Jean Brodie

Miss Brodie is a highly idealistic character with an exaggerated romantic view of the world; many of her catchphrases have become clichés in the English language.

Being adapted for stage and screen by Jay Presson Allen, the story is told in a largely linear fashion.

It begins in 1932, after Miss Brodie has returned from her summer holidays in Italy, having realized her prime is upon her.

She is determined that one of her girls become the lover of the school's art master as her proxy, and seeks a way to make this happen.

Another incident involves her encouraging a girl in her class to run to Spain and fight for the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, which results in her death from the bombing of her train.

In the climactic scene of the film, Miss Brodie confronts Sandy, and she is pointedly told that she is "not good for people, and children should not be exposed to you."

The film closes poignantly with a shot of Sandy tearfully walking along after graduation as we hear a voice-over of Miss Brodie saying "Little girls, I am in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders, and all my pupils are the creme de la creme.

An active teacher while fascism was gaining popularity in Europe, she openly admires Benito Mussolini and praises him in her class.

Her advocacy of fascism comes into play when she persuades a troublesome girl to fight for Francisco Franco, which ultimately leads to tragedy.

The character Domenica Macdonald in the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith, taking place in contemporary Edinburgh, is compared to Jean Brodie by another character in the book (but sharing none of Brodie's attraction to fascism) and critics noted the comparison.

When the play moved to Broadway in 1968, Miss Brodie was portrayed by Zoe Caldwell, who won a Tony Award for her role.