The Dresser (1983)

Director:

Peter Yates

Writer:

Ronald Harwood (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 December 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What happens backstage is always true drama. And often pure comedy.

Plot:

An effeminate personal assistant of a deteriorating veteran actor struggles to get him through a difficult performance of King Lear.

Plot Keywords:

Backstage | Actor | Theater | 1940s | Shakespeare's King Lear

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

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 Mannion	...	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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Morse	...	Man at Station

Directed by
Peter Yates

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ronald Harwood		screenplay

Produced by
Ronald Harwood	....	producer
Nigel Wooll	....	associate producer
Peter Yates	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Kelvin Pike		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ray Lovejoy

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
Colin Grimes

Set Decoration by
Josie MacAvin

Costume Design by
Rosemary Burrows
H. Nathan

Makeup Department
Alan Boyle	....	makeup artist
Alan Brownie	....	makeup assistant
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist
Joan White	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Aherne	....	third assistant director
Andy Armstrong	....	first assistant director
Christopher Figg	....	second assistant director
Asad Qureshi	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Chisholm	....	property master
Geoff Langley	....	construction manager
Graham Menage	....	scenic artist
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist
Terry Perks	....	stand-by props
Jill Quertier	....	property buyer
Rosalind Shingleton	....	draughtsperson
Micky Swift	....	stand-by props
Duncan Guest	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Chandler	....	boom operator
John Hayward	....	dubbing mixer
Stephen Janisz	....	assistant dubbing editor
David John	....	sound mixer
Matthew Launay	....	sound maintenance
Peter Pennell	....	dubbing editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Batt	....	camera grip
Gordon Gowing	....	best boy
Dewi Humphreys	....	camera operator
Paul Kenward	....	assistant camera
Barry Peake	....	still photographer
Peter Robinson	....	camera focus
Freddie Webster	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Dorothy Andrew	....	crowd casting (as Dorothy Andrews)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe supervisor
Eve Faloon	....	wardrobe assistant
Ken Lawton	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Helen Eley	....	second assistant editor
Gordon Stainforth	....	assistant film editor
Toby Yates	....	editor trainee

Music Department
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recording engineer
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Garry Clark	....	unit driver

Other crew
Virginia Ashton	....	secretary to producer
Simon Finney	....	unit runner
Carl S. Griffin	....	assistant accountant
Joy Helman	....	publicist
Jak King	....	production accountant
Michael John Knatchbull	....	location manager
Rachel Neale	....	production coordinator
Caroline Sax	....	continuity

Thanks
Paul Andrews	....	the producers would also like to thank The Alhambra Theatre Manager for their assistance during the making of this picture
Fred Wade	....	the producers would also like to thank the stage crew under the supervision of, for their assistance during the making of this picture

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Goldcrest Films International
• World Film Services

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes
• Citizens of Bradford and Halifax, The  the producers would also like to thank for their assistance during the making of this picture
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lord Mayor, Bradford City Council, The  the producers would also like to thank for their assistance during the making of this picture
• Olympic Studios  music recorded at
• Pinewood Studios  re-recording facilities
• Rank Film Laboratories  titles and opticals
• Staff and crew of British Rail Eastern Region (York), The  the producers would also like to thank for their assistance during the making of this picture
• West Yorkshire Police  the producers would also like to thank for their assistance during the making of this picture
• Wig Creations of London  wigs

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | UK:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The Dresser" by Ronald Harwood opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York on November 6, 1981, ran for 200 performances and was nominated for the 1982 Tony Award for the Best Play. Ronald Harwood also wrote the screenplay for the filmed production.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After Sir and Norman leave the marketplace, they're passed by a Routemaster bus. These buses were first used in London in 1954, and weren't used outside London until the 1970's.

Quotes:

[as a train is leaving a station]
Sir: Stop that train!
[the train stops at once]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: The Honeymoon's Overboard (#6.1)" (1998)

Simply Stated: Terrific. Courtney and Finney shine.

This film has its detractors, and Courtney's fey dresser may offend some folks (who, frankly, need a good smack upside the head) -- but the film is top notch in every way: engaging, poignant, relevant. Finney, naturally, is larger than life. Courtney makes an ideal foil. I thought the performances to be terribly strong in both leads, and Courtney's character provides plenty of dark humor. The period is well captured, the supporting cast well chosen. This is to be seen and savored like a fine cordial. I only wish it were out on DVD already...(*sigh*)...