Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Miss Jean Brodie, Triumphant
The 1978, seven-part Scottish Television adaption of Muriel Spark's classic short novel, 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' is a remarkable in that more than half, and perhaps as much as three-fifths, of the material presented doesn't appear in the novel at all. Thus, the serial adaptation is actually a very broad fantasia upon the novel's plot, theme, and narrative, something most admirers of the book are unlikely to anticipate.

Spark's multifaceted and deceptively simple novel, which was published to worldwide acclaim in 1961, was adapted for the theater in the 1960s by Jay Presson Allen; the play then became a success on the London stage with Vanessa Redgrave and on Broadway with Zoe Caldwell in the title role.

Allen's literal but dramatic adaption altered or dropped many parts of Spark's novel, while bringing other elements to the forefront and, unlike the book, presented its story in strictly chronological fashion.

Allen then adapted her own play...

The PRIME version of a great period work of the author, `forsooth'
It's considered THE masterpiece of Dame Muriel Spark (1918-2006). Teacher Brodie loved her students as much as education... and herself. What an interesting character to enjoy. The story takes in-depth looks at many characters, the good and the flawed. Gearaldine McEwan (Miss Marple) is outstanding in her performance as Miss Jean Brodie. The author considered this DVDs performance the pinnacle, the exact image of the controversial schoolmarm.

This 1978 TV series is the final adaptation of the book of the same name. It followed a 1969 film starring a younger Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey Seasons 1 & 2 Limited Edition Set - Original UK Version), also good. Who can fault Maggie's acting?, and she did win her first Oscar as Miss Brodie. Both ladies do a major acting job simply by using their wide range of facial expressions. The book was also a stage play. This series excels beyond the film or stage by...

Edinboro and Miss Brodie
S o much more fully developed than the movie that was made subsequently and which I felt couldn't be bested. BUT this had so much to offer filling in the background of the time and place. Mcewan is quite something as Miss Brodie, the girls are wonderful as are their parents and the parents backgrounds...It was very much more than a star turn.

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