The Dresser 1983
7.5 / 10
The Dresser
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.
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.
Videos & Photos
All 0 Videos & 3 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Sir
... Norman
... Oxenby
... Her Ladyship
... Madge
... Frank Carrington
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by SplintDixon
Just watched the Dresser tonight. This movie was nominated for best picture of 1983, best director, best actor (Albert Finney & Tom Courtenay) and best Screenplay from another medium. Courtenay won a Golden Globe for best actor. So, on to the movie. I don't need to give the synopsis because you can find it easily. Did I like it? At first it was pretty dull and the main character is really an over the top diva. His dresser works feverishly to please him. When we later find out something isn't quite right with Sir (played brilliantly by Sir Albert Finney) chaos takes over but Norman (the dresser played by Tom Courtenay) does his very best to keep things together. Most of the movies is this one long night and for someone who knows little about theater, the movie gives you a great behind the scenes look at a mid 20th century theater production. Assuming it's pretty real. Lots of cool stuff to take in here and this is when the movie really started to grab me. I started to root for the "show to go on". The final act is a little hard to swallow but it certainly keeps you thinking up until the end and also makes you really understand the relationship between the Sir and Norman. While I do feel this movie was a little over the top, it was by design, I believe. It was written with Shakespeare as the backdrop and it was also written by a dresser from the 1950's. My guess, is it was fairly accurate with some added topping to give it a little extra. Was it a best picture nominee for 1983? You be the judge but I can certainly find more than 4 movies that are better.
Directors:
Genres:
Release Date:
Dec 06, 1983 (United Kingdom)
Run Time:
1hr 58`
MMPA Rating:
PG
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United Kingdom
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Dresser
Just watched the Dresser tonight. This movie was nominated for best picture of 1983, best director, best actor (Albert Finney & Tom Courtenay) and best Screenplay from another medium. Courtenay won a Golden Globe for best actor. So, on to the movie. I don't need to give the synopsis because you can find it easily. Did I like it? At first it was pretty dull and the main character is really an over the top diva. His dresser works feverishly to please him. When we later find out something isn't quite right with Sir (played brilliantly by Sir Albert Finney) chaos takes over but Norman (the dresser played by Tom Courtenay) does his very best to keep things together. Most of the movies is this one long night and for someone who knows little about theater, the movie gives you a great behind the scenes look at a mid 20th century theater production. Assuming it's pretty real. Lots of cool stuff to take in here and this is when the movie really started to grab me. I started to root for the "show to go on". The final act is a little hard to swallow but it certainly keeps you thinking up until the end and also makes you really understand the relationship between the Sir and Norman. While I do feel this movie was a little over the top, it was by design, I believe. It was written with Shakespeare as the backdrop and it was also written by a dresser from the 1950's. My guess, is it was fairly accurate with some added topping to give it a little extra. Was it a best picture nominee for 1983? You be the judge but I can certainly find more than 4 movies that are better.
Cast & Crew of
The Dresser
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
Cast
... Sir
... Norman
... Oxenby
... Her Ladyship
... Madge
... Frank Carrington
... Irene
... Violet Manning
... Lydia Gibson
... Geoffrey Thornton
... Mr. Godstone
... Horace Brown
GM
Guy Manning... Benton
... Beryl
... C. Rivers Lane
AW
Ann Way... Miss White
... Mr. Bottomley
... Bombazine Woman
... Charles
... Evelyn the Airman
Produced By
Videos & Photos of
The Dresser
Photos ( 3 )
Related Movies To
The Dresser
Tarzan (1999)
7.3 /10
Tarzan was a small orphan who was raised by an ape named Kala since he was a child. He believed that this was his family, but on an expedition Jane Porter is rescued by Tarzan. He then finds out that he's human. Now Tarzan must make the decision as to which family he should belong to...
Run Time: 1hr 28` . MMPA: G . Release: 18 Jun 1999
Director: Johan Klingler , Chung Sup Yoon , Kevin Lima
Producer: Christopher Chase , Mary Hidalgo , Bonnie Arnold
Stars: Tony Goldwyn , Minnie Driver , Glenn Close , Alex D. Linz , Rosie O'Donnell , Brian Blessed
Out of Exile (2023)
0 /10
Recently paroled thief Gabriel Russell tries to balance his life and mend a troubled family as an FBI agent hunts him down, along with his crew after a botched armored car robbery.
Run Time: 1hr 47` . MMPA: R . Release: 20 Jan 2023
Director: Kyle Kauwika Harris
Producer: Jacob Snovel , Karrie Cox , Kelley Gann
Stars: Adam Hampton , Karrie Cox , Kyle Jacob Henry , Ryan Merriman , Peter Greene , Hayley McFarland
Conjuring the Cult (2024)
0 /10
After discovering his blood-soaked daughter dead in the bathtub, David Bryson attends a self-help group to help save him from his ghostly nightmares. But when a group of mysterious cult-like women offer to help him resurrect his daughter. David's choices will not just decide his fate... but the fate of his dead daughter's SOUL.
