"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) is a cultural time capsule of life at an all-girls school in Scotland in the 1930s. Its performances, notably Smith, in her "prime" are exceptional.
I’m not sure I can say I have a favourite performance given how few Maggie Smith films I have seen, which I now want to correct, but the one movie of hers that I did see recently and enjoyed quite a bit was Evil Under the Sun. I think what I will remember most about Maggie Smith was her presence at award shows about a decade ago during the period of time where she was nominated almost every year for her role in Downton Abbey. I miss that time when there was a handful of shows that dominated such that everyone, even if you didn’t watch the shows, was aware of them. Everything felt more communal then and Maggie Smith was a key figure during that time.
I need to rewatch “Evil Under the Sun” - such a good Christie! I hear what you’re saying about the communal aspect of awards shows. Maybe it’s the idea that some of these icons / people we really looked up to are no longer dominating the entertainment scene and the ones we have are less admirable?
I have to admit I've never seen The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie! I definitely need to see it now that she is gone. I think my favorite work by her is everything she did for the Downton Abbey series and movies. I looked forward to every scene she was in.
She’s great in all of it. “Room with a View” is my favorite film of all time - a Letterboxd top 4” for sure and her role as Aunt Charlotte is so good. She was in a few of the Peter Ustinov Hercule Poirot 80s films too
She was one of those acting institutions you thought had always been around and would always be around, until suddenly she wasn't anymore. (Likewise for James Earl Jones, who died a couple of weeks before.)
RIP Dame Maggie Smith. She will be missed.
A bit o' trivia-- Miss Maggie was first offered the stage play but she was busy making movies. Vanessa Redgrave played Miss Brodie on stage.
For me she will forever be Prof McGonagall in Harry Potter. She will be missed 😢.
I’m not sure I can say I have a favourite performance given how few Maggie Smith films I have seen, which I now want to correct, but the one movie of hers that I did see recently and enjoyed quite a bit was Evil Under the Sun. I think what I will remember most about Maggie Smith was her presence at award shows about a decade ago during the period of time where she was nominated almost every year for her role in Downton Abbey. I miss that time when there was a handful of shows that dominated such that everyone, even if you didn’t watch the shows, was aware of them. Everything felt more communal then and Maggie Smith was a key figure during that time.
I need to rewatch “Evil Under the Sun” - such a good Christie! I hear what you’re saying about the communal aspect of awards shows. Maybe it’s the idea that some of these icons / people we really looked up to are no longer dominating the entertainment scene and the ones we have are less admirable?
What a career. Such a distinctive voice and aged beauty. I've not seen this movie, so just ordered from the library.
I’m watching “Downton Abbey” again!
Confession: I've never seen it.
What??!!!
The shame. 😩
I have to admit I've never seen The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie! I definitely need to see it now that she is gone. I think my favorite work by her is everything she did for the Downton Abbey series and movies. I looked forward to every scene she was in.
She’s great in all of it. “Room with a View” is my favorite film of all time - a Letterboxd top 4” for sure and her role as Aunt Charlotte is so good. She was in a few of the Peter Ustinov Hercule Poirot 80s films too
She was one of those acting institutions you thought had always been around and would always be around, until suddenly she wasn't anymore. (Likewise for James Earl Jones, who died a couple of weeks before.)
💯 it’s hard to imagine this world without those institutions and people that led the way in the cinematic universe
All of it! Downton Abbey, Jean Brodie, The Lady in the Van…what a career!
Rest in peace Maggie Smith. I think my favourite roles of hers were Violet and Professor McGonagall.