Personal assistant Norman struggles to get deteriorating veteran actor Sir through a difficult performance of King Lear.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 12 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Albert Finney | ... |
Sir
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| Tom Courtenay | ... |
Norman
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| Edward Fox | ... |
Oxenby
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| Zena Walker | ... |
Her Ladyship
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| Eileen Atkins | ... |
Madge
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| Michael Gough | ... |
Frank Carrington
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| Cathryn Harrison | ... |
Irene
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Betty Marsden | ... |
Violet Manning
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| Sheila Reid | ... |
Lydia Gibson
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| Lockwood West | ... |
Geoffrey Thornton
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| Donald Eccles | ... |
Mr. Godstone
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Llewellyn Rees | ... |
Horace Brown
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Guy Manning | ... |
Benton
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Anne Blackman | ... |
Beryl
(as Anne Mannion)
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| Kevin Stoney | ... |
C. Rivers Lane
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| Ann Way | ... |
Miss. White
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| John Sharp | ... |
Mr. Bottomley
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| Kathy Staff | ... |
Bombazine Woman
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Roger Avon | ... |
Charles
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Christopher Irvin | ... |
Evelyn, The Airman
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Stuart Richman | ... |
Evelyn's Friend
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Sandra Gough | ... |
Actress on Station
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| Joe Belcher | ... |
Arthur
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| Johnny Maxfield | ... |
Electrician
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| Paul Luty | ... |
Stallkeeper
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Lori Wells | ... |
Barmaid
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| Alan Starkey | ... |
Train Guard
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Walter Henry | ... |
Man in Theatre (uncredited)
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| Ralph G. Morse | ... |
Man at Station (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Yates | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Ronald Harwood | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Ronald Harwood | ... | (based on a play by) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Nigel Wooll | ... | associate producer |
| Peter Yates | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| James Horner | ... | (music composed and conducted by) |
Cinematography by
| Kelvin Pike | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Ray Lovejoy | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| Helen Eley | ... | second assistant editor |
| Gordon Stainforth | ... | assistant film editor |
| Toby Yates | ... | editing trainee |
Casting By
| Noel Davis | ... | (casting) |
Production Design by
| Stephen B. Grimes | ... | (as Stephen Grimes) |
Art Direction by
| Colin Grimes | ||
Set Decoration by
| Josie MacAvin | ... | (as Josie Macavin) |
Makeup Department
| Alan Boyle | ... | make-up |
| Alan Brownie | ... | make-up assistant |
| Barbara Ritchie | ... | hairstylist |
| Joan White | ... | hairdresser |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tony Aherne | ... | third assistant director |
| Andy Armstrong | ... | assistant director |
| Christopher Figg | ... | second assistant director |
| Asad Qureshi | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| John Chisholm | ... | property master |
| Geoff Langley | ... | construction manager |
| Grahame Ménage | ... | scenic artist (as Graham Menage) |
| Terry Perks | ... | stand-by props |
| Jill Quertier | ... | property buyer |
| Rosalind Shingleton | ... | draughtsperson |
| Micky Swift | ... | stand-by props |
| Duncan Guest | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Mal Zawadzki | ... | stand-by painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Chandler | ... | boom operator |
| John Hayward | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Stephen Janisz | ... | assistant dubbing editor (as Steve Janisz) |
| David John | ... | sound mixer |
| Matthew Launay | ... | sound maintenance (as Matthew Launey) |
| Peter Pennell | ... | dubbing editor |
| Malcolm Davies | ... | additional sound (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Frank Batt | ... | camera grip |
| Gordon Gowing | ... | best boy |
| Dewi Humphreys | ... | camera operator (as Dewi Humprheys) |
| Paul Kenward | ... | camera assistant |
| Barry Peake | ... | stills photographer |
| Kate Robinson | ... | camera focus (as Peter Robinson) |
| Freddie Webster | ... | gaffer |
Casting Department
| Dorothy Andrew | ... | crowd casting (as Dorothy Andrews) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Rosemary Burrows | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Eve Faloon | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Ken Lawton | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Michael John Knatchbull | ... | location manager (as Michael-John Knatchbull) |
Music Department
| James Horner | ... | music conducted by |
| Eric Tomlinson | ... | music recording engineer |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | musicians: score performed by (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Caroline Sax | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Garry Clark | ... | unit driver |
Additional Crew
| Virginia Ashton | ... | producer's secretary |
| Simon Finney | ... | unit runner |
| Carl S. Griffin | ... | assistant accountant (as Carl Griffin) |
| Joy Helman | ... | publicist |
| Jak King | ... | production accountant (as Jack King) |
| Rosalie King | ... | assistant accountant |
| Rachel Neale | ... | production assistant |
| John Chambers | ... | finance executive (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Paul Andrews | ... | the producer would also like to thank: manager: The Alhambra Theatre |
| Norman Free | ... | the producer would also like to thank: : for their assistance during the making of this picture: Bradford City Council (as The Lord Mayor) |
| Fred Wade | ... | the producer would also like to thank: the stage crew under the supervision of: The Alhambra Theatre |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
- World Film Services (production)
- Goldcrest (production)
- Peter Yates (film)
- Ronald Harwood (film)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1983) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1984) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1984) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1984) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Columbia International Films (1984) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Columbia (1984) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Columbia-Warner Filmes de Portugal (1984) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Fox Columbia Film Distributors (1984) (Australia) (theatrical)
- BBC Two (2016) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- GoodTimes Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- GoodTimes Home Video (Canada) (VHS)
- HGV Video Productions (Canada) (VHS)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
- LK-TEL (Argentina) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Joe Dunton Cameras (cameras)
- Berman's and Nathan's (costumes)
- Wig Creations of London (wigs)
- Rank Film Laboratories, Leeds (processing & opticals)
- Rank Film Laboratories, Leeds (titles)
- Pinewood Studios (re-recorded at)
- Olympic Studios (music recorded at)
- The Alhambra Theatre (the producer would also like to thank: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (the producer would also like to thank: manager & stage supervisor: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- British Rail Eastern Region (York) (the producer would also like to thank: the staff & crew of: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- Bradford City Council (the producer would also like to thank: the lord mayor: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- West Yorkshire Police (the producer would also like to thank: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- People of Bradford (the producer would also like to thank: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- People of Halifax, West Yorkshire (the producer would also like to thank: for their assistance during the making of this picture)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (approved)
- Columbia Pictures Industries (copyright: 1983)
- Pinewood Studios (made at)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand, the dresser, Norman (Sir Tom Courtenay), is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support deteriorating star Sir (Albert Finney) 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. Written by xenophil |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | What happens backstage is always true drama. And often pure comedy. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | GBP1,456,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Ronald Harwood based his play "The Dresser", and this movie's subsequent screenplay, on the biography "Sir Donald Wolfit CBE: His life and work in the Unfashionable Theatre", and on his own experiences as an actor and dresser for renowned Shakespearian actor Donald Wolfit. Harwood's repertory ensemble, Shakespeare Company, frequently performed Shakespeare's plays, and Harwood was Wolfit's dresser between 1953 and 1958. See more » |
| Goofs | After Sir and Norman leave the marketplace, they're passed by a Routemaster bus. These buses were first used in London in 1954, and weren't used outside London until the 1970's. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Clock (2010). See more » |
| Soundtracks | (We're Going To Hang Out) The Washing the Siegfried Line See more » |
| Quotes |
Sir:
The critics? No, I have nothing but compassion for them. How can I hate the crippled, the mentally deficient, and the dead? See more » |