Beau Brummell (film)

This article is about the 1954 film. For the earlier silent film, see Beau Brummel (1924 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 USA/ UK
Language English
Budget $1,762,000[1]
Box office $2,701,000[1]

Beau Brummell (1954) is a 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

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. 1 2 3 "The Eddie Mannix Ledger", Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, Los Angeles
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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?accountid=13902
  4. ↑ Box office information for Stewart Granger films in France at Box Office Story

External links

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