Dresser, The
- Synopsis
- A film adaptation by Ronald Harwood of his own play, based on the touring career of Donald Wolfit, for whom Harwood was the dresser. The story relates the complex relationship between Sir, an ageing Shakespearean actor-manager on a provincial tour of England during World War II, and Norman, his gay dresser. Their difficult but mutually dependent (if unacknowledged) relationship resembles that of Lear and the Fool. The film focuses strongly on ‘Sir’s’ performance of King Lear where he comes to see the resemblance between himself and the tragic role he plays. There are also quotations from several other plays and a brief performance of ‘Sir’ as Othello (the death scene) at the beginning of the film.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Film; Video
- Technical information
- Colour / Sound
- Year of release
- 1983
- Duration
- 118 mins; 10,657 feet
Credits
- Director
- Peter Yates
- Producer
- Peter Yates
- Cinematographer
- Kelvin Pike
- Screenplay
- Ronald Harwood
- Music
- James Horner
- Production Design
- Stephen B. Grimes
- Art Direction
- Colin Grimes
- Cast
Albert Finney `Sir’ (Lear) Edward Fox Oxenby Eileen Atkins Madge Tom Courtenay Norman Zena Walker `Her Ladyship’
Additional Details
- Theatre
- Alhambra, Bradford
- Production type
- Fiction Films
- Plays
- King Lear; Othello
- Subjects
- Drama
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Wolfit, Donald; Touring productions
Notes
- General
- The theatre scenes were filmed at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford.
- History
- The stage play opened at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester on 6 March 1980 and later played in London and on Broadway,
- Awards
- The film received 5 Academy Award nominations and 7 nominations for BAFTA Film Awards but did not win any. Tom Courtenay won a Golden Globe for his role as Norman.
- Reviews
- Lanier, Douglas, ‘Shakespeare Spin-Offs and Citations’ in Burt, Richard (ed). Shakespeares After Shakespeares: an Encyclopedia of the Bard in Mass Media and Popular Culture. (entry 801, p191-2). Lanier notes that the film is ‘also a portrait of the ambivalent cultural legacy of Shakespearean theatre at a definitive moment of its decline’.
Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times (1st January 1983).
Monthly Film Bulletin v.51, n603 (1 April 1984) p10-12
Production Company
Distributor (Hire)
- Name
Filmbankmedia
- info@filmbankmedia.com
- Web
- https://www.filmbankmedia.com/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- +44 (0) 20 3866 6525
- Address
- 1st Floor, 67-74 Saffron Hill
London
EC1N 8QX
UK - Notes
- The main source in the UK for hire of feature films for non-theatrical presentations. The extensive catalogue includes vintage classics, independent films and big blockbusters. Available on 16mm as well as VHS and DVD. Also provides advice on contractual matters.
Distributor (Sale)
- Name
Retail outlets
How to cite this record
Shakespeare, "Dresser, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/6048 (Accessed 19 Sep 2024)