Maggie Smith died on Friday at the age of 89. The British actress was a legend both on stage and in front of the camera. She leaves behind a body of work that spans seven decades and has given us one of the most iconic figures in modern pop culture: Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. She has been a crucial part of the wizarding world since first year.
Of the many incredibly good casting decisions made over the course of the Harry Potter series, Smith’s casting as Gryffindor Head of House Minerva McGonagall stands out. From the outset there is something deeply teacherly embedded in her performance – one certain severity, a scrutinizing look. But the first scene of the fantasy saga proves that her McGonagall is so much more.
From the very first scene in The Sorcerer’s Stone, Maggie Smith was an important part of the Harry Potter universe
The Harry Potter story begins at night. A strangely dressed man walks through Privet Drive and steals the lights from the lanterns. He doesn’t want to be recognized, everything is secret. Despite the precautions, it doesn’t take long before he realizes he’s being watched –
from a cat. Before we know it, this cat turns into a woman, a witch: Professor McGonagall.
It’s the first big wow factor of the Harry Potter films. A scene that can only exist in fantasy cinema, a transformation that takes us all the way to… Roots of moving images and reminds us of the shadows with which monsters were transformed in expressionism from Caligari to Nosferatu or later in Universal’s monster films. But this cat is not a monster, but a teacher.
Of course, Professor McGonagall can be intimidating. She takes the rules very seriously and hers always tense corners of the mouth It’s a mystery as to whether she’s ever laughed at a joke in her life. Her mind is probably still on page 394 of the textbook that she read last night before falling asleep. With a green felt hat and cape, she looks like the most conservative version of a witch.
Maggie Smith’s McGonagall doesn’t have the deep, soothing voice of Dumbledore, nor is she introduced to us as a giant cuddly bear like Hagrid. Instead, she enters the film with skeptical words that make her seem cold and lacking in empathy. Exactly the opposite is the case: McGonagall’s words resonate wrenching worry with her, because she can already see the entire picture now – on this foggy night.
Never the center of attention, but always there: Maggie Smith was a calming, knowing presence over Hogwarts
Eight films follow the mysterious prologue, which confirm McGonagall’s premonition in every respect. In a way, this makes Maggie Smith one of the pillars of the Harry Potter universe and Hogwarts in particular. Although her McGonagall was never given the honor of teaching like Lupin, Lockhart and Co. for a school year in the foreground It was impossible to imagine the school without her.
She puts the sorting hat on the first graders and sends them to detention if one of the school rules is broken. No matter whether Gryffindor or Slytherin: Despite her position as head of house, she takes impartial action and asks the unpleasant questions is loyal to the school. If it weren’t for someone like Snape, Transfiguration could quickly become McGonagall’s most annoying school subject.
As in the first scene, behind this brash facade there is a much deeper figure: Smith’s McGonagall has not come to judge. She sees much morefor example the talent of a Seeker for the next Quidditch season, and uses subtle gestures to shift the focus on the caustic everyday school life. Petting an owl is enough to position McGonagall as an unlikely ally at Hogwarts.
Such characters appear again and again in storytelling. You think they’re standing in the way and trying to spoil the fun, but in reality they’re showing a level of fairness through their strictness Puts ideals to the test. They only unpack at key moments. Maggie Smith did a great job of channeling McGonagall’s reserve before unleashing the character in razor-sharp punchlines.
No other character represents Hogwarts as much as Maggie Smith’s McGonagall – not even Dumbledore
It happens all too easily for someone like McGonagall to go to Comic Relief and onto one oblique property reduced becomes. The odd caretaker Filch is the best example of this. But even if McGonagall from one “embarrassing, mad gang of howler monkeys” (in the original: “Babbling bumbling band of baboons”) speaks, which certainly makes you smile, Smith increases the character’s authority through her acting.
There stands McGonagall and at first glance it seems as if she is clinging to an old tradition, the Yule Ball, that should have been overtaken long ago. However, she secretly tries to keep the students away Beauty of this dance in three-four time to tell what becomes clear when the music starts at the latest. Completely relaxed, she leads Ron around the room, who doesn’t even know what’s happening to him.
It is a moment that belongs to McGonagall alone and is later given a touching echo when Dumbledore asks her to dance at the ball. The teacher’s coat falls briefly and you spies a completely different person, that one would never have thought possible in the halls of Hogwarts. But that’s exactly what makes Smith’s performance so magical: her McGonagall brings more life to the castle than few other characters.
Basically she is silent conscience of Hogwarts. She takes in all the hustle and bustle. Sometimes she exhaustedly asks Harry, Hermione and Ron why these three of all people always cause trouble. Sometimes she comforts Professor Trelawney and leads her back to school. Sometimes she leads Hogwarts into battle. McGonagall as a surrogate mother, friend, as a heroine – yes, Smith also comes across as extremely strong in this version.
One of the most emotional moments in the entire Harry Potter series belongs to Maggie Smith
When McGonagall stands protectively in front of Harry in the finale to defend him against Snape, a former colleague, Maggie Smith balances one of the strongest and most complex emotions in the entire series. Pent-up feelings from eight films are unloaded at this moment and once again McGonagall proves to be the unexpected ally who has been there all along.
Now if we look at the prologue again and look into McGonagall’s worried eyes, it seems as if Maggie Smith already knew how the story ends. She created her character in such a way that the films would appear again and again return to her arms to get advice and take a deep breath. In the end, everyone at Hogwarts wants to be seen by McGonagall because you know she really sees you.