The Servant (1963) Reviews

The Servant (1963)
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Wealthy wastrel James Fox hires insouciant cockney Dirk Bogarde as a valet. No sooner has he donned his working clothes than Bogarde begins exercising a subtle but insidious control over his master. Suggesting that the house could use a little fixing up, Bogarde convinces Fox to spend a whopping amount of money on it. But this is just a warm-up session for Bogarde, who by mid-film is calling all the shots in the Fox household, all the while pretending to keep his place. Fox's fiance Wendy Craig sees through Bogarde's game. Bogarde then brings his own lady friend Sarah Miles into the house. At Bogarde's insistence, Miles seduces Fox, thereby loosening Craig's hold on the confused young man. And so it goes. The homosexual subtext of The Servant disturbed some of the more hidebound critics of 1963; Harold Pinter based his cryptic screenplay on a novel by Robin Maugham. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, (more)
Director(s):
Joseph Losey
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(10 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Heidi A.

The Servant is superbly crafted and brilliantly written. I don't think I've ever seen another film that captures psychological power and it's consequence as well as this. Dirk Bogarde is amazing. It's solidly directed. The photography enhances the subject. Fascinating.

Yes   |   No


James L.

What a powerful film. You get suckered right in and then pow! Why did Tony take Barrett back for the 2nd time. I thought maybe there was a homosexual subplot going on. It was sad to see Tony spiral down hill as an alcholic. The ending I didn't like but it makes you think as to what the future holds for these two very different men. You want to stand up and protect Tony but you can't. ~ Susan L.

Yes   |   No


James S.

"The Servant" is the first of the three collaborations of director Joseph Losey and playwright Harold Pinter - the others being "Accident" and "The Go-Between." It's a trilogy of sorts, as all three deal with the use/abuse of power, sexism and the English class system. Bogarde gives one of his finest performances here, as a conniving servant who turns the tables and becomes master of the house, smugly engineering his youthful employer's downfall. I do regret the last section of the film, which seems out of kilter stylistically and now all too obvious. Losey was a fine craftsman, if somewhat baroque by nature. His abrupt changes of style, point of view and time shuffling would mar his films, especially "The Go-Between," which is nearly undone by scattering the film's last scene through the movie."The Servant" was a turning point in restoring Losey's career, which had been tarnished by the Hollywood blacklist in the 1950s.

Yes   |   No


Ann C.

A legendary film that I hadn't seen until now. The late, great playwright Harold Pinter, who wrote "The Servant," even has a cameo role. More than occasionally frightening, it pits an upper-class dilettante against his exploited and diabolical valet. You can see the explosion coming a mile away, but that doesn't lessen its shock. Unforgettable. And the music by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine is perfect for the film.

Yes   |   No


Miriam H.

I liked looking at this movie but didn't feel that it had a lot to say to me personally. Very well done all the same.

Yes   |   No


Lois L.

I liked it. It was a good psychologocal thriller and very different from most I've seen. The movie really sucks you into the plot.

Yes   |   No


Claudia M.

I just finished watching the Serveant and was very disappointed. I agree it shows psychological power, but on someone who was being drugged; and where were his friends and acquaintances that were so oblivious to what was happening. Kind of hard to swallow. But great black and white drama for those who want to see what it was like before color.

Yes   |   No


Sonia A.

This 47 yrs old movie is extraordinary, a gem. No special visual effect, colors, etc. Just fine acting. The dialog and background music plays a part but body language and performance is outstanding from everybody. Fox's fiance could make a good character for "girls who like boys who like boys" although she got it by the end of the movie. A very powerful movie because of the plot (Dirk Bogarde!!), scary to even watch a second time because of fear you may also get "trapped".

Yes   |   No


Sharon D.

I didn't care for this movie. It was very depressing.

Yes   |   No


Robert D.

I didn't find this film very believable..hard to see how a man of James Fox's position and demeanor could so easily be compromised by a hired man servant and the loose morals of all concerned was hard to take.. one doesn't get the impression that a man of Fox's stature could be so easily compromised. The picture was too slow and lacked spark, etc..got boring! 21/2 stars!

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
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    Heidi A.

    The Servant is superbly crafted and brilliantly written. I don't think I've ever seen another film that captures psychological power and it's consequence as well as this. Dirk Bogarde is amazing. It's solidly directed. The photography enhances the subject. Fascinating.

    Yes   |   No

     
    James L.

    What a powerful film. You get suckered right in and then pow! Why did Tony take Barrett back for the 2nd time. I thought maybe there was a homosexual subplot going on. It was sad to see Tony spiral down hill as an alcholic. The ending I didn't like but it makes you think as to what the future holds for these two very different men. You want to stand up and protect Tony but you can't. ~ Susan L.

    Yes   |   No

     
    James S.

    "The Servant" is the first of the three collaborations of director Joseph Losey and playwright Harold Pinter - the others being "Accident" and "The Go-Between." It's a trilogy of sorts, as all three deal with the use/abuse of power, sexism and the English class system. Bogarde gives one of his finest performances here, as a conniving servant who turns the tables and becomes master of the house, smugly engineering his youthful employer's downfall. I do regret the last section of the film, which seems out of kilter stylistically and now all too obvious. Losey was a fine craftsman, if somewhat baroque by nature. His abrupt changes of style, point of view and time shuffling would mar his films, especially "The Go-Between," which is nearly undone by scattering the film's last scene through the movie."The Servant" was a turning point in restoring Losey's career, which had been tarnished by the Hollywood blacklist in the 1950s.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 10 Reviews
       

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