The Dresser (2015)

A drama, based on a successful play, about an aging actor (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and his personal assistant (Sir Ian McKellen).

Director:

Richard Eyre

Writers:

Richard Eyre (adapted by), Ronald Harwood (based on the play by)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Emily Watson

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anthony Hopkins	...	Sir
Ian McKellen	...	Norman
Emily Watson	...	Her Ladyship
Sarah Lancashire	...	Madge
Edward Fox	...	Thornton
Vanessa Kirby	...	Irene
Tom Brooke	...	Oxenby
Ian Conningham	...	Kent
John Ashton	...	Gloucester
Helen Bradbury	...	Regan
Annalisa Rossi	...	Goneril
Carl Sanderson	...	Cornwall
Matthew Cottle	...	Albany
Martin Chamberlain	...	Gentleman

Storyline

In the closing months of World War II aging actor Sir (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Her Ladyship (Emily Watson) bring Shakespeare to the provinces with a company depleted by conscription. Sir is plainly unwell, discharging himself from the hospital and Her Ladyship believes he should cancel his upcoming performance of "King Lear". However, Norman (Sir Ian McKellen), his outspoken, gay dresser disagrees, and is determined that the show will go on, cajoling the confused Sir into giving a performance, one which will be his swan song. At the same time, drawing a parallel between King Lear and his fool as Norman, despite ultimate disappointment, serves his master.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | world war two | personal assistant | older man younger woman relationship | deathbed | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was released thirty-five years after its source play of the same name, by playwright Ronald Harwood, had been first performed. As such, its production celebrated the 35th Anniversary of Harwood's stage play.

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Connections

Version of The Dresser (1983)

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Soundtracks

Fanfare
Composed and Performed by Randy Dunn

User Reviews

'The Dresser': A Great Cast Spins Some Gold

The new BBC-Starz production of Ronald Harwood's 'The Dresser' is a riveting play-within-a-play and then some that throws its arms around the subjects of life, lessened dreams and simply getting on with it.

Directed and adapted by Richard Eyre with a cast headed by Ian McKellen, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Watson, the work focuses on a Shakespearean troupe that tours the outskirts of England (very pointedly, not London) during the bombing, quite literally, of that country during World War II.

Each night the troupe performs a different Shakespearean play, come hell or high water. Tonight, it's "King Lear," with Hopkins's character, who is called Sir (for the outside hope that he will one day be knighted by the Queen), in the lead.

Attending him backstage is his loyal dresser _ his costume man _ Norman, played by Ian McKellen.

What transpires is a nigh-on perfect production (Rotten Tomatoes gave it a perfect 100%) that sails along all too quickly with no down spots, not only giving us a dead-on accurate view of the theatrical world and those who dedicate their lives to it if even in the shadows, but as fine a treatise on life and love as you've experienced in any medium anywhere, at any time.

The story opens as we await the arrival of Sir from the hospital, with a conversation between the long-suffering dresser Norman and Her Ladyship (Emily Watson, in another terrific turn), an aging actress pressed into playing one of Lear's daughters, Cordelia, who knows she's too old for the role _ slashing reviews never let her forget it _ but who stays with it because of her love for Sir and the hope he will leave the business and settle down with her.

Ah, but Her Ladyship isn't the only woman in love with Sir. There's also Madge, the tough stage manager. As played by the wildly versatile Sarah Lancashire, whom we've seen portray everything from hard-bitten cops to frazzled shopkeepers, it's a character with more layers than the proverbial onion.

What's wrong with Sir, is it a physical problem or mental? Will he survive? Will he show up?

When the old actor finally does arrive backstage spouting a riff of quotations, his own mixed with Shakespeare's, we worry that he might expire before he can be carted before the footlights.

Watching McKellen and Hopkins in apparently their first performance together is like watching two world-class surgeons at the top of their games doing open-heart surgery on the same patient at the same time. It's overwhelming. But the good news is that the two great actors don't compete for attention and become show-boats. Instead they have a mutual trust and respect for each other that is palpable. The characters benefit greatly from this, and so do we.

One of the production's most effective, poignant and revealing moments is provided by the veteran actor Edward Fox, who portrays a supporting performer trapped in a "play-as-cast" cycle, lesser parts falling somewhere between cameos and spear carriers. His final speech to Sir not only encapsulates the lot of actors universally, but the needs and longings of people outside the business as well.

"The Dresser" has been previously presented in the U.K. and on Broadway, as well as in a 1983 film, but this version takes a back seat to none other and may well be the best offering yet. It comes with the highest recommendation.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dresser

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Playground Entertainment, Sonia Friedman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD