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 movie is Master Class. Judi Dench conveys more emotion and anguish with one look than most actors do in their entire career. Becoming Queen Victoria is what she accomplishes in this small, independent, but, thoroughly enthralling film. The remaining ensemble is terrific from top to bottom. The movie strings extreme emotion throughout, first, deep sorrow and grief, confusion and anguish, and finally triumph. It keeps you guessing as to the Queen's competence to the throne and the relationship she constructs with Mr. Brown. The scenery is spectacular, both interior and exterior: it and Judi Dench will take you breath away. In the end, the movie satisfies on all accounts.

If you are expecting this film to be a romance than skip it. It is about the extraordinary man with the ordinary name of John Brown who brought a Queen out of mourning. Not that a whole lot of gossip about Queen Victoria and her Scot's highland servant Brown wasn't bandied about in their day. That's the way it is in court politics, then and now.Judi Dench is the Queen who when this story begins was getting the unflattering nickname of the widow of Windsor. By the merest of chance in these royal arranged marriages it was arranged she should marry a cousin, Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. She and Prince Albert had a good score of married years with several children. They were so happy that when Prince Albert died of typhoid fever in late 1861, Victoria went into a really lengthy mourning period beyond all normal parameters. The woman would have needed grief counseling had it been available back in her day. She shut herself up in Balmoral Castle in Scotland and made no public appearances. Nor would she allow any of her children to substitute for her, particularly the Prince of Wales. With that kind of mentality operating, a whole lot of people questioned the need even for a monarchy.Into her life comes John Brown, brother one of the household help already at Balmoral and hired to tend the Queen's horses. Billy Connolly plays the rough spoken Brown who somehow even through his tough highland talk, endears himself to his Queen with his common sense and total concern for her well being. Gaining the position he does in the Victorian household, Brown makes many enemies who try to bring him down. The period of the film covers when he arrives in the Queen service in 1866 until his death in 1883. Connolly makes a fine Brown though if the film had been made 25 years earlier, the part was made for Sean Connery.Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown gained to Oscar nominations for Judi Dench for Best Actress and for Best Makeup. Shooting on location in the royal palaces and grounds which are nicely preserved from Victoria's time, the film does have the look and feel of Victorian Great Britain and the troubled monarch who reigned over the Empire.Were she and Brown ever physical? I doubt that very much, the very practical Brown was not a stupid man and would never have pushed his luck that much. But he was a tower of strength for the woman whom he brought out of mourning to take her place which was a large one in the world.

Dame Judi Dench is "Mrs. Brown" - that is, Queen Victoria, and Billy Connolly is John Brown in this 1997 film, based on fact, of Queen Victoria's relationship with a Scottsman, John Brown, who becomes her servant. The excellent script is by Jeremy Brock and the director is John Maddon, who does a wonderful job.The widowed, deeply grieving Queen Victoria has basically retired from public life when John Brown, who served her late husband, appears on the scene to help draw her out. Each day, he stands outside with her horse, even though she refuses to ride. Eventually she rides again, and also takes walks. Attracted to his lack of formality, the Queen becomes extremely fond of Brown, making him the object of jealousy at court.Both the stars are magnificent in their roles, and the atmosphere and costumes are perfect. Dame Judi Dench is a queen who is deeply aware of her position and protocol, but also is a vulnerable, sad woman, guilty that her newfound friendship is betraying her husband's memory. One can see her being drawn out slowly by John Brown, and finally enjoying the deep friendship. Connolly is great - tough, uncompromising, and fiercely protective of his Queen, though he realizes after a point that she needs to return to public life.In history, John Brown and Queen Victoria were suspected of being more than friends, thus the name "Mrs. Brown," and in a diary was found the report of a deathbed claim by Rev. Norman Macleod, that he presided over Queen Victoria's marriage to John Brown. This really hasn't been proved, but the Queen was buried with a lock of Brown's hair, his photo, and his mother's wedding ring, as well as Prince Albert's robe. Most historians feel it was only a friendship and point out that after Brown's death, she became close to an Indian servant in much the same way. She obviously needed a confidant after her husband died.The cinematography is breathtaking. A truly beautiful film, highly recommended.