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Beau Brummell

Alternate Title: The Life and Times of Beau Brummell Director: Curtis Bernhardt (Dir) Release Date: 29 Oct 1954 Premiere Information: World premiere in Philadelphia, PA: 6 Oct 1954; Los Angeles opening: 15 Oct 1954; New York opening: 20 Oct 1954 Production Date: late Nov 1953--early Feb 1954 at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Boreham Wood, Elstree, England Duration (in mins): 111 Duration (in feet): 10,016 Duration (in reels): 13			Print this page Display Movie Summary

Cast:	Stewart Granger	([George Bryan] Beau Brummell)
	Elizabeth Taylor	(Lady Patricia [Belham])
	Peter Ustinov	([George IV] Prince of Wales)
	Robert Morley	(King George III)
	James Donald	(Lord Edwin Mercer)
	James Hayter	(Mortimer)
	Rosemary Harris	(Mrs. [Maria Anne] Fitzherbert)
	Paul Rogers	(William Pitt)
	Noel Willman	(Lord [George Gordon] Byron)
	Peter Dyneley	(Midger)
	Charles Carson	(Sir Geoffrey Baker)
	Ernest Clark	(Doctor Warren)
	Peter Bull	(Mr. Fox)
	Mark Dignam	(Mr. Burke)
	Desmond Roberts	(Colonel)
	David Horne	(Thurlow)
	Ralph Truman	(Sir Ralph Sidley)
	George De Warfaz	(Doctor Dubois)
	Henry Oscar	(Doctor Willis)
	Harold Kasket	(Mayor)
	Elwyn Brook-Jones	(Mr. Tupp)
	Maurice Kaufman	(Lord Alvanley)
	D. A. Clarke-Smith	(Sir John Wyatt)
	Gordon Phillott	(Roper, Sr.)
	Francis Drake	(Roper, Jr.)
	Thomas Gallagher	(Bruiser)
	Alexander Gauge	(Newspaper man)
	Dennis Shaw	(Dog man)
	Finlay Currie	(Robert MacIver)
	John Chandos	(Silva)
	Ann Hanslip	(Lady Manley)
	Andrew Osborn	(Lord Mindon)
	Geoffrey Dunn	(St. Clair)
	Yvonne André	(Madame Binard)
	Bessie Love	(Maid)
	David Oxley	(Footman)
	Clement McCallin	(Footman)
	Kenneth Hyde	(Footman)
	Len Talbot	(Weight lifter)
	Margaret Withers	(Countess Marie Duvarre)
	Danny Gray	(Juggler)
	Gordon Whiting	(Squerry)

Summary:

