite right, it was a very well made movie.

**McClef** · 15th March 07, 03:04 PM

Funnily enough it's in my DVD collection and I only watched it again a couple of days ago!

The widowed Queen was of course Queen Victoria who had a very great taste for the Highlands which she and Prince Albert discovered and which led them to buying the Highland property of Balmoral.

She took Albert's early death very badly and did not perform any public duties for many years. The influence of John Brown upon her was the subject of public controversy and this was perhaps exaggerated in the film but he was certainly allowed to breach rank and protocol in a way that nobody else was.

Some good kilted scenes and highland dancing though.

**Cawdorian** · 15th March 07, 05:36 PM

A historical note; Queen Victoria commissioned the Brown (family) tartan especially for John Brown. The Brown (family)tartan is primarily red and black and is a beautiful tartan.

She loved Scotland and all things Scottish.

**Hamish** · 15th March 07, 05:48 PM

It was an excellent film, and the 'Windsor Castle' scenes were filmed at Arundel Castle, five or six miles from my house. It is the home of The Earl Marshal of England, His Grace The Duke of Norfolk ,and is open to the public on certain days.

I hope to arrange a visit there during the Storrington Gathering week-end in June 2008. Remember, you read it here first!

**McClef** · 16th March 07, 01:43 AM

Arundel is a lovely place, been a while since I was last there.

The Castle has a crucifix belonging to Mary Queen of Scots as I remember.

I also seem to remember that there is a bed created for a visit by the above mentioned Queen Victoria.

**Schultz** · 16th March 07, 07:28 AM

One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Mr. Brown tells his friend and fellow servant of the Queen that he gets paid an extra 100 pounds a year (or whatever it was) to wear a kilt when he'd be wearing it anyways.

This period in good Queen Vic's life has always fascinated me. The film really does a good job showing just how imprisoned a monarch can be by their own duties and how it's not always good to be the Queen.