Ian Dalrymple, whose company Wessex Films was making films for Rank, cast him in a small part as a priest in Esther Waters. Luck was on his side. When Stewart Granger bowed out of the lead role, Bogarde took his place as the handsome bounder. (Guerin, 59) It was 1947, and a memorable year in his career. He had a Rank contract in his pocket, was appearing onstage, and also making films. Even his agent was surprised at how quickly the positive events had happened. (Snakes and Ladders, 106) Bogarde made two more movies with Wessex