In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand - the dresser, is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support the deteriorating star as the company struggles to carry on during the London blitz. The pathos of his backstage efforts rival the pathos in the story of Lear and the Fool that is being presented on-stage, as the situation comes to a crisis.
Cast
Albert Finney
Sir
Tom Courtenay
Norman
Edward Fox
Oxenby
Zena Walker
Her Ladyship
Eileen Atkins
Madge
Michael Gough
Frank Carrington
Cathryn Harrison
Irene
Betty Marsden
Violet Manning
Sheila Reid
Lydia Gibson
Lockwood West
Geoffrey Thornton
Donald Eccles
Mr. Godstone
Llewellyn Rees
Horace Brown
Guy Manning
Benton
Anne Blackman
Beryl
Kevin Stoney
C. Rivers Lane
Ann Way
Miss White
John Sharp
Mr. Bottomley
Kathy Staff
Bombazine Woman
Roger Avon
Charles
Christopher Irvin
Evelyn the Airman
Stuart Richman
Evelyn's Friend
Sandra Gough
Actress on Station
Joe Belcher
Arthur
Johnny Maxfield
Electrician
Paul Luty
Stallkeeper
Lori Wells
Barmaid
Alan Starkey
Train Guard
Ralph G. Morse
Man at Station (uncredited)
Crew
Peter Yates
Director, Producer
Ronald Harwood
Screenplay, Producer, Theatre Play
Ray Lovejoy
Editor
Kelvin Pike
Director of Photography
Nigel Wooll
Associate Producer
Stephen B. Grimes
Production Design
Barbara Ritchie
Hairstylist
Joan White
Hairdresser
Alan Brownie
Assistant Makeup Artist
Alan Boyle
Makeup Artist
Peter Pennell
Sound Editor
Stephen Janisz
Assistant Sound Editor
John Hayward
Sound Mixer
David John
Sound Mixer
Matthew Launay
Sound
Malcolm Davies
Sound
John Chandler
Boom Operator
James Horner
Original Music Composer
Josie MacAvin
Set Decoration
Colin Grimes
Art Direction
