DeeDee

Yesterday, while visiting my local public library, I noticed on the book sale shelf a very nice book on the films of Dirk Bogarde. I saw a couple of his films many years ago, but really didn't pay much attention to him. The book I purchased at the library was a revelation! Now I want to see as many of his films as I can! So, I ask you to help me out. What films do you consider his best? To start with I'd like a list of five or more if you like. Thank you!!

DeeDee

Jackdaw

If you want to see him in an atypical role,try THE SERVANT.
In this he plays an unscrupulous and menacing character very convincingly.

Cheers
Jacky

julian_craster

The Servant DVD UK US

Accident DVD UK US

Daddy Nostalgia DVD US

Victim DVD UK US

Death in Venice DVD UK US

smudge

Can I add THE MIND BENDERS, to his more off-kilter roles ; away from his 'Matinee Idol' days. Also THE NIGHT PORTER. I'd second Jackdaw's vote for THE SERVANT as well. Oh yes - you could also try VICTIM ; quite a brave role for the time and considering Sir Dirk's life away from the cameras...

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Johnjackgilbert

Ahh Dirk Bogarde!

I suggest you start with his 1950s films. 'Doctor in the House' is a wonderful film - mainly for James Robertson Justice and Kenny More (or rather his waistcoat!) However, I suggest you get a look at 'The Blue Lamp', 'Hunted', 'HMS Defiant' and 'The Singer Not the Song'. His later work is generally regarded as his best and 'Death in Venice' is such a beautiful film, but his fifties matinee idol roles shouldn't be overlooked. 'Victim', 'The Servant', 'Accident', 'Death in Venice' and 'The Night Porter' are essential viewing as they are the very best examples of his work!

DeeDee

Thanks, everyone! See my "reviews" of The Night Porter, and The Servant on the film board.

DeeDee

DeeDee

Did Dirk Bogarde have a daughter?? It seems I read something about him recently and it mentioned a daughter.

DeeDee

Johnjackgilbert

He did not have any children.

His autobiographies are a great entertaining read - check them out - but for a good biography on Dirk, you should read John Coldstream's authorised biography "Dirk Bogarde".

DeeDee

Thank you! Have you read any of his novels? I understand he wrote maybe four or five.

DeeDee

Johnjackgilbert

Yes I have - they are also very good.

It is best to read them in order - starting with "A Gentle Occupation" which is rather like his autobiographies. My favourite is "Jericho".

Someone once said that you learn more about Dirk through his novels than his autobiographies - well, you DO learn something but Dirk was a very elusive personality.

I consumed them all one summer along with all the autobiographies - pretty illuminating!

A Gentle Occupation
Voices in the Garden
West of Sunset
Jericho
A Period of Adjustment
Closing Ranks

Not as good as the autobiographies, which are pretty 'novelised' anyway, but essential for the Bogarde fan!

DeeDee

Thank you again! I searched Amazon.com and found a number of books by Dirk, some were audio books, but there were more titles that appeared to be written by him than you listed. Is your list a partial one? or?

Steve Crook

They were just the novels in JJG's list. He also wrote quite a few autobiographies/memoirs.

The full list is:
Autobiography/Memoirs
* A Postillion Struck by Lightning, 1977
* Snakes and Ladders, 1978
* An Orderly Man, 1983
* Backcloth, 1986
* A Particular Friendship, 1989
* Great Meadow, 1992
* A Short Walk from Harrods, 1993
* Cleared for Take-Off, 1995
* For the Time Being: Collected Journalism, 1998

Novels
* A Gentle Occupation, 1980
* Voices in the Garden, 1981
* West of Sunset, 1984
* Jericho, 1991
* A Period of Adjustment, 1994
* Closing Ranks, 1997

Biography
Dirk Bogarde's authorised biography, by John Coldstream, appeared in 2004.

Many of those have also been recorded as audio books and published in various editions.
There are also a few "collected works".

Steve

Johnjackgilbert

The audio books are rather good - as he is reading them himself, he puts the right emphasis on what it is he wants to stress and the humour comes out as he intended. However, I prefer to read the actual books. You often find his books in charity shops! But I bought most of mine from WH Smiths and Waterstones. Ebay is also a good place to find them. As Mr Crook as provided an excellent list for you, you should have no trouble finding them. As I mentioned before, it is best to read them in order.

Ahh Dirk Bogarde...

Jack Gurney

Ah, but have any of you heard his album LYRICS FOR LOVERS from 1960? Quite a rare gem on vinyl, thankfully now easily available on CD. It's only 25 minutes long or so, but to hear his 'Sprechgesang' treatments of 'You Go To My Head' 'The Very Thought Of You' et al (predating Telly Savalas by about 15 years) is an illuminating experience. Nowhere near as out there as Peter Wyngarde or David Hemmings' albums of course, or as masterly as Richard Harris' interpretations of the songs of Jimmy Webb, but interesting nonetheless.

I also cite VICTIM as my favourite Bogarde moment, although ACCIDENT and THE PASSWORD IS COURAGE, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and THE NIGHT PORTER come pretty close. The last-named was the one that probably lost him the housewife vote: many women, including my Mum, idolised him, but were not necessarily prepared to watch 'that kind of movie', especially if it was 'in foreign'. Ultimately, like the aforementioned and similarly debonair Mr Wyngarde, he 'wasn't the marrying kind'. Must have broken a few hearts when they found out. Having worked at the Beeb, my Mum knew before most people did, but she would still sigh every time he appeared on the screen. A bit like the disappointment men of my generation felt over Samantha Fox...

"Whatever happened to Fay Wray?"

Johnjackgilbert

It is a disturbing fact that Mr Bogarde had a surge of fanmail from female admirers after "The Night Porter" expressing their (ahem) 'deepest affection'