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The Mudlark is surely one of the most charming of films. It goes without saying that the protagonists make it the jewel it is. I'd be happy to hear the 'phone book read if Guiness were the one to read it. Incidentally, 2 nights ago we saw another little Victorian gem actually based on a recently discovered memoire. The film, VICTORIA AND ABDUL, is quite delightful. I think you'd both enjoy it. (on NETFLICKS, with the ancient Judi Dench, superb as usual.

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May 23Liked by Debra Esolen

Wow! I’ve never heard of this one. Thanks to your bite-size description, I begin to feel that I’ve already seen it! Thanks for bringing such a treasure into the light.

Glory to God!

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May 23Liked by Debra Esolen, Anthony Esolen

Mr. Brown (Finally Currie) in this film appears as a major character in a film released 21 years after "The Mudlark," with Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly as Mr. Brown. It's called "Mrs. Brown," the derogatory term the British press applied to Queen Victoria after her official advisors and the press became concerned over the zealous way Mr. John Brown helped her cover from grief after losing her beloved Prince Albert; he not only insisted she return

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May 23Liked by Debra Esolen

to horseback riding but also became her close advisor.

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In today's film, Mr. Brown is the one who ultimately persuades her to return to her public duties. He tells her that "her man" would have wanted her to do it.

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I am looking forward to seeing it! But I am curious what are the non-fictional parts of those stories?

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May 23·edited May 25Author

Well, the movie is made from a book of what we would likely call "historical fiction." Writers of historical fiction are usually experts on the biographical and historical details of public figures whom they weave a story about. Irving Stone is an American writer of historical fiction, well researched and accurate according to what is known from historical evidence, including private letters and memoirs and things of that sort. It is a historical fact that Queen Victoria retreated to Windsor after the death of her husband, Albert and declined to appear in public for a decade and a half. The speeches of prime ministers and other government documents, works of historical scholars, and even newspaper archives provide the historical fiction writer with authentic details to draw upon for the accuracy of his portrayals.

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I knew I had heard parts of the story before—minus the Mudlark—. We enjoyed that movie! I am sure we will enjoy the Irene Dunne version as well!

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Well, the mudlark was a legend.. but the rest of the story is evidently quite historically accurate.

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May 23Liked by Debra Esolen

Thanks. I shall see this movie with my siblings.

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I think you will like it. Irene Dunne is superb in this very unusual role.

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May 24Liked by Debra Esolen

She is exquisite...especially, as you noted, with the staid and deft facial expressions. Yet so is Alec Guiness' outstanding delivery. Would that we had such great actors these days. This is a keeper. Thank you.

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