The Servant

"The Servant" is a British queer film from the early 1960's as such it is very subtle. There is never a gay sex scene but simply clever, and easily missed dialogue that alludes to the homosexual nature of the film. The film also deals with class. Class shame, gay shame, sexuality, and personal power dynamics create this brilliant film based on the novel by Robin Maugham.

Dirk Bogarde plays Barrett, his remarkable role in this film won him the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for best actor. Barrett is going to see Tony (James Fox) to apply for a job as his man servant. Wendy Craig plays Susan Tony's fiancée who is overbearing, and rude to Barrett straight-away. Stuck up, pretentious, and utterly condescending. She clearly wants Tony to just fire him but Tony will do no such thing. Sara Miles plays Sarah who Barrett tells Tony is his sister and gets her a job as the maid. Really it is Barrett's fiancée and she is used (willingly) as a pawn in the escalating mind games between Tony and Barrett that will eventually cause them to completely switch roles as master and servant.

Look at that gorgeous shot.

Power Struggles

Barrett is a great chef, has an eye for decorating, and even has brought the maid into the house. He is invaluable to the rather clueless aristocrat, Tony. Before Tony even knows what hits him he is tangled in a web of deceit, mind games, and power struggles that will lead to his demise. He had begun sleeping with Barrett's "sister" which is just as planned and eventually when he comes home and finds Barrett and Sarah laughing, and loudly romping around in Tony's own bedroom, he fires him but not before Barrett outs his affair to Vera. Tony is screaming how it's Barrett's sister and so Barrett informs him that actually Sarah is his fiancée so actually he and Tony are in the same boat. This is enough to send Vera packing and to leave poor tony, desolate and alone in his big house with no service people, and no lover.

The Ending

But not long later as Tony is sitting in a bar drinking alone, Barrett is there and apologizes and begs to be taken back as his servant. Straight away it is clear he is no longer a servant. He knows he has the upper hand and he uses it. There is fighting, the place is a mess, and they are an unhappy "couple". Amidst one of the "parties" where Tony is looking especially unwell and depressed Sarah returns and the film ends with Tony laying in a hallway with his drink while Sarah and Barrett are giggling in his bedroom.

The Servant was ahead of it's time, brilliantly executed, great performances all around and definitely worth watching. Pay attention because if you don't you will surely miss some of the subtle cues that make "The Servant" the amazing film that it is. I also really appreciated the often artistic cinematography.