In early 19th century England, while watching military exercises, George IV, Prince of Wales, is impressed by the swordsmanship of the dashing Capt. George Bryan Brummell. When the prince pays his compliments, Brummell responds with suggestions for improving the design of the regiment's uniforms, and George, who designed the uniforms himself, is offended. Brummell, a man of exacting sartorial and Epicurean tastes, is unfazed by the prince's disapproval, and makes an appearance that evening, wearing daring stove pipe pants, at a regimental dinner. There he meets the beautiful Lady Patricia Belham, the intended of George's political advisor, Lord Edwin Mercer. When Brummell refuses to retract his criticism of the uniforms, the prince discharges him from the service. Late that night, as Brummell watches his regiment embark on an overseas assignment, Patricia approaches him and asks why he is willing to sacrifice his military career. The proud Brummell explains that he is unwilling to compromise his dignity and self-respect, and impulsively kisses her. Brummell is left with no clear course for the future, however, as he has neither family name nor fortune. While strolling through town one day with his loyal valet Mortimer, Brummell sees politician Sir Ralph Sidley addressing a crowd. Brummell interrupts Sidley's speech with some sharply worded comments about the prince, and a newspaper reporter invites him to repeat his opinions the following evening at a civic meeting. Brummell accepts, and quickly makes a name for himself with his stinging indictment of the prince's excesses. Later, George is urged by Mercer and his prime minister, William Pitt, to end his relationship with his widowed, Catholic lover, Mrs. Maria Anne Fitzherbert, and make an advantageous marriage. Brummell is summoned by the prince, and as he urges George to stand up to Pitt, a bond begins to grow between the two men. One evening, when Brummell returns from the prince's birthday party, Mortimer warns him that his numerous creditors are growing impatient and suggests they go abroad. Brummell, who has become George's close friend and confidant, refuses, insisting that the prince needs him. Patricia drops by, and after Brummell shows her his exquisitely furnished house, they admit their strong feelings for each other. Patricia considers him too unstable to be a good candidate for marriage, however, and Brummell soon learns that her engagement to Mercer will be announced at an upcoming hunting party. Brummell is present at the gathering, and the prince publicly praises him for his devotion, promising to make Brummell an earl when he becomes king. While the other guests are fox hunting, Brummell and Patricia find themselves alone in the woods, and they fall into a passionate embrace. After the hunt, Mercer brusquely tells Patricia they should cancel their engagement, but she promises never to see Brummell again. The following morning, the distraught prince tells Brummell that Mrs. Fitzherbert is planning to leave for Italy. Brummell tells the prince that Pitt has been concealing the fact that King George III has gone mad. He urges the prince to have his father certified insane and declare himself regent, which would empower him to marry whomever he pleases. With Brummell and several doctors at his side, the prince goes to court and calls on George III, who is declared mad after he fails to recognize his son and tries to strangle him. Parliament limits the prince's power as acting regent, although it does grant him authority to change the marriage act, which forbids marriage to a Catholic, and make it possible for George to wed Mrs. Fitzherbert. Brummell advises the prince to reject Parliament's conditions, however, or lose power to Pitt. Emotionally overwrought, the prince turns on Brummell, accusing him of acting out of self-interest. Brummell insults the prince, and their close friendship ends. When his break with the prince becomes known, Brummell's creditors close in, and Brummell and Mortimer flee to Calais, France. Time passes, and the prince ascends to the throne after the death of George III. One day, George tells Mercer, who is now married to Patricia, that he has heard Brummell is sick and impoverished. George requests Mercer to discreetly provide assistance to his former friend. Meanwhile, in a freezing garret in Calais, the ailing Brummell declines a lucrative offer to publish his memoirs lest they prove embarrassing to the king. Brummell's health declines, and he is visited on his deathbed by George, who is in Calais on state business. Brummell is greatly moved by the king's visit, and the two men have an emotional reunion. After the king leaves, Brummell dies, his heart finally at peace.

Production Company:	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.	(Loew's Inc.)
Distribution Company:	Loew's Inc.
Director:	Curtis Bernhardt	(Dir)
	John Street	(Asst dir)
Producer:	Sam Zimbalist	(Prod)
Writer:	Karl Tunberg	(Scr)
Photography:	Oswald Morris	(Dir of photog)
Art Direction:	Alfred Junge	(Art dir)
Film Editor:	Frank Clarke	(Film ed)
Costumes:	Elizabeth Haffenden	(Cost des)
Music:	Richard Addinsell	(Mus comp)
	Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	(Played by)
	Muir Mathieson	(Cond)
Sound:	A. W. Watkins	(Rec supv)
Special Effects:	Tom Howard	(Photog eff)
Make Up:	Charles Parker	(Makeup)
	Joan Johnstone	(Hairdressing)
Country:	Great Britain and United States
Language:	English

Music:
Songs:
Source Text:	Inspired by the play Beau Brummell by Clyde Fitch (New York, 17 May 1890).
Authors:	Clyde Fitch

Copyright Claimant	Copyright Date	Copyright Number	Passed By NBR:
Loew's Inc.	1/10/1954 dd/mm/yyyy	LP4099	Yes

PCA NO:	16960
Physical Properties:	Sd:	Western Electric Sound System
	col:	Eastman Color
	Lenses/Prints:	print by Technicolor


Genre:	Biography
	Drama
Sub-Genre:	Historical


Subjects (Major):	Beau Brummell
	Dandies
	Friendship
	George IV, King of England, 1820-1830
	Great Britain--History--19th century

Subjects (Minor):	George Gordon Byron, Baron
	Calais (France)
	Catholics
	Clothes
	Debt
	Fashion
	Fox hunts
	George III, King of England, 1738-1820
	Great Britain--History--Social life and customs
	Great Britain. Parliament
	Insanity
	Marriage--Forced by circumstances
	Mistresses
	Nobility
	William Pitt, the Younger
	Poodle dogs
	Prime ministers
	Romantic rivalry
	Speeches
	Valets

