Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown [Blu-ray]

I am interested in historical, cultural and even better, true romantic stories and this fit all categories.

Excellent movie. Good acting Enjoyed!!

I liked the fact that she had a problem and had help working thru it. I will be taking a trip to Scotland and wanted to hear in advance possible language differences.

That is the question. Of course, when one thinks of Victoria, the idea of prudishness, conservatism, and a very reserved manner in action and morality naturally come to mind. It was never unusual for monarchs, male or female, to have lovers outside of their marriages (indeed, it might be considered unusual for a monarch to have been thought to have remained faithful), but Victoria? The epitome of a repressive, almost oppresive morality? Surely not.Don't be so sure.Four years after the death of Prince Albert, to whom Victoria was completely devoted, and for whom she mourned in quite public and dramatic fashion, against the protests of her children and her ministers, John Brown, a favourite ghillie of the royal couple, was brought back into service of the Queen household.Victoria's favouritism toward him, coupled with his own brash and blunt behaviour, caused him to be envied and disliked by members of her family, her household service, her ministers, and largely by the public. There were parodies of John Brown's activities, done up in the form of mock Court Circulars (the official listing of royal engagements), which appeared in the press on both sides of the Atlantic.It is unknown if Brown actually kept a diary (the movie speculates such, but also states that no diary was ever found). There was a large black trunk of correspondence found after Victoria's death, between the Queen and her doctor at the time, Profeit, regarding John Brown. This came into the possession of her new doctor, Reid, who recorded 'most compromising' secrets into his green memorandum book. Alas, this book was burned by Reid's son, and the trunk was not found. Did it refer to a secret marriage between Victoria and John Brown, as was often speculated?This is, in truth, unlikely -- Victoria's devotion to Albert never waned in her life, and there was a certain innocence, lack of pretense and guile in Victoria that the more political and suspicious (particularly in the press) would not have known. Both Brown and Victoria were outraged at the rumours. Brown was a servant who put no stock in class divisions and the artificiality of social conventions -- his familiarity with the Queen (in fact no different from his direct and familiar manner of relating to everyone) was simply his manner.But then, everyone likes a good, juicy scandal, don't they? So much more interesting than decades of mourning, which makes for rather boring news leaders.The film takes up the story with Brown's arrival at the royal residence on the Isle of Wight (an inaccuracy, as he was presented at Windsor first). The story is romantic yet reserved, and the cinematography is stunning. From the cloud-cast home on the Isle of Wight to the stately and foreboding Windsor scenes, to the unspoiled Highlands around Balmoral, this film has had great care infused in the details of costume, setting, and atmosphere.Judi Dench gives perhaps the greatest performance of her life as the Queen, showing real emotion through the Victorian reserve in an admirable fashion (for which she was nominated for the Academy Award, and won the Golden Globe, as best actress). In a really surprising casting, Billy Connolly, best known as a comic, turns in a first class performance as John Brown, the brash Scotsman who becomes completely devoted to his Queen. Geoffrey Palmer, a solid actor known in many BBC productions, plays the Queen's private secretary, Sir Henry Ponsonby, who is continually amazed at the liberties taken by Brown (Ponsonby, in reality, saw Brown as a first class servant, and remarked so frequently in correspondence with others). This film was first proposed as a BBC television production, but ended up being so well performed and executed that it was transferred to become a cinematic release.Given the high profile scandals of the royal family today, this story seems almost timid. But, history does repeat itself, so one can never be entirely sure, until such time as the royal archives are opened to scholars, perhaps a few centuries from now, and the truth may be known to posterity.

This is a character driven movie about the relationship between two people: The Queen of England, icon of her age, the widowed Queen Victoria (Dame Judy Dench) and Mr John Brown (Billy Connolly). For lack of an official title, Mr. Brown would become a general factotum combining a number of personal functions while in his queen's service.As this review will indicate there are problems with this movie. Dame Dench and Mr. Connolly present beautiful performances. Beautiful best describes the highland scenery and castle interiors, the attention to costuming and the general viewing experience of Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown. Hence the four stars.If you are a fan of the small movie, of costume drama based on history and/or British royalty you will want this movie; my concerns aside. Likely you will want to own this movie rather than rent or instant view it. I still cannot leave behind my questions.Having raised the issue of Mr. Brown's official title... He had originally served as Prince Albert's ghillie, or Highland Scot for fishing guide and manservant.Because he had been trusted by Prince Albert, the widowed, grieving and no longer young Queen would admit him into the very small circle she allowed to attend her in her grief. Over time their relationship would become close and constant as to cause a scandal. This scandal would also be a part of a constitutional crisis that would arise questioning the need for royalty given the queen's near total withdrawal from public affairs. The relationship is the plot of this movie. The political issue its' back drop. The scandal is made mention and otherwise not important to the movie.Throughout her performance, Dame Dench moves across emotional states with her natural fluidity. She portrays a very self aware queen whose dignity will allow no presumption. Instantly she can call up the grief of Victoria and go straight into her role as the matriarch of an important family. Her performance is sufficient reward for selecting this move.Mr. Connolly's Mr. Brown is more of a puzzle. His acting is worth watching. I just do not get who Mr. Brown is, or what drove him or ...more on this to follow. Movie editing and the script never explain how he got past the queen's emotional armor. At first she is leery and her retainers closely observant. Then suddenly she is galloping over wild highland hillside. How did this happen?The CD jacket exclaims: "Her forbidden passion!" Except that this movie makes no case for or against the rumors. He is arrogant among the servants (his nominal peers), and physically handles a craven prince royal. How does he believe that these things are allowed? He is a gentle man, a drunkard and at the end a possible paranoid. Why does he think his Queens life is at risk?Virtual all of the rest of the cast serves as back drop. The politicians are all vaguely unpleasant (the queen's attitude toward Prime Minister Disraeli may have been coldly correct in her early years, but the evidence would suggest that she would come to respect him) The place courtiers are not folks with whom you would sequester yourself. The Royal family is portrayed as an undistinguished and interchangeable; hardly worth getting to know as individuals.The writing, directing and general flow of this movie argue for three stars, I don't hate these aspects, but they keep this from being a five-star gem.

The media could not be loaded.  This movie provides an interesting portrayal of Queen Victoria & John Brown. Both Judi Dench & Billy Connolly make a perfect duo. Loved seeing this storyline of watching Queen Victoria in the later part of her reign without Prince Albert, and see John Brown spark the passion to move on in life. Sadly, no special features. Therefore, my rating is a 4 star.

Brilliant move and so well acted by Dame Judy Dench and Billy Connolly. One of my favourites.

Any production with both Judy Dench and Billy Connelly must be good.

Brilliant, nothing more to say.

Wrong format and can't play

Will buy from seller again