The Browning Version (1994)

82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(957 ratings)

Forty-three years after the first screen treatment of Terence Rattigan's play about a teacher facing the end of his career, Albert Finney takes on the role of Mr. Crocker-Harris, the Latin teacher forced into early retirement by a heart condition. After teaching in a public school for twenty years,… More Forty-three years after the first screen treatment of Terence Rattigan's play about a teacher facing the end of his career, Albert Finney takes on the role of Mr. Crocker-Harris, the Latin teacher forced into early retirement by a heart condition. After teaching in a public school for twenty years, Crocker-Harris is being put out to pasture in a less stressful job teaching English to foreigners. Meanwhile, his home life is also falling apart: his wife (Greta Scacchi) is having an affair with the American chemistry teacher (Matthew Modine), who nevertheless admires Crocker-Harris for his dignity and decency. Through it all, Crocker-Harris hides his pain behind his stiff British reserve. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Mike Figgis
Written By: Ronald Harwood
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 1, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Oct 14, 2003

Critic Reviews

Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Not as good as the original, but Finney is magnificent.
Bob Wake, culturevulture.net
The filmmakers lack the confidence to allow us the full measure of Rattigan's uniquely British sensibility.
Dan Lybarger, Lawrence Journal-World
Finney is terrific as a fussy teacher who picks up a few valuable lessons of his own.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
High-class film about a middle-age teacher who does painful soul-searching.