Note:	The working title of this film was The Life and Times of Beau Brummell . The onscreen credits include the following written prologue: "In the day of Napoleon, Nelson, and Wellington, of Pitt, Burke, and Fox there lived a man called Beau Brummell. Lord Byron said he was the greatest man in Europe. Brummell agreed--and he very nearly proved it." The opening credits also state that the film was "based on the play written for Richard Mansfield by Clyde Fitch." Mansfield, one of the leading American actor-producers of the late 19th century, commissioned Beau Brummell from Fitch, a highly prolific playwright, in 1889 as a starring vehicle for himself. The play was a great success for both Mansfield and Fitch. Although Fitch's play is credited onscreen, a note attached to the SAB from studio executive Rudi Monta states: "The Clyde Fitch play was used by Karl Tunberg only as a mere springboard...as a matter of fact, the similarities between the Tunberg screenplay and the Fitch play stem from common historical sources." George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (1778--1840) was educated at Eton and Oxford, and became a close friend of the Prince of Wales (later George IV) while he was a teenager. Gifted with an impeccable sense of style, Brummell achieved renown in high society both as a wit and as an arbiter of fashion. In 1816 he fled to France to escape his creditors, and served time in debtor's prison before dying in a lunatic asylum in Caen. George IV (1762--1830) was appointed prince regent in 1811 after his father, King George III, was found mentally incompetent to rule, and reigned as king of Great Britain from 1820--1830. In 1785, George secretly married Mrs. Maria Anne Fitzherbert, a widow and Roman Catholic; however, the marriage was later declared illegal by Parliament. According to HR , M-G-M was planning to make a version of the film, with Robert Donat in the title role, as early as 1938. According to May 1953 studio publicity material contained in the film's production file at the AMPAS Library, Eleanor Parker was originally cast opposite Stewart Granger. Beau Brummell was filmed entirely in England. On 15 Nov 1954, the film was given a Royal Command performance in London that was attended by Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret. According to a 17 Nov 1954 article in Var , the screening was preceded by a stage show directed by Peter Ustinov, and the event raised money for the Cinematograph Trades Benevolent Fund. Critical reaction to the special screening was quite negative. According to a 24 Nov 1954 Var news item, Sir Alexander Korda promptly published a letter in the Daily Telegraph recommending that the selection process for Royal Command performances be revised. A Jan 1986 HR news item reported that recently declassified government papers revealed that Queen Elizabeth was offended by the film's portrayal of her ancestors. According to a memo from Winston Churchill included in the papers, the queen told him "what a bad film it was." Fitch's play was first adapted for the screen by Warner Bros. in 1924. The silent film was directed by Harry Beaumont and starred John Barrymore and Mary Astor (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30 ). The life of George IV was the subject of the 1978 British television mini-series Prince Regent , which starred Peter Egan as the prince and Nigel Davenport as the king. George III's decline into mental illness was depicted in the 1994 British film The Madness of King George , which was directed by Nicholas Hytner and starred Nigel Hawthorne as the king and Rupert Everett as Prince George.

Bibliographic Sources:	Date	Page
Box Office	9 Oct 1954.
Daily Variety	6 Oct 54	p. 3.
Film Daily	6 Oct 54	p. 6.
Hollywood Reporter	16 Aug 1938.
Hollywood Reporter	24 Aug 53	p. 1.
Hollywood Reporter	20 Nov 53	p. 15.
Hollywood Reporter	5 Feb 54	p. 7.
Hollywood Reporter	6 Oct 54	p. 3.
Hollywood Reporter	7 Oct 54	p. 3.
Hollywood Reporter	28 Oct 1954.
Hollywood Reporter	7 Jan 1986.
Motion Picture Daily	6 Oct 1954.
Motion Picture Herald	9 Oct 1954.
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest	16 Oct 54	p. 179.
New Statesman	27 Nov 1954.
New York Times	21 Oct 54	p. 31.
New Yorker	30 Oct 1954.
Variety	6 Oct 54	p. 6.
Variety	17 Nov 1954.
Hollywood Reporter	24 Nov 1954.

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.



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