6.7
In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand - the dresser, is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support the deteriorating star as the company struggles to carry on during the London blitz. The pathos of his backstage efforts rival the pathos in the story of Lear and the Fool that is being presented on-stage, as the situation comes to a crisis.
Albert Finney
Sir
Tom Courtenay
Norman
Edward Fox
Oxenby
Zena Walker
Her Ladyship
Eileen Atkins
Madge
Michael Gough
Frank Carrington
Cathryn Harrison
Irene
Betty Marsden
Violet Manning
Sheila Reid
Lydia Gibson
Lockwood West
Geoffrey Thornton
Donald Eccles
Mr. Godstone
Llewellyn Rees
Horace Brown
Guy Manning
Benton
Anne Blackman
Beryl
Kevin Stoney
C. Rivers Lane
Ann Way
Miss White
John Sharp
Mr. Bottomley
Kathy Staff
Bombazine Woman
Roger Avon
Charles
Christopher Irvin
Evelyn the Airman
Stuart Richman
Evelyn's Friend
Sandra Gough
Actress on Station
Joe Belcher
Arthur
Johnny Maxfield
Electrician
Paul Luty
Stallkeeper
Lori Wells
Barmaid
Alan Starkey
Train Guard
Ralph G. Morse
Man at Station (uncredited)
Director
Peter Yates
Screenplay, Theatre Play
Ronald Harwood
January 23, 2021
Just watched the Dresser tonight. This movie was nominated for best picture of 1983, best director, best actor (Albert Finney & Tom Courtenay) and best Screenplay from another medium. Courtenay won a Golden Globe for best actor. So, on to the movie.
I don't need to give the synopsis because you can find it easily. Did I like it? At first it was pretty dull and the main character is really an over the top diva. His dresser works feverishly to please him. When we later find out something isn't quite right with Sir (played brilliantly by Sir Albert Finney) chaos takes over but Norman (the dresser played by Tom Courtenay) does his very best to keep things together.
Most of the movies is this one long night and for someone who knows little about theater, the movie gives you a great behind the scenes look at a mid 20th century theater production. Assuming it's pretty real. Lots of cool stuff to take in here and this is when the movie really started to grab me. I started to root for the "show to go on".
The final act is a little hard to swallow but it certainly keeps you thinking up until the end and also makes you really understand the relationship between the Sir and Norman.
While I do feel this movie was a little over the top, it was by design, I believe. It was written with Shakespeare as the backdrop and it was also written by a dresser from the 1950's. My guess, is it was fairly accurate with some added topping to give it a little extra. Was it a best picture nominee for 1983? You be the judge but I can certainly find more than 4 movies that are better.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00