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Product Description
Clive Donner's film version of Harold Pinter's groundbreaking play. For reasons unclear, Aston (Robert Shaw) invites a tramp named Davies (Donald Pleasence) to come and work as the caretaker in his run-down East London home. Davies initially talks of retrieving some documents that will establish his credentials, but then puts more and more obstacles in the way of returning to Sidcup to fetch them. Aston meanwhile talks of assembling a shed in the garden, a project whose exact start-point seems to be a matter of some deferral. Aston's spivvish brother Mick, owner of house, returns to find the fine balance between the siblings upset as the brothers' relationship begins to revolve in new ways around the tramp. Includes an introduction from Michael Billington and two making-of features.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, SYNOPSIS: The Guest is a filmed adaptation of the Harold Pinter play of the same name. Donald Pleasence plays a laconic tramp, who is invited to stay in the home of Robert Shaw, on the implied promise that he, Pleasence, will be hired as caretaker. Shaw's off-in-the-coop brother Alan Bates is delighted to have Pleasence around...to 'play' with. In the manner of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Shaw and Bates uses Pleasence as a punching bag for their own hang-ups. Photographed with the proper degree of claustrophobia by Nicolas Roeg, The Caretaker was independently produced by a celebrity consortium including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Sellers, and Noel Coward. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Berlin International Film Festival, ...The Caretaker ( The Guest )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Lou Knee
Format:DVD
A good version of the Pinter thought piece. Directing this piece either for stage or film requires a touch that enables the viewer to catch up with its possible under themes, and to reflect on the carefully written dialogue. This is done well here, the camera lingering on certain scenes when all the 'action' (mainly talk) has finished. Nicely cast using men who know what Pinter's all about: this is different to playing Becket, it is one step closer to real life while still not quite in the same room.
Rooms are central to Pinter productions, and this one didn't really have to be more adorned than it was, even if you sometimes catch yourself thinking, 'God why don't they spruce it up a bit?-No wonder they're miserable!' The production didn't necessarily have to be as bare it was, but it works well with Pinter on stage, so why shouldn't it on screen. This play also suits the shadowy two tone black and white photography. The film won't suit everyone new to Pinter, but it serves as a solid record of what he was about.
Rooms are central to Pinter productions, and this one didn't really have to be more adorned than it was, even if you sometimes catch yourself thinking, 'God why don't they spruce it up a bit?-No wonder they're miserable!' The production didn't necessarily have to be as bare it was, but it works well with Pinter on stage, so why shouldn't it on screen. This play also suits the shadowy two tone black and white photography. The film won't suit everyone new to Pinter, but it serves as a solid record of what he was about.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. J. Peake
Format:DVD
There have been many stage versions of this best-known classic drama from Harold Pinter. The story is a simple one of a tramp given lodgings ( supposedly in exchange for acting as caretaker for the house ) in a storage room where a camp bed serves as the only comfort. The whole play/film revolves around his interaction with the two brothers who own the house, both of whom have their own quite different disfunctional personalities. Filmed totally within this small room, the dialogue is realistically gripping. As may be expected, the acting is superb from the three characters, with a particularly outstanding performance by Donald Pleasance as the "Caretaker", Mac Davies.
A great DVD for anyone, whether or not you've seen the play ! One to keep for posterity !!
A great DVD for anyone, whether or not you've seen the play ! One to keep for posterity !!
18 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Pinter's first cinematic attempt and one of the best films that people should see. Pleasance's wonderful and Bates very young, but very stimulating in his part. Very useful for people who love theatre and films.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Strange to put it mildly
I thought Donald pleasance was superb in his role.....Robert shaw and Alan bates less so....Robert shaws character took forever to say or do anything,and Alan bates character was... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ra Baxter
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Caretaker
Well - it's a classic, so I suppose it must be good !
But I found it hard to see exactly why. In the end, I did manage to get some enjoyment from it - but mainly from enjoying... Read more
But I found it hard to see exactly why. In the end, I did manage to get some enjoyment from it - but mainly from enjoying... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2011 by C. E. Bowyer
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Defaced Masterpiece
Pinter decreed words to the effect that this masterpiece of his "is a comedy."
Too many directors try to make it a Kafkaesque eerie and bizarre work - ruining the comedy... Read more
Too many directors try to make it a Kafkaesque eerie and bizarre work - ruining the comedy... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2009 by Tom Pitsis
3.0 out of 5 stars
rather trendy but very well acted.
harold pinter to me, is a somewhat trendy playwright and can be slightly too intellectual for his own good.
"the caretaker" is an example of this. Read more
"the caretaker" is an example of this. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2006 by Mr. A. E. Ward Davies
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