The Caretaker – 1963 | 105 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

The Caretaker was the play that made Harold Pinter’s name when it was first performed at the Arts Theatre, London in 1960, and it remains probably his most famous. Two years later, Clive Donner’s independently produced film version began shooting, after producer Michael Birkett had raised the finance from such figures as Noel Coward, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Sellers, Peter Hall and Leslie Caron – all passionate admirers of the play. For the film, two of the cast of the original production – Donald Pleasence as Davies and Alan Bates as Mick – are joined by Robert Shaw as Aston. Donner’s sensitive film, claustrophobically filmed by cinematographer Nicolas Roeg, becomes a study of shared illusion, tragic dispossession and a fraternal bond of unspoken love, combining mesmerising performances and the magic of Pinter’s dialogue into a spellbinding film.

Laconic Sidcup-bound tramp Mac Davies (Donald Pleasence) is invited to stay in the London home of Aston (Robert Shaw), on the implied promise that he, Mac, will be hired as caretaker. Aston’s brother Mick (Alan Bates) is delighted to have Mac around to "play" with. For the remainder of the film, Mac becomes a verbal punch bag for the two brothers to confuse and verbally knock back and forth between them.