English actor Dirk Bogarde dominated the films in which he starred. Exploring the tension between his matinee idol appeal and his own closeted sexuality, this book focuses on the wide variety of genres in which he worked, and the highly charged interaction between his life and his roles.
Beginning with an exposé of gay life in post-war Britain and his relationship with partner/manager, Anthony Forwood, each chapter explores Bogarde’s performances by genre—his juvenile delinquent movies, his military roles, his contribution to Basil Dearden’s overtly gay thriller Victim (1961), and his “outsider” roles in such films as The Servant (1963), The Fixer (1968) and Despair (1978). Bogarde’s “camp” cinema, espionage thrillers and various roles as artists are also examined, along with the misogyny of the Doctor films and his later television work.

David Huckvale has worked as a researcher, writer and presenter for BBC Radio and as a lecturer for various universities in England. He lives in rural Bedfordshire.

David Huckvale
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 199
Bibliographic Info: 42 photos, filmography, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7803-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3709-9
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction 1
One. “It’s too horrible to watch!” 11
Two. “I’m better on my own.” 23
Three. “You’ll wake up in Broadmoor.” 32
Four. “All the nice boys like a soldier.” 57
Five. “Nature’s played a dirty trick on me.” 77
Six. “Champagne! Champagne!” 109
Seven. “I don’t think you know what the truth is any more.” 121
Eight. “I don’t believe in morality.” 136
Nine. “You cannot reach the spirit through the senses!” 143
Ten. “No women!” 153
Conclusion 168
Filmography 173
Chapter Notes 175
Bibliography 181
Index 185