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The Dresser

1983 · 118 min

A poignant, backstage drama that immerses you in the fragile, codependent relationship between two men, blending theatrical grandeur with quiet devastation.

Directed by
Peter Yates
Genres
Drama
Starring
Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Edward Fox
Tagline
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.

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Rent or buy in the UK
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
  • YouTube
More options Data from JustWatch
Directed by
Peter Yates
Genres
Drama
Starring
Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Edward Fox
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • melancholicstrength 3 of 3
  • warmstrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • obsession
  • loyalty
  • aging
  • identity
  • love
Places
  • workplace
  • big city
Era
period
Audience
adult
Form
  • single location
  • ensemble
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action1
Horror0
Humour4
Realism8
Romance2
Tension5
Darkness6
Complexity6
Emotional weight8

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Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
  • YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
drama
Directed by
Peter Yates
Written by
Ronald Harwood
Starring
Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Edward Fox, Zena Walker, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gough, Cathryn Harrison, Betty Marsden
Music
James Horner
Cinematography
Kelvin Pike
Runtime
118 min
Country
United Kingdom
Languages
English

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