Mr. Movie: Maggie Smith Part 3

In the 1990s, Maggie Smith turned 60 and continued to act in superior movies in which she played a big part.

Sister Act (1992) is a comedy with music featuring Whoopi Goldberg as lounge singer Deloris. After witnessing a mob murder, she is relocated for her protection in a convent, disguised as one of the nuns. Deloris joins the choir, ramps up their arrangements and becomes director. Smith portrays the Mother Superior of the convent. At first she is outraged by the direction of the choir, but is won over by how well liked they become. This was an extremely popular film earning $200 million above its cost. So of course it became a franchise. Sister Act 2 came out in 1993 with the same cast and basically the same story. It also became a hit Broadway musical. And … Sister Act 3 is being produced now, of course without Dame Maggie.        

The Secret Garden (1993) is gleaned from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s lovely 1909 novel. The story has beguiled children and grown-ups alike for decades and it is brought to the screen admirably here. Mary Lennox (previously unknown Kate Maberly) is orphaned when illness takes both her parents in India. She is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, in Yorkshire. He is a dour widower, mourning the loss of his wife who died in her beautiful garden. He orders the garden closed up forever but Mary Lennox is determined to find it. Hence the Secret Garden. She is not helped much by the housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (Smith), but with the help of an estate gardener and a local boy, she perseveres. Secret Garden also became a smash Broadway hit with an incredible score.

Richard III (1995) is one of the best treatments of Shakespeare’s play about “Old Crookback,” one of England’s most controversial kings. Updated with a jerk of 450 years to the 1930s, it features all of the bloodthirsty goings-on as members of warring families fight for the crown. Ian McKellen stars as Richard. The star-studded cast includes Smith, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, and Robert Downey Jr. It frankly bears little resemblance to Will’s play, but it is a stemwinder.

Washington Square (1997) is successfully brought to the screen from Henry James’ stately novel. Jennifer Jason Leigh admirably performs Catherine Sloper, homely but wealthy daughter and only surviving child of the Sloper family. She is courted by Morris Townsend (Ben Chaplin) who her father suspects — rightly — that he is a fortune hunter. She loves him anyway and her Aunt Lavinia (Smith) tries to push forward the romance. But the father prevails and Morris gives up. Catherine does quite well without him and easily rebukes his advances years later.

Smith has a ball as Lady Hester, one of the English ladies ensconced in fascist Italy in Tea With Mussolini (1999).  They at first refuse to go home, but all relent except Lady Hester. Lady Hester falls out of like with Mussolini. Her portrayal of the flighty but stubborn English Dame is quite winning.

All of the films in this article are available probably not for free. Only Secret Garden is suitable for children.