This is one of those films that captures perfectly point in time: Summer; Youth; birth, death and middle age crisis.
And could this be Dirk Bogarde's finest cinematic performance?
It seems to help that the character's resemblance to the actor is entirely superficial. Losey gets him to give a beautifully nuanced performance of a flawed but fundamentally decent man at a pivot-point in his life. There's nothing OTT or camp here. And whilst Jaqueline Sassard's character isn't really interested in any of the males who swarm around her, she does seem to like Stephen the most, inasmuch as she seems capable of any relationship at this point of her life.
Lovely piece. The women make this film, eg. a memorable cameo by Mrs. Pinter, Vivien Merchant (apparently half-pissed on the day it was shot) as Baker's deceived wife, and a lamguid Delphine Seyrig. A souvenir of the entente cordiale, before Brexit and exile.
This is one of those films that captures perfectly point in time: Summer; Youth; birth, death and middle age crisis.
And could this be Dirk Bogarde's finest cinematic performance?
It seems to help that the character's resemblance to the actor is entirely superficial. Losey gets him to give a beautifully nuanced performance of a flawed but fundamentally decent man at a pivot-point in his life. There's nothing OTT or camp here. And whilst Jaqueline Sassard's character isn't really interested in any of the males who swarm around her, she does seem to like Stephen the most, inasmuch as she seems capable of any relationship at this point of her life.
Lovely piece. The women make this film, eg. a memorable cameo by Mrs. Pinter, Vivien Merchant (apparently half-pissed on the day it was shot) as Baker's deceived wife, and a lamguid Delphine Seyrig. A souvenir of the entente cordiale, before Brexit and exile.
That’s very kind. I should have mentioned Vivien Merchant watering the garden in the rain- and the restaurant scene. Brilliant editing.