The Historic Documentary Film Society tributes Dame Maggie Smith
The society will screen the film, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Beit Emanuel Slome Auditorium.
To honour the late doyenne of stage and screen, Dame Maggie Smith, The Historic Documentary Film Society will feature a tribute to her on November 13 at Beit Emanuel Slome Auditorium.
They will screen her Academy Award-winning performance as Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Her portrayal is described as being a free-thinking, feisty school teacher at an all-girls fraternity set in Edinburgh in the early 30s. Her performance remains mesmerising and her one-liners – timeless.
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Some of those being: ‘I am in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders’ and ‘all my pupils are the creme de la creme’ as well as ‘give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life’.
Selwyn Klass, co-founder of the society said before Dame Maggie would conjure her wizardry in the Harry Potter films and win multiple TV Emmys as the imperious Dowager Countess, Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey, her character Jean Brodie would serve to showcase the evolvement of her diverse remarkable range. The film’s title theme song, Jean by musician/poet/artist Rod McKuen, nominated as Best Song for an Academy Award is particularly poignant for the Emmarentia resident.
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During Klass’ broadcasting days with Springbok Radio, he presented a series on McKuen to recognise his 25th anniversary in the industry. In time, Klass would serve as McKuen’s publicist to launch his lesser-known classical catalogue. He recalls in their correspondence: “Rod with his Scottish lineage in the Hebrides was particularly proud that Jean Brodie would be chosen as The Royal Film Performance in the presence of The Queen Mother.”
Dame Helen Mirren considers the loss of Dame Maggie to be likened to the passing of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
When: November 13
Time: 09:30/10:00
Where: Slome Auditorium, Beit Emanuel, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown
Cost: R130 includes lavish tea.
Details: Selwyn Klass 082 603 3214.
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