Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

leethomas-11621 Character study of egotistically romantic and ultimately dangerous teacher of young girls set in 1930s Scotland. But stage-bound and why is the school interior relentlessly grey? Worth watching for Maggie Smith.

Leofwine_draca I found THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE a surprisingly unpleasant little film that feels dated in a bad way. The setting is Edinburgh, where the prim and proper Miss Brodie - played by Maggie Smith with an exemplary Scots accent - attempts to teach her female pupils about life and love in order to ready them for the world. Unfortunately, much of the running time is hampered by the interventions of an extremely sleazy art teacher, played by Robert Stephens. Scenes in which he paints one of his pupils in the nude (Pamela Franklin, the child actress from the likes of THE INNOCENTS) and then proceeds to cavort with her feel deeply dodgy when seen with modern eyes and I found his character's behaviour unforgiveable. The rest is meandering, painting portraits of all-too-cold characters, failing to make any of them likeable, Smith included, and watchable only for a few old hands (Gordon Jackson, Celia Johnson) in support.

gavin6942 A headstrong young teacher (Maggie Smith) in a private school in 1930s Edinburgh ignores the curriculum and influences her impressionable 12 year old charges with her over-romanticized world view.Maggie Smith was singled out for her performance in the film. Dave Kehr of Chicago Reader said that Smith is "in one of those technically stunning, emotionally distant performances that the British are so darn good at." Yes, but what about Pamela Franklin? I think it is a shame she ever quit acting, as she is by far one of the best actresses of the 1970s and 80s.It is interesting to see how little Maggie Smith changed over 30 years, and how the school in this film could just as easily have been Hogwarts.

TheLittleSongbird What a great film! I love Maggie Smith, so I wanted to see The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. And I wasn't disappointed. The cinematography and production values are top notch and the script is great. The story is also very charming, the opinions are politically incorrect in a sense but done with such charm and innocence, while the direction is done with consummate ease. The acting is marvellous across the board- Maggie Smith is superb and thoroughly deserved her Oscar, but I also feel Celia Johnson was overlooked, for she was every bit as good as the disapproving headmistress. Robert Stephens, Gordon Jackson and Pamela Franklin are also very impressive. Overall, it is a truly great film, and certainly one of Smith's best. 10/10 Bethany Cox