An interesting feature by Dirk Bogarde in the January 1957 issue of "Films and Filming" - penned in 1956, where the popular actor writes on acting .... Here are some highlights:
Dirk Bogarde, who has gained international recognition for
his performances in THE DOCTOR series, explains in this article why he prefers
to be known as an actor.
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I consider that there are only about 40 genuine film stars
in the whole world, most of whom are in America
or on the Continent. It is difficult to define the word “star” – but I would
have said that stars are the people with the extrovert personalities and the
sparkling quality that puts the glamour, the glitter and the “stardust” into a
very tough work-a-day job. All of these people are highly talented and highly
accomplished performers. They are the ones who, if you like, put the show into
business. They are also larger than life in every possible way.
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I openly confess, and I do this with humility, that I
dislike the boredom of the theatre. I find the repetitious presentation of one
single creation madly monotonous after the studio routine, where practically
every day has some little moment which has the equivalent excitement and panic
of a first night.
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Today in the cinema I am fortunate enough to pursue exactly
the kind of acting pattern I want. It has taken me 9 years to achieve this. I
can now contrast comedy, such as DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE (a form of high comedy)
with off-beat dramas like CAST A DARK SHADOW or THE SEA SHALL NOT HAVE THEM (in
which I played whimpering, neurotic young men).
It is essential to play as many varied roles as possible.
This keeps an actor’s audience-interest alive. A leading actor who specialises
in one part only or one character only seems to me to be strapping himself into
an artistic strait-jacket. This also applies to the unfortunate stage actor who
has to play one part every night of his life for three years.
I have been a so-called popular film actor for 10 years.
Normally that is a long run. I may be living on borrowed time. I may have to
seek wider fields – Hollywood , if
the right script turns up and if it satisfies me and my bosses.
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It is because I am inordinately proud of, and passionately
believe in, our film industry, that I make what are meant to be constructive
comments."
We tend to forget that Bogarde did a lot of stage work initially, and had to give it up when the "fans" began to spoil the performances as they had turned up to see their "Idol of the Odeons" - though he certainly did enough fan stuff for them with all the posed stills and fan magazines, as per the selection here, and his record album ! No wonder he wanted to be taken seriously by the likes of Losey and Visconti etc.
Good too to get a repeat of Dirk's various television interviews in the BBC Talking Pictures series, which I had recorded last year and lost on the hard disk, along with several others. I wrote about this at the time - Bogarde label - so hopefully they will also repeat the Bette Davis and Jame Mason programmes, where I am visible in the audience, all of 40+ years ago ...
How time moves on: Interesting to see James Fox - Dirk's co-star in THE SERVANT, 1963, left, and now in his 70s, is appearing on stage with another of his actor sons, Jack (another son Laurence is a busy television detective here) in a new play DEAR LUPIN, which is touring at the moment before playing in the West End. I saw James two years ago now at that special screening of the Losey classic to launch its Blu-ray release, it was fascinating to see it on the big screen again, along with co-stars Sarah Miles and Wendy Craig. As I had seen Dirk and Losey at separate events in 1970, I just couldn't miss this.
We tend to forget that Bogarde did a lot of stage work initially, and had to give it up when the "fans" began to spoil the performances as they had turned up to see their "Idol of the Odeons" - though he certainly did enough fan stuff for them with all the posed stills and fan magazines, as per the selection here, and his record album ! No wonder he wanted to be taken seriously by the likes of Losey and Visconti etc.
Good too to get a repeat of Dirk's various television interviews in the BBC Talking Pictures series, which I had recorded last year and lost on the hard disk, along with several others. I wrote about this at the time - Bogarde label - so hopefully they will also repeat the Bette Davis and Jame Mason programmes, where I am visible in the audience, all of 40+ years ago ...
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