Beau Brummell (film)
| Beau Brummell | |
|---|---|
 Original French film poster | |
| Directed by | Curtis Bernhardt |
| Produced by | Sam Zimbalist |
| Written by |
Karl Tunberg Clyde Fitch (play) |
| Starring |
Stewart Granger Peter Ustinov Elizabeth Taylor Robert Morley |
| Music by |
Richard Addinsell Miklós Rózsa |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Edited by | Frank Clarke |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates | October 1, 1954 |
Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.8 million[1] |
| Box office | $2.7 million[1] |
Beau Brummell is a 1954 historical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Karl Tunberg, based on the play Beau Brummell by Clyde Fitch. The play was previously adapted as a silent film made in 1924 and starring John Barrymore as Beau Brummell, Mary Astor and Willard Louis as the Prince of Wales.
The music score was by Richard Addinsell with Miklós Rózsa. The film stars Stewart Granger as Beau Brummell, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Ustinov as the Prince of Wales.
Historical accuracy
The film ends with a deathbed reconciliation between a dying Brummell and the Prince, who as George IV is passing through Le Havre between his British and Hanoverian kingdoms. There is no record the king met Brummell again after the latter fled, in debt, to France in 1816 and in any case the scene is an anachronism; Beau Brummell died at Caen in 1840 having survived George by almost ten years.
Cast
- Stewart Granger as George Bryan "Beau" Brummell
- Elizabeth Taylor as Lady Patricia Belham
- Peter Ustinov as the Prince of Wales
- Robert Morley as King George III
- James Donald as Lord Edwin Mercer
- James Hayter as Mortimer
- Rosemary Harris as Mrs. Maria Anne Fitzherbert
- Paul Rogers as William Pitt
- Noel Willman as Lord George Gordon Byron
- Peter Dyneley as Midger
- Charles Carson as Sir Geoffrey Baker
- Ernest Clark as Doctor Warren
- Peter Bull as Mr. Fox
- Mark Dignam as Mr. Burke
- Desmond Roberts as Colonel
- David Horne as Thurlow
- Ralph Truman as Sir Ralph Sidley
- Elwyn Brook-Jones as Mr. Tupp
- George De Warfaz as Doctor Dubois
- Henry Oscar as Doctor Willis
- Harold Kasket as Mayor
Production
Clyde Fitch's play was written in 1890 as a vehicle for Richard Mansfield. MGM bought the rights in early 1951 as a vehicle for Stewart Granger.[2]
Filming began in London on 15 November 1953. Elizabeth Taylor's character was a combination of several women in Brummell's life.[3]
Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $1,049,000 in the US and $1,652,000 elsewhere. It made a loss of $383,000.[1] However, in recent years the film has attained a considerable cult status and popularity, largely because of the story of British high society in the colorful Napoleonic and Regency Eras and because of memorable performances by Granger, Taylor, Ustinov and Morley as "Mad King George III". It is frequently shown on classic movie channels.
In France, it recorded admissions of 634,778.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "The Eddie Mannix Ledger", Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, Los Angeles
- ↑ PARAMOUNT BUYS ODETS' NEW PLAY: Studio Acquires 'Country Girl' for Reported $150,000 Film to Follow Run on Stage Of Local Origin By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 02 Mar 1951: 22.
- ↑ By, A. H. W. (1953, Oct 04). BY WAY OF REPORT. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112552485
- ↑ Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France at Box Office Story
External links
- Beau Brummell at the Internet Movie Database
- Beau Brummell at AllMovie
- Beau Brummell at the TCM Movie Database