The Dresser
is a 1983 film which tells the story of an aging actor's personal assistant, who struggles to keep his charge's life together. The film is based on a screenplay by Ronald Harwood, based on his successful West End and Broadway play.
The film was directed by Peter Yates and produced by Peter Yates and Ronald Harwood. The cinematography was by Kelvin Pike.
The film stars Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gough and Edward Fox.
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THE DRESSER TICKETS
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Background and production
UK
Ronald Harwood based the play on his experiences as dresser to distinguished English Shakespearean actor-manager
Sir Donald Wolfit, who is the "Sir" in the play. The play was first presented on
March 6,
1980, at
The Royal Exchange Theatre and then opened at the
Queen's Theatre in
London April 30,
1980, with
Freddie Jones as "Sir" and
Tom Courtenay as Norman. The play was nominated for Best Play at the
Laurence Olivier Awards for 1980.
Broadway
The play opened at the
Brooks Atkinson Theatre on
November 9,
1981 and ran for 200 performances, with Tom Courtenay repeating his performance as Norman and
Paul Rogers as "Sir". The play was nominated for the 1982
Tony Award for
Best Play,
Best Actor in a Play (Tom Courtenay) and the
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (Paul Rogers).
The Film
The film was nominated for
Academy Awards for
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Courtenay),
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Albert Finney),
Best Director,
Best Picture and
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.