While not as tough and chewy as a London broil, the meat on this steak should have been thicker, like a ribeye or porterhouse. But what is there is certainly juicy and tender and edible, a view of a terrific lady and actress who has mesmerized audiences on the stage for seven decades and has a legendary status that is incomparable for many others of her age group. Yes, there are certainly many popular divas born in the 1930's who managed to still be working in the 2020's, but Dame Maggie Smith shines above many of them because of her uncanny ability to reinvent herself, going from ingenue on the stage to early screen roles to commanding Oscar winning Leading Lady in the 1970's, moving smoothly into character roles in the '80s, and according to this documentary, since the 1990's, the go to actress for playing the lovely cantankerous delightful old women we've all come to know and love her as. This documentary only covers choice moments, and she's a subject that could have had more time and still remain amazing to view.
There are clips from about a dozen of her movies, starting with "The VIP's" and concluding with the trailer of the second "Downton Abbey" movie, and in editing this down for a 90 minute television airing, the inclusion of many great moments are limited. There is not great detail about her early years, simply how she went from acting student to Broadway, back to London and then to the National Theater, the big movie break that got her the first Oscar, followed by selected clips and interviews with Maggie herself (not done for this), as well as commentary from coworkers such as Samantha Bond, Miriam Margolyes, Alan Bennett and Simon Calllow, as well as young actors in the business obviously influenced by her and devoted fans.
These commentators given insight as to her desire for privacy and her professional habits, as well as to how she takes on a character and makes it her own or add something fresh not necessarily in the script, as well as her less imperious moments, getting to show the great lady in every single light. Certainly I would have loved to see her dealing with Truman Capote being murdered on screen in "Murder by Death", taking on both Bette Davis and Diana Rigg in film adoptions of Agatha Christie novels, and telling off fellow dame Sian Philips in "Clash of the Titans" with a plaster talking head. But the film clips they use are good choices, although it's perplexing that her Tony clip of "Lettice and Lovage" wasn't used or any mention of that successful play from both sides of the pond
But fortunately all of those films are easily available to see as well as the TV clips and interviews in their entirety, so the 67 minutes just gives a glimpse into this great life and brings on so many memories not exposed here that celebrates a very deserving lady. It's done with great love, and it's obvious that everybody present had great respect for the subject they are discussing. It would have been more complete with other actors other than those from "Downton" and "Harry Potter", but then again, if the documentary on Dame Maggie Smith was as I describe, it would be the length of all of the "Downton" episodes and "Harry Potter" movies combined, so I can say honestly that I'm pleased with what has been done to honor her.
There are clips from about a dozen of her movies, starting with "The VIP's" and concluding with the trailer of the second "Downton Abbey" movie, and in editing this down for a 90 minute television airing, the inclusion of many great moments are limited. There is not great detail about her early years, simply how she went from acting student to Broadway, back to London and then to the National Theater, the big movie break that got her the first Oscar, followed by selected clips and interviews with Maggie herself (not done for this), as well as commentary from coworkers such as Samantha Bond, Miriam Margolyes, Alan Bennett and Simon Calllow, as well as young actors in the business obviously influenced by her and devoted fans.
These commentators given insight as to her desire for privacy and her professional habits, as well as to how she takes on a character and makes it her own or add something fresh not necessarily in the script, as well as her less imperious moments, getting to show the great lady in every single light. Certainly I would have loved to see her dealing with Truman Capote being murdered on screen in "Murder by Death", taking on both Bette Davis and Diana Rigg in film adoptions of Agatha Christie novels, and telling off fellow dame Sian Philips in "Clash of the Titans" with a plaster talking head. But the film clips they use are good choices, although it's perplexing that her Tony clip of "Lettice and Lovage" wasn't used or any mention of that successful play from both sides of the pond
But fortunately all of those films are easily available to see as well as the TV clips and interviews in their entirety, so the 67 minutes just gives a glimpse into this great life and brings on so many memories not exposed here that celebrates a very deserving lady. It's done with great love, and it's obvious that everybody present had great respect for the subject they are discussing. It would have been more complete with other actors other than those from "Downton" and "Harry Potter", but then again, if the documentary on Dame Maggie Smith was as I describe, it would be the length of all of the "Downton" episodes and "Harry Potter" movies combined, so I can say honestly that I'm pleased with what has been done to honor her.
