A Summing-up:
Bogarde’s Rare Quality

While other actors might know the basics of film acting and the camera, what made Bogarde a potent presence on screen was his ability to put his knowledge and skills into play to such a high degree. He brought a deep understanding to the process of creating characters who could make audiences react and completely involve them in a powerful experience. His controlled surface stillness on screen was powered by an intense inner life. His dark expressive eyes had a luminosity and a gravitas, which drew a viewer into the depth of his thoughts and emotions. A master at using his ‘actor’s energy’ to inhabit a character on camera, Bogarde gave subtle, layered performances played to a level of perfection, always memorable, and many times unparalleled.