Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown [Blu-ray]

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 DVD was of high quality and it got here ahead of schedule. Use the company if you need a movie.

If you like the history of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert you will really enjoy this little known movie, "Mrs. Brown" with Judy Dench and Billy Connolly. I ordered "Young Victoria" with Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend at the same time to learn about the early years of the love story between Victoria and Albert. Although very different in the format of the filming and age of the characters, it was really worth watching both to understand the history, although I am sure quite a bit of dramatic liberty was taken, of this romance.Judy Dench true to her genius acting ability was fabulous as the Queen. She never fails to give a truly brilliant performance, and as Victoria in her older years she does not disappoint. Very believable in her grieving of the death of her beloved Albert. No one in court had been able to get her out of her deep depression and inconsolable grief. This is where John Brown, played so well by Billy Connolly, one of Albert's oldest and dearest friends from Scotland, was summoned to come and see if he was able to assist the Queen in getting on with her life.John Brown was dedicated to the Queen, and only the Queen, much to the disgust of the members of her family and the members of her court who tried to control her. His non-conventional ways rubbed many the wrong way, but after what seemed to be a long time, he was able to persuade Queen Victoria to start living again.He showed her the joys of riding her pony in the moors, meeting with the common people of her country, laughing, dancing, and just loving again. There were rumors of a love affair between them, but never proved in the movie.If you like Judy Dench, I would highly recommend this movie as she will not disappoint. Billy Connolly, an unknown to me, has become a favorite. He is a lovable character with the strength needed to breathe life into a Queen lost in her seemingly unending grief. I also highly recommend getting "Young Victoria" at the same time as it is the beginning of this story. It is beautifully filmed, beautiful costuming, and helps you to understand and appreciate the beginning of this endearing love story.