The Caretaker (film)
| The Caretaker | |
|---|---|
 A poster bearing the film's alternate title: The Guest | |
| Directed by | Clive Donner |
| Produced by | Michael Birkett |
| Written by | Harold Pinter |
| Starring |
Alan Bates Donald Pleasence Robert Shaw |
| Music by | Ron Grainer |
| Cinematography | Nicolas Roeg |
| Edited by | Fergus McDonell |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £30,000[1] |
The Caretaker (also known as The Guest ) is a 1963 British drama film directed by Clive Donner and based on the Harold Pinter play of the same name. It was entered into the 13th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize.[2]
Cast
- Alan Bates as Mick
- Donald Pleasence as Mac Davies / Bernard Jenkins
- Robert Shaw as Aston
Production
The film was made by a partnership of six people, none of whom took payment: Clive Donner, Alan Bates, Robert Shaw, Harold Pinter and Michael Birkett.[3]
No distributor expressed interest in funding the film, which meant it was unable to attract investment from the National Film Finance Corporation, because it was unable to give money to projects without a reasonable chance of a commercial screening.[1] The budget was eventually raised with the support of a consortium, which included such figures as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Noël Coward and Peter Sellers, each member giving £1,000.[4]
Reception
The film was unable to obtain a release in London until it first screened in New York.[1] According to Janet Moat, "the film is striking. Donner deploys a non-musical soundtrack, close-ups and two-shots to unsettling and menacing effect."[4]
References
- 1 2 3 Alexander Walker, Hollywood, England, Stein and Day, 1974 p250
- ↑ "Berlinale 1963: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ Caroline Miller, The Caretaker at BFI Screenonline
- 1 2 Janet Moat, "Donner, Clive (1926-2010)" at BFI Screenonline
External links
- The Caretaker at the Internet Movie Database
- The Caretaker at BFI Screenonline
- The Caretaker at Haroldpinter.org