Headlines about Maggie Smith's death on Friday at age 89 focused on the newer fame she enjoyed within the United States, because the snarky Dowager Countess in “Downton Abbey” or as Professor Minerva McGonagal within the “Harry Potter” series. Row .
But Smith was among the finest British stage and screen actresses of her generation, receiving nominations or trophies for her performances in theater and movies as early because the Sixties. Like every British actor, she contributed to Shakespeare, playing Desdemona opposite Laurence Olivier within the 1965 film adaptation of Othello.
Smith also received her first Oscar nomination for “Othello.” She was nominated for an Oscar five more times, winning twice – best actress for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and best supporting actress for the 1978 Neil Simon comedy “California Suite.” If you wish to deepen your appreciation for Smith's outstanding talent as an actor, he might start with these two performances (“Miss Jean Brodie” is on the market on Roku; “California Suite” is on the market on Tubi).
In fact, many critics and Oscar viewers consider Smith's performance as Jean Brodie to be among the finest ever by an actress in a movie. She plays a free-spirited teacher at a Scottish girls' school within the Nineteen Thirties. Her Brodie is eccentric, brash, a bit deluded and happy with sex. She often disregards the curriculum, romanticizes fascist leaders like Benito Mussolini and Francisco Franco, and speaks openly about being in her sexual prime. The film focuses on Brodie. She tries to make girls in her chosen “Brodie” set as sensible and amazing as she imagines.
In his New York Times review, Vincent Canby described her performance as “a breathtaking mix of contrapuntal moods, shifting vocal tones and indirectly expressed emotions, all just right.”
But Brodie's machinations finally catch up along with her and the headmistress asks her to resign. A special feature Excerpt from the film has been circulating since Smith's death and as Daily Beast author Kevin Fallon saidthe scene is “fascinating” to look at. It probably won her an Oscar too. Brodie lets go of the headmistress, and folks took to social media to precise their admiration for Smith on this scene – for demonstrating control and “unbridled” anger at the identical time.
“I've seen this so many times – every time I'm completely captivated.” wrote a user on X. “Every cell in her body is this charismatic, dangerous mentor. This film, this performance still resonates.”
“Such an amazing speech and performance: goosebumps” one other user wrote.
Many today may not remember the 1978 film “California Suite,” for which she won her second Oscar. You may also be surprised to know that this anthology comedy was a critical and box office hit and featured an all-star forged that included Smith and Michael Caine, in addition to Richard Pryor, Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, Walter Matthau, Elaine May and others , unfortunately, Bill Cosby. The film, which takes place in the luxury Beverly Hills Hotel and relies on the play of the identical name by Neil Simon, consists of 4 stories.
In their a part of the film, Smith and Caine appear as a London couple on the town for the Oscars. Smith plays someone not unlike herself, a revered British stage actress named Diana, who was nominated for an Oscar for supporting actress. But Smith's Diana is probably more haughty and assured than we’d imagine Smith to be in real life. Diana also denies her sham marriage to Caine's Sidney, an antiques dealer and closeted gay man.
Before and after the Oscars, at which Diana loses, she and Sidney exchange clever verbal taunts – “jokes and parries,” Smith's Diana once complains about Sidney. They also reveal some bitter truths as they fight to reconcile their troubled relationship. Smith and Caine are magical together, adding depth to their roles as their characters also enjoy moments of extraordinary love and tenderness.
As Smith accepted her Oscar for “California Suite” in a gold and black dress, she said humbly“I just can't believe it. I'm very honored and very grateful.” After thanking Simon and director Herbert Ross, she also said: “I would be very happy if Michael Caine was here because, believe me, he was the most supporting actor the world and it really should work out right in the middle.”
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