An Englishman Abroad

I saw this when it fist appeared on tv, and fell in love with it. An absolute delight, but sad at the same time. After many years I stumbled upon in on VHS, so can now watch it whenever I choose. Well worth watching! Browne and Bates are stunning.

British made drama based on a true story of a chance meeting in Moscow in the early 60's between an english actress and a british double agent and soviet spy. Coral Browne was part of a cultural exchange tour in 1961 between Great Britain and the Soviet Union touring and giving performances as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. One night following a performance in a Moscow theatre she is approached by a familiar looking gentleman. The man turns out to be the traitor and double agent Guy Burgess now residing permanently in the USSR. Oddly they strike up a friendship and he offers her the hospitality of his small apartment as well as an insiders view of being an honoured if not trusted but permanent houseguest living in a totalitarian state. It is the height of the cold war and even he is followed and surveilled upon. Life it seems is not all bread and roses in the utopian state and Burgess confides in her an aching home sickness for his homeland and even the simplest pleasures of english life. He particularly bemoans the unavailability of certain luxury items and being a dapper young man in his Cambridge days is at a loss even to find a really good suit behind the entire iron curtain. Coral touched by his predicament offers to help. Enough said.

The collusion of director John Schlesinger and writer Alan Bennett have produced an exceptional drama which won a few BAFTA awards following its release in 1993. The performances are highlighted by Alan Bates sad self deprecating portrayal as Guy Burgess and some effortless acting by Coral Browne who plays herself with aplomb. A bit like John Malkovich playing John Malkovich but with an interesting edge. The story also gives us some interesting vignettes into soviet life. When they find their hotel bath is minus a plug, Coral and a fellow actor in fun complain loudly to the hidden microphones. Five minutes later to their amazement the concierge knocks on their door with a...you guessed it. In the end the drama offers its own conclusion on betrayal and those who practise it. As Coral a loyal englishwoman herself accurately summed up to Burgess with whom she sympathised to some extent. "You p***ed in our soup....and we drank it". In other words whatever my personal friendship for you some sins are unforgiveable. This is the life you have unwittingly chosen for yourself. Enjoy...

The story is well outlined in another review, so I will relay a fascinating and true prelude. Coral Browne was a very dear friend and we would often go to early movies, enjoy a dinner and sometimes chat until the wee hours. On one particular evening we ended up in the garden and she said she had a story to tell and she also had great hopes to see it made into a film. Well, she proceeded to relate ( as only she could) this amazing saga. We were spellbound. She then said she wanted Alan Bennett to write the screenplay, Alan Bates to play Burgess and, of course, John Schlesinger to direct. Naturally, she would play herself. Typically, Coral had done it all in her mind and was ready to go. There developed one hitch, Bates was tied up for another film, so the fine actor, Dirk Bogarde, was considered; but as time passed, Bates was free and eagerly joined the project. Coral had her first choices and this group of brilliant film makers turned out a masterpiece... a must see film.

Directed by John Schlesinger. This award laden BBC television movie was based on a true incident involving Australian actress Coral Browne and exiled spy Guy Burgess in Moscow.

Adapted by Alan Bennett. In his introduction at the repeat showing in 2023 talked about how the film was an attack on a Britain destroyed by Margaret Thatcher.

Alan Bates plays Burgess as man for whom the Soviet Union is boring, very much like the British Establishment he worked for. The romance of communism was a myth. Wherever you went in 1950s Europe, life was grey for most.

When he turns up at Browne's dressing room during a performance of Hamlet. Burgess throws up and then invites her for lunch in his flat.

Browne eventually manages to find his grubby apartment and sees first hand his gloomy existence.

The very least Browne could do is to comply with his request to send some new clothing over to him upon her return to England.

Filmed in Dundee which doubles for drab Moscow. The film is as charming as Bate's characterisation of Burgess. I'm not sure the real Burgess was as effervescent as that in real life. He might had drunk a lot to pass the time in his Moscow flat.

Bennett peppers his film with some interesting side characters. The two slightly camp men from the British Embassy wanting to know what Burgess wanted from Browne. Sneering and comedic at the same time. The kind of quaint charm that Burgess once engaged with.

In Britain, Browne meets a tailor who still remembers the customer called G Burgess who has gone away. Still happy to rustle up a suit for him that will wear well at his new home with discretion totally assured. On the other hand another shop refused to supply pyjamas to the treacherous traitor.

At the end a dandified Burgess walks around Moscow while Gilbert and Sullivan's For he is an Englishman is played. I wonder if the title An Englishman Abroad inspired the pop singer Sting to write a song about Quentin Crisp.

I watch it every time it comes on TV. Alan Bates is perfect and the fact that Coral Brown plays her younger self is so perceptive - she's an old woman in the play - does she play herself exactly as she was - if so she was old before her time. Russia looks so grey - it makes London look bright and bustling. And the final scene makes the whole thing worth it.