Customer Reviews

Mrs. Warren's Profession

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Often the most interesting and engaging part of a GEorge Bernard Shaw drama is his preface. One feels the play was written only to give opportunity for writing the preface. With Saint Joan, Pygmalion, Major Barbara, and Mrs. Warren, Mr. Shaw reports most explicitly and at length in the preface the subtle points of the play. In this case, we do not read the preface, but see the play in its entirety, well played, and denuded of its excellent preface. Nevertheless, we get the message, that the British aristocracy and anglican ecclesial authorities found too much profit in the Mrs. Warren's profession and its ancillary support systems and accidental legal proceedings to do away with it by providing a good professional education or a living wage to women factory workers, etc.

Unlike some others of this series, the BBC got it right with this Shavian production. The acting is excellent; the direction sublime. Despite the tendency towards preachiness and unreal dialogue or situations in Mr. Shaw's work, this production is very convincing to the modern "realist" viewer. The most direct comments on societal systemic injustice are pronounced with great emotion and conviction which makes them compelling and real. Perhaps we in our time and place do not speak in this manner anymore, but the actors here with great talent and skill can sell us their lines and we believe them as true. And what they have to say is in fact true, and a scathing commentary on the capitalist system which found great profit in starving women with slave wages in dangerous conditions, denying them education and suffrage, etc. and forcing them for survival's sake into the most degrading and demoralizing of work, including Mrs. Warren's Profession, which we see here for what it is, not a a labor of love but of toil and horror, and profit to its distant investors, including the renters of the same anglican church which then preaches against it. The play asks us wherein lies the fault of this grotesque immorality: in the individual women or in the society which forces them into it and supports it and coldly receives the profit sharing?

For once you can trust the BBC production is very well done, and supports this drama by Irish playwright Mr. Shaw, whose total work deserves now more than ever complete and careful study. The other drama attached to this disk is of lesser interest, as it is more of a drawing room family drama, with some slight economic and social comment, but less well presented, despite Patrick the great Irish actor growling and glowering throughout. See his expurgated Lear instead.

After seeing Mrs. Warren's Profession, it's hard to imagine it being a banned play especially since it's subject matter is mostly implied. Most of the characters are appalled by it and the end is sort of a triumph for morals and the low opinion of people who have a wicked past. It seems to be rooting for everything that is Victorian-for high society, the improvement of women and setting the example for proper behavior and shunning those-even people who are loved should they partake in questionable activities. Some of Shakespeare's plots are a thousand times worse than this--Titus Andronicus anyone?-and I don't recall them being banned in Victorian England. Unless it's because the perpetrators here are women or because the hypocrisy of Victorian society was under fire and of course ...that will never do. In any case, "Mrs. Warren's Profession" is a battle of values..or virtue..and both of them make a pretty strong case. Will Mummy be put in her place or will her daughter be kicked off her high-and-mighty pedestal? The final scene will blow you away. The cast are all veteran stage actors and they thoroughly understand Shaw's language and pacing especially Robert Powell-who is hysterical as the sharp-tongued, passionate, neighborhood fop. Powell also appears in the bonus feature "You Never Can Tell," another Shaw comedy. In that one, while there were some good moments, was a little exhausting. It's worth seeing for more of Powell's witty banter-something he obviously enjoys and also for Judy Parfitt who always gives such solid performances (see her in Jewel in the Crown or Dolores Claiborne). Both productions are low budget and sometimes with other BBC productions, movies filmed on stage sets can be a little jarring, but the setting on these films is rather charming and it becomes secondary, to these wonderful, brilliant actors.

Both Mrs. Warren's Profession, and You Can Never Tell, are done as plays with all the broad expression expected. They are at the same time, stiff, and amusing. Completely apropos to their era. Coral Browne does a wonderful job with her role as a woman of the world who did her best, or so she thought, for her daughter. It seems her daughter is more the thinking woman than she would've wished for, and less the loving daughter. The bonus play is lively, very broadly done, and completely enjoyable.

How splendid the performances in this gripping suspense drama. In the reading, Shaw's play can seem flat, but in this production the characteristic Shavian twists and unconventional turns are carefully shaped and the scenes build to their well-defined climaxes. The costumes and settings are superb, and, happily, the production is not tainted by the Merchant/Ivory style dedicated to the super-realism that comes into fashion later and that distracts so maddeningly from the ongoing drama.

The two women actresses render the conflict between the female leads--Mrs. Warren and Vivie, her daughter--with admirable strength, and the actor playing the cynical Sir George Crofts capably brings to the stage every bit of vileness that Shaw wrote into the role. His performance is memorable, worthy of comparison to John Gielgud's accomplishment in rendering the vileness of the venerable cynic in the Oscar Wilde Collection's version of The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

I have such mixed emotions about this one. Of course it's excellent because the play was written by George Bernard Shaw. The actors obviously did an excellent job on it. It's the mood of the play that hit me so negatively. It presents us with a heavy message, but so somber and depressing that I wasn't ready for it today.

If you're looking for a "lived happily ever after" kind of a story, this isn't it.

If you're looking for a play with an excellent message that causes you to think differently than you did before, this may be your cup of tea.

Perhaps all businessmen and women need to see this one. The message is worth it.
------

There is a bonus called "You Never Can Tell" which much better matched my mood. It is hilariously funny. The younger children kept me in stitches. It was romantic comedy at its best. Most of the characters were delightfully improper.

Bernard Shaw rather more serious than in Pygmalion and certainly at his best. The film proceeds almost as though the action were on the stage. Shaw was a fabian and we are in the middle of the women's rights movement. You expect to see Mrs Pankhurst.

I sat through the first 30 minutes and finally wondered why I was wasting my time. Even the extra move was dull. No more Bernard Shaw...

A little bit too long. The younget dauther was getting on my nerves all the time but it is a great BBC movie.