"ONE OF THE MOST INSIGHTFUL FILMS EVER MADE
ABOUT THE BRITISH CLASS SYSTEM!"
— Tom Huddleston, Time Out London
"ONE OF THE MOST INSIGHTFUL FILMS EVER MADE
ABOUT THE BRITISH CLASS SYSTEM!"
— Tom Huddleston, Time Out London
United Kingdom, 1963
Director: Joseph Losey
Producer: Joseph Losey, Norman Priggen
Cast: Dirk Bogarde, James Fox, Sarah Miles, Wendy Craig
Screenwriter: Harold Pinter
Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Music: John Dankworth
Song: "All Gone" sung by Cleo Laine
Genre: Drama
Black & White
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Language: English
Running Time: 115 minutes
Synopsis:
Posh Tony (James Fox) hires the seemingly proper and very attentive Barrett (Dirk Bogarde) as his manservant. Soon Tony’s lady friend, Susan (Wendy Craig) disapproves of the ever-unflappable Barrett, which causes a strain in the couple’s relationship. When Barrett’s “sister” Vera (Sarah Miles) arrives to stay, the situation descends into depravity, with the servant vying to become the new master of the house.
Awards and Recognition:
Best British Actor - Dirk Bogarde, Best British Cinematography Black & White, Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles - James Fox (BAFTA Awards, 1964)
Best British Film, Best British Actress - Sarah Miles, Best British Screenplay, Best Film from Any Source, Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles - Wendy Craig nominations (BAFTA Awards, 1964)
Best Cinematography (British Society of Cinematographers, 1963)
Best Screenplay, 2nd Place Best Actor - Dirk Bogarde (New York Film Critics Circle Awards, 1964)
Best Dramatic Screenplay (Writers' Guild of Great Britain, 1964)
Best Foreign Director (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists, 1966)
Golden Lion nomination (Venice Film Festival, 1963)
Official British entry to the first New York Film Festival, 1963
Restoration:
Restored in 4K by Studiocanal in 2021 at Silver Salt Laboratory from an original negative
"A PERFECT STORM OF PERVERSITY!"
— David Fear, Time Out New York
"The polar caps might be crumbling, but not even the passage of half a century has taken the frozen edge off this brilliantly icy film."
— Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"The Servant quickly confounds expectations."
— Zachary Wigon, Village Voice