Esther Waters – 1948 | 108 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Produced by Ian Dalrymple’s Wessex Films, this dreary 18th century bodice-ripper adapted from the bleak novel by George Moore featured the normally reliable Dirk Bogarde just going through the motions, alongside co-stars Kathleen Ryan, Cyril Cusack and Fay Compton. Bogarde in his first major screen appearance secured the lead role when Stewart Granger dropped out.

Sussex, 1871. Esther Waters (Kathleen Ryan), a young woman brought up by a puritanical mother, departs to become a servant in an aristocratic household. There she succumbs to the amorous advances of caddish footman William Latch (Dirk Bogarde), who seduces and then abandons her. Pregnant and alone in a Lambeth workhouse, she returns to London to find her mother dead. With no one but herself for comfort she struggles to survive working as a domestic maid in numerous households. Esther meets the dastardly William once again years later; he’s now a well-heeled bookmaker and wishes to makes amends by marrying her. The two finally wed and lead a happy life, Esther running their Kings Head public house while William works on the racetracks. After getting caught in too many torrential downpours William falls sick, and from his Brompton Hospital bed bets all their money on a losing horse; dying before the fateful race concludes.