Film Locations : The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Trailer
7th December 2020
(Scroll to the bottom for a video on Greyfriars Kirkyard)
By Karina Caulfield
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961) by Muriel Spark, was hailed as one of the best English-language novels of the 20th century. Eight years later, it was adapted onto film, directed by Ronald Neame, premiering at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival. A year after its release, it was acclaimed at the 42nd Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for Maggie Smith’s performance.
Set in 1930s Edinburgh; the film stars, Maggie Smith who plays the Miss Jean Brodie, an eccentric yet unorthodox teacher in her ‘prime’. The film follows the close-knit relationship between her and her pupils: Sandy, Monica, Jenny, and Mary.
Miss Brodie is known to ignore traditional teaching methods. Instead, she takes the girls on regular trips to museums and art galleries; joins them for lunch outside and romanticises fascist leaders, Benito Mussolini, and Francisco Franco. She has a great effect on her girls who become infatuated on her attitude to life and love interests: Teddy Lloyd and Gordon Lowther.
Overall, the drama explores various themes such as love, war, sex, school, women, and puberty.
Various Edinburgh locations are featured in and around the city from the Old Town to the seaside outskirts. Below are the exact spots to look out for.
Locations
The Vennel
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Photo by Karina Caulfield
The charismatic Miss Brodie takes her pupils on a walk around Edinburgh, gliding down the Vennel. These steps lead to the Grassmarket and overlooks the historic fortress that is Edinburgh Castle.
On the 100th anniversary of the authors birth, a plaque commemorating her most famous character was erected and can be spotted at the bottom of the Vennel. The sign reads ‘The Steps of Miss Jean Brodie’.
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Photo by Karina Caulfield
Copyright @ 20th Century Fox/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock
Greyfriars Kirkyard
(Scroll to the bottom for a video on Greyfriars Kirkyard)
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Following on from the Vennel, Miss Brodie strolls through Greyfriars Kirkyard with her pupils located in the Old Town. The graveyard surrounds the Kirk and is known for the loyal terrier, Bobby who stuck by his owner’s grave for fourteen years.
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Photo by Karina Caulfield
After spotting Miss Brodie taking a walk, ex-lover, Teddy Lloyd, rushes from his studio/house overlooking the graveyard to accidently ‘bump’ into her. This is one of the first encounters the pupils have with Teddy and immediately they become intrigued in their relationship.
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Photo by Karina Caulfield
Copyright @ 20th Century Fox/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock
​Cramond – Barmbougle Castle
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Cramond: a seaside village on the outskirts of Edinburgh and where Miss Brodie spends most of her weekends. She visits Barnbougle Castle overlooking the Firth of Forth, often inviting her pupils and spending time with music teacher, Gordon Lowther.
The secluded Barnbougle Castle resides between the Earl of Rosebery's estate, minutes away from the grand Dalmeny House. Built in the 13th century it is classed as one of Scotland’s ‘hidden treasures.’
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5 Admiral Terrace
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Miss Brodie resides on 5 Admiral Terrace, a Victorian style house in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh. The author herself, in fact resided close by, on Bruntsfield Place. Miss Brodie is seen here with Sandy who is now in her senior year. Together they discuss the other girls in her class.
Miss Brodie has devised a plan to manoeuvre pupil, Jenny into having an affair with Teddy Lloyd, and to appoint Sandy to act as spy. As they sit down for tea, Sandy becomes jealous of Miss Brodie’s constant praise of Jenny’s beauty.
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A scene further down the storyline, involves a distraught Sandy rushing to the teachers’ home to deliver the devastating news that pupil, Mary has been killed on her way to war.
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1 Candlemaker Row
Photo by Karina Caulfield
On the corner of Merchant Street is where the sophisticated yet adulterous, Teddy Llyod lives and paints. Now in their senior year, Sandy, Monica, Jenny, and Mary, visit Teddy who is creating a portrait of Jenny.
The obsession of Jenny’s beauty angers Sandy. Instead she wishes to fit this ‘character’ of attracting men Miss Brodie often discusses. In response, a reckless Sandy begins an affair with Teddy - an extremely inappropriate relationship, painting Teddy in a questionable light.
Teddy paints Sandy nude however, his lust is overshadowed by his love for Miss Brodie. Despite seeking to depict Sandy, his painting, like all his works; resemble Miss Brodie. Irony emerges as both individuals share a secret obsession with the impressionable teacher. After taking a glimpse, Sandy is hurt and calls off the affair.
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​Donaldson School for Deaf and Dumb Children (now Edinburgh Academy) - 54 Henderson Row
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Copyright @ 20th Century Fox/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock
Much of the film takes place inside the Marcia Blaine School where Miss Brodie teaches her girls about poetry, history and love. It is where she heavily influences her pupils on aspects of life and where the audience see her junior pupils grow into seniors.
Inside the school is where the audience is introduced to her love interests. One of the first scenes involves her ex-lover, Teddy Lloyd who aggressively pursues her in the bathroom of the school.
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As the plot progresses, music teacher, Gordon Lowther wishes to marry Miss Brodie after spending multiple nights together, however she is hesitant. The school provides the setting to where she finds and loses her chance at love after Gordon Lowther becomes engaged to another teacher.
It also holds place to the heated confrontations with headmistress, Miss Gaunt who is resentful and bitter towards Miss Brodie. From the beginning it is evident, Miss Gaunt’s intentions is to remove Miss Brodie from the faculty - and which comes true.
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Furthermore, one of the final encounters takes place in Miss Brodie's classroom. The scene involves a resentful Sandy who ultimately blames Miss Brodie for Mary’s death after influencing her into fighting for General Franco.
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Although the interiors were constructed and filmed in the studio, the outside entrance was shot at what now is part of Edinburgh Academy in Stockbridge. The building dates back to 1824, when the Royal Institute for Deaf and Dumb Children was established. In 1938 the institute merged into Donaldson's School which had been founded in 1851.
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Copyright @ 20th Century Fox/ Kobal/ REX/ Shutterstock
An Insight into Greyfriars Kirkyard
Video by Karina Caulfield