The Dresser( 1983)

TV-MADrama

67%

User
Score

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

Overview

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.

Top Billed 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 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)

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Review 1Discussion

A review by SplintDixon

NaN

Written by SplintDixon on Sat Jan 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 (th...