Dirk Bogarde - The Screen Icons Collection Reviews

Nightmare in Knightsbridge

The Servant is odd, but a timeless masterpiece, whether viewers like it or not. But this Pinter adaptation is not meant to be liked. It is unsettling but riddled with clues that you are too engrossed to notice as you watch. And it has a voyeuristic quality that makes it seem very modern.

Tony is too trusting, but he is rich and thinks himself infallible and 'Barrett' is a consummate con artist The tension comes from knowing what this 'gentlemen's gentleman's game is, when 'sir' doesn't. It is a pleasure to watch two well cast actors get so involved in their roles. The verbal and physical sparring matches between Dirk Bogard and James Fox are well worth a viewing if you are one who loves to watch actors really relishing their work.

The house 'Sir' and The Servant live in, though claustrophobic from the start, slowly descends into little more than a cesspool even though it doesn't change much physically, but the mirror on the wall tells no lies. Sara Miles at her most nubile as the 'sister' cum 'bait' effortlessly unleashes sir's formerly hidden, but totally unruly appetites, rendering him totally disinterested in his high brow 'lady' love.

We know the roles between master and servant will inevitably reverse, but the most fascinating part is in seeing how it all comes together, or falls apart.

Let's play Master and Servant

Utterly compelling and beautifully shot and acted, this is a disturbing and haunting movie. Dirk Bogarde reveals another side to his nature with his performance, and dispels forever the character of Simon Sparrow in the Doctor movies made a few years before.

You just can't get the staff these days

According the Phillip Larkin, sex began in 1963 sometime between the Lady Chatterley trial and the Beatles first LP. Judging by this curious British film, released in that year, things very quickly began to get out of hand.

Harold Pinter scripts this tale of an upper class businessman Tony (James Fox) who hires a manservant Barrett (Dirk Bogarde) to set up home for him in a Chelsea townhouse. Vaguely uneasy from the start, their relationship begins to strain when Barrett takes against Tony's fiancé Susan (Wendy Craig).

Bogarde is excellent as the brooding Northern servant Barrett and a young James Fox is equally mesmerising as the louche Tony, frittering away his inheritance on suspect property speculation.

From the outset you could cut the atmosphere of repressed homoeroticism with a carefully polished silver knife but there seems to be a strange coyness in its treatment. Perhaps as a result, the Servant boasts some laughably awkward sex scenes.

Ultimately it's an engaging psychological study which loses its way towards the end as it veers, thanks one suspects to Pinter, towards theatrical melodrama.

[Highly rated reviewer]

The Accident - A bit dull

The Accident is the one I've seen. It's based on a Harold Pinter play, and feels very staged. It's all about divorce and infidelity and young love and all that stuff, but is overall a bit dull.

Pinter-esque

In the 60s, Pinter was the 'emperor's new clothes,' If you didn't like his work, it was because you were flawed. This potential psycho-drama, with strong homo-erotic undertones, degenerates into a meaningless farce after a promising, if somewhat dated, beginning.

It certainly has its moments, but these decrease as the tale heads towards its enigmatic and clumsy final scenes.

Sarah Miles is a voyeur's dream, reminding us that you don't have to get your kit off to be provocative.

There is an unexpected and un-credited appearance by legendary folk blues singer/guitarist Davey Graham. The only time I have ever seen him in any type of film.

Moody and Intriguing

Dirk Bogarde seems well cast as the Gentleman's Gentleman in this film noir. Wendy Craig in an early role, plays the well bred side of the desperate love interest. The inevitable love triangle which develops, but not in the way you might think, is subtly done. As is the suspiciously close relationship which develops between the two men later in the film.

I enjoyed it, a bit depressing especially for any alcoholics watching. Recommended.

Dated pyscho drama...

I can imagine in its day that this film was innovative and disturbing - but today it just looks dated. The acting is excellent all round and the look of the film is good too - the problem is that you just can't quite believe the hold Bogarde gains over Fox and as a result the whole thing begins to look a bit silly.

Amazing!

This is one of the scariest films i have ever seen. Deeply disturbing, it shows how one mans manipulation can lead another to a complete mental breakdown. Fantastic watch, marvellous performance by Dirk Bogarde - definitely five stars!

exellent film

dirg bogarde is the one.very good film,a must see film.

ahead of its time

This classic piece of cinema is truly ahead of its time. With underlying taboo topics such as gay relationships, orgys and drugs this film would have pushed the boundarys on its release in the early 60's. The story revolves around 4 characters, a high flying aristocrat, his suspicious girlfriend, his newly aquired man servant and the servants sister. Its a rollercoaster of social hierarchy and battle for sexual identity. Dark and seedy but with the but delivered with the expected style and class of movies in that era. Bogarde delivers the most convincing performance as the sly deviant man servant whilst the other cast portray their characters well but definatly not of the same class. An Ending thats bizarre and disturbing earning it the cult status it deserves.