Run Time: 1hr 33` . MMPA: . Release: 01 Oct 2024
Director: Calvin Morie McCarthy
Producer:
Stars: Neil Green , Elissa Dowling , Chynna Rae Shurts , BJ Mezek , Jason Brooks , Brad Littlefield
Wicked Minds (2003)
5.3 /10
Holden returns home from college and is surprised to find his overpowering competitive father married to a much younger woman Lana. Holden quickly falls for the beauty and charisma of his step mother. A passionate affair begins between son and stepmother.
Run Time: 1hr 33` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 01 Mar 2003
Director: Jason Hreno
Producer: Vera Miller , Josée Mauffette , Nadia Rona
Stars: Angie Everhart , Andrew W. Walker , Winston Rekert , Amy Sloan , Frank Schorpion , Ellen David
Front of the Class (2008)
8.1 /10
A boy with Tourette's syndrome overcomes criticism and discrimination to achieve his dream of becoming a teacher.
Run Time: 1hr 35` . MMPA: . Release: 07 Dec 2008
Director: Peter Werner
Producer: Andrew Gottlieb
Stars: James Wolk , Treat Williams , Dominic Scott Kay , Sarah Drew , Kathleen York , Joe Chrest
After (2019)
5.3 /10
Tessa Young is a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart. Entering her first semester of college, Tessa's guarded world opens up when she meets Hardin Scott, a mysterious and brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself -- and what she wants out of life.
Run Time: 1hr 46` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 11 Apr 2019
Director: Jenny Gage
Producer: David Dinerstein , Meadow Williams , Sarah Jorge León
Stars: Josephine Langford , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , Shane Paul McGhie , Khadijha Red Thunder , Dylan Arnold , Samuel Larsen
Breathing In (2023)
0 /10
1901, South Africa. As the Second Anglo-Boer War rages on, a wounded General seeks refuge in the small home of a woman and her young daughter. As the hurt man settles in, he begins noticing that something is off about the two women, particularly the daughter, and before long, he’ll learn the real reason for why they’ve invited him and for how they’ve survived on their own for so long.
Run Time: 1hr 45` . MMPA: . Release: 18 Oct 2023
Director: Jaco Bouwer
Producer:
Stars: Michele Burgers , Sven Ruygrok , Jamie-Lee Money , Lionel Newton
Karate Kid: Legends (2025)
0 /10
After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren't enough. Li's kung fu teacher Mr. Han enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.
Run Time: 1hr 34` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 08 May 2025
Director: Shanna Roberts Salée , Jonathan Entwistle , Peng Zhang
Producer: Ralph Macchio , Karen Rosenfelt , Jenny Hinkey
Stars: Jackie Chan , Ralph Macchio , Ben Wang , Joshua Jackson , Sadie Stanley , Ming-Na Wen
After We Collided (2020)
5 /10
Tessa finds herself struggling with her complicated relationship with Hardin; she faces a dilemma that could change their lives forever.
Run Time: 1hr 45` . MMPA: R . Release: 02 Sep 2020
Director: Tony Niknejadi , Roger Kumble , Chris Wright Jr.
Producer: Aron Levitz , Michael Wexler , Marisol Roncali
Stars: Josephine Langford , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , Dylan Sprouse , Louise Lombard , Charlie Weber , Candice King
G20 (2025)
0 /10
After the G20 Summit is overtaken by terrorists, President Danielle Sutton must bring all her statecraft and military experience to defend her family and her fellow leaders.
Run Time: 1hr 48` . MMPA: R . Release: 10 Apr 2025
Director: Patricia Riggen
Producer: Julius Tennon , Viola Davis , Rich Delia
Stars: Viola Davis , Anthony Anderson , Marsai Martin , Ramón Rodríguez , Antony Starr , Douglas Hodge
Good Time (2017)
7.3 /10
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail.
Run Time: 1hr 42` . MMPA: R . Release: 11 Aug 2017
Director: Jae Matthews , Gordon Bell , Josh Safdie
Producer: Alexandre Khondji , Alexis Varouxakis , Geraldine Barón
Stars: Robert Pattinson , Benny Safdie , Buddy Duress , Taliah Webster , Barkhad Abdi , Jennifer Jason Leigh
It Comes at Night (2017)
6.2 /10
Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has established a tenuous domestic order with his wife and son, but this will soon be put to test when a desperate young family arrives seeking refuge.
Run Time: 1hr 31` . MMPA: R . Release: 09 Jun 2017
Director: David Ketterer , Trey Edward Shults , Alice Johnson
Producer: Andrea Roa , Dann Fink , Corey Deckler
Stars: Joel Edgerton , Christopher Abbott , Carmen Ejogo , Riley Keough , Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Griffin Robert Faulkner