\u201cThe Dresser\u201d is a very odd film.\u00a0 It\u2019s based on a stage play and since it involves the staging of a performance of King Lear, you could say theater suffuses the movie.\u00a0 It takes place in England during WWII.\u00a0 Albert Finney plays Sir; an aged Shakespearean actor of the old school, full of exaggerated gestures and overblown histrionic elocution. \u00a0He leads a company of actors travelling around Britain performing Shakespeare to the wartime population.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not going well.\u00a0 Because of the draft, Sir declares that he must find his actors from amongst, \u201cold men, cripples and nancy-boys.\u201d\u00a0 And he says this to his dresser Norman even though Norman is obviously one of those nancy-boys.<\/p>\n
Tom Courtenay plays Norman as a somewhat flamboyant homosexual who assists Sir in preparing for his performances.\u00a0 He bathes him, helps him apply his make-up and if necessary, reminds him of his lines from the wings.\u00a0 But this assistance has of late become much more difficult because Sir seems to be having a mental and physical breakdown.\u00a0 He becomes incoherent and agitated and is liable to run screaming through the streets shouting that he can\u2019t go on.<\/p>\n
On the day of his first performance in a new city he is hospitalized because of one of these fits coming upon him in public.\u00a0 And the company and especially Madge the business manager are convinced that Sir has reached the end of his career and must retire to a rest home.\u00a0 But when he shows up back at the theater Norman uses all of his knowledge of Sir\u2019s psychology to calm him and orient him into the mental state needed to perform the part of King Lear.\u00a0 Using visual and vocal cues he walks him through the ritual by which the make-up and costume of Lear bring Sir back into the mindset needed to perform.<\/p>\n
And that is the film; Norman coaching, praising, wheedling and sometimes chastising the old man into producing a performance of Lear that the audience receives enthusiastically.\u00a0 And during the performance and the breaks in the play when the Lear character is not on stage we learn about Sir\u2019s relationship to his troupe; Madge\u2019s basically unrequited love for Sir and his relationship with his wife; \u201cHer Ladyship\u201d who is playing Cordelia and how he stands with the other members of the acting troupe, who mostly fear him for his cantankerous temper.<\/p>\n
And by the end of the play when Sir dies peacefully in his dressing room with only Norman there to witness his end we find out that Norman loved him too although it was completely unexpressed in life.\u00a0 And he weeps over the body of Sir.<\/p>\n
Now this is a very strange film.\u00a0 And if it\u2019s a pro-homosexual movie then it\u2019s a very odd one.\u00a0 Norman takes abuse by anyone outside the theater who sizes up his obviously gay speech pattern and mannerisms.\u00a0 He\u2019s told to \u201csod off,\u201d \u201cget stuffed\u201d and \u201cbugger off\u201d by three different characters.\u00a0 One of the actors who knows of his friendship with a homosexual actor who has been arrested, notes to Norman that, \u201cThe pansy fraternity is always upset when one of their own is caught.\u201d\u00a0 And even Sir, when discussing this actor\u2019s arrest with Norman states that he himself \u201cholds no brief for buggers.\u201d\u00a0 So obviously this is not one of the modern paeans to gayness.<\/p>\n
But I found it quite entertaining.\u00a0 Albert Finney\u2019s portrayal of Sir is by turns; interesting, humorous, sad and extremely human.\u00a0 The character of Norman is also well-drawn.\u00a0 He\u2019s a fussy, neurotic but loyal friend to Sir and a hard-working part of the acting company.\u00a0 You can see that this acting troupe is his whole life and Sir\u2019s death represents the end of his own small world.\u00a0 He will be all by himself.<\/p>\n
Recommending this film is difficult.\u00a0 The gay identity of Norman may put off some viewers.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s put that in as a caveat.\u00a0 If that doesn\u2019t preclude someone from watching the film then I can recommend it from the point of view of entertainment.\u00a0 The play within a movie keeps your attention and the characters are well-drawn and interesting.<\/p>\n