Sunday 8 January 2017

The Hireling (1973 Alan Bridges)

Written by Wolf Mankowitz from L.P. Hartley novel.

Private hire chauffeur Robert Shaw helps to bring depressed Sarah Miles out of herself and forms attachment, which proves unwelcome, and their roles become reversed (echoes of The Servant).

Shots both in and from car (moving POVs of the estate workers) had me thinking of Taxi Driver more than once. Michael Reed (OHMSS, Press Gang) is on camera. Petra Markham (Ace of Wands) has a small part as a maid, and I wonder how much Alison Leggatt was paid for her 60 second appearance?

Ending creates a powerful symbol of Shaw stuck in post-war angst, societal division and loneliness.

Nice subtle stuff going on with reflections

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