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The Browning Version (1951,
UK)
In director Anthony Asquith's drama - an adaptation
of Terrence Rattigan's one-act play:
- the scene of a heart-touching, "delightful" parting
gift given by a English public school student named Taplow (Brian
Smith) - a second-hand book of Robert Browning's translation of Agamemnon (hence
the film's title) - to under-appreciated, chilly, and strict veteran
Greek Classics schoolmaster Andrew "Crock" Crocker-Harris
(Michael Redgrave) - his favorite play, and personally-inscribed
(translated: "God from afar looks graciously upon a gentle
master")! Crock was overcome with emotion for the thoughtful,
completely-unexpected present and began crying, and then excused
himself for his "little exhibition of weakness"
- his cheating, unfaithful and embittered, young and
vibrant wife Millie (Jean Kent), in a known affair with Crock's colleague
- science teacher Frank Hunter, and Millie's attempt to downplay
the goodwill gift as bribery
Crock's Confessional Farewell Speech
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- the scene of Crock's apologetic farewell epiphany
speech to a British boarding school audience - a confessional ultimately
speaking from his anguished and pained heart about his failures,
after he began with a long-winded, poorly received start to his
speech: ("You must excuse me. I had prepared a speech, but
I find now that I have nothing to say. Or rather, I have three
very small words, but they are most deeply felt. They are these:
I am sorry. I am sorry because I have failed to give you what you
had the right to demand of me as your teacher: sympathy, encouragement,
and humanity. I'm sorry because I have deserved the nickname of
Himmler. And because, by so doing, I have degraded the noblest
calling that a man can follow - the care and molding of the young.
I claim no excuses. When I came here, I-I knew what I had to do,
and I have not done it. I have failed. And miserably failed. But
I can only hope that you and the countless others who have gone
before, will find it in your hearts to forgive me for having let
you down. I shall not find it so easy to forgive myself. That is
all. Goodbye") - after a long pause, there was thunderous
applause from the seated audience
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Gift of Book From a Student
Crock's Emotional Reaction to Gift
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