I once wrote a very amusing poem about Queen Victoria. My mother liked it, anyway. (STOP LAUGHING AT THE BACK)!! Her reign as the longest serving British monarch (for the next few years at least) has always been a source of interest to me, as has the early death of her beloved Prince Albert and the subsequent mourning she went through for years afterwards. I didn't realise though, that a close friend of Albert's called Brown became her closest confidante afterwards and helped restore her confidence enough to return to public life and affection, just when we were sliding into republic territory. You could almost call it a mini romance... except, both parties were far too respectful of each other to go further than the occasional kiss on the hand. Ah, the pangs of unfulfilled passion...
The servants disapprove of him, the Queen's children are jealous and the Prime Minister sees him as a chance to increase his poll ratings by influencing the court. But through it all, his defiant Scottish personality sends all schemers and plotters packing, and Victoria's devotion to her new manservant is nothing more than total. Of course, something has to give... but despite things not quite working out, his impact on her life and the British Royal family was indelible, and is now part of history. We know Judi Dench can play this sort of role better than almost anyone alive, but Billy Connolly is a revelation as the unstintingly loyal Brown. Reigning in his natural comedy instincts, he delivers a performance full of determination and heart... It's easy to see why Her Majesty falls for him in such a big way.
Perfect as a companion piece to The Young Victoria, they show a figure who is complicated in many ways, but always put her crown and country first. Go watch them both back to back, and then you may be inspired yourself to write an ode to this wonderful lady. Betcha it's nowhere near as good as MY effort though... 7/10
The servants disapprove of him, the Queen's children are jealous and the Prime Minister sees him as a chance to increase his poll ratings by influencing the court. But through it all, his defiant Scottish personality sends all schemers and plotters packing, and Victoria's devotion to her new manservant is nothing more than total. Of course, something has to give... but despite things not quite working out, his impact on her life and the British Royal family was indelible, and is now part of history. We know Judi Dench can play this sort of role better than almost anyone alive, but Billy Connolly is a revelation as the unstintingly loyal Brown. Reigning in his natural comedy instincts, he delivers a performance full of determination and heart... It's easy to see why Her Majesty falls for him in such a big way.
Perfect as a companion piece to The Young Victoria, they show a figure who is complicated in many ways, but always put her crown and country first. Go watch them both back to back, and then you may be inspired yourself to write an ode to this wonderful lady. Betcha it's nowhere near as good as MY effort though... 7/10