The Dresser (1983)

Overview · Where to watch · Cast & crew · Reviews

What happens backstage is always true drama. And often pure comedy.

In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand - the dresser - is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support the deteriorating star as the company struggles to carry on during the London Blitz. The pathos of his backstage efforts rival the pathos in the story of Lear and the Fool that is being presented on-stage, as the situation comes to a crisis.

• Released: 1983-12-06
• Genres: Drama
• Runtime: 1h 58m
• Status: Released
• TMDB rating: 6.8/10 from 84 votes

Directed by Peter Yates.

Top cast

• Albert Finney as Sir
• Tom Courtenay as Norman
• Edward Fox as Oxenby
• Zena Walker as Her Ladyship
• Eileen Atkins as Madge
• Michael Gough as Frank Carrington
• Cathryn Harrison as Irene
• Betty Marsden as Violet Manning
• Sheila Reid as Lydia Gibson
• Lockwood West as Geoffrey Thornton

Full cast & crew

Where to watch The Dresser

• United States: stream on Howdy Amazon Channel; rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube; buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
• United Kingdom: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
• India: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video; buy on Apple TV Store
• Canada: rent on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo, YouTube, Amazon Video; buy on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo, YouTube, Amazon Video
• Australia: stream on Britbox Apple TV channel; rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

Movies like The Dresser

If you enjoyed The Dresser, these movies have a similar feel:

• The Dresser (2015)
• Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
• The Boys in the Band (2020)
• The Country Girl (1954)
• The Boys in the Band (1970)
• Rocketman (2019)
• Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
• A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
• Factory Girl (2006)
• The Riot Club (2014)
• Valentino (1977)
• Where the Truth Lies (2005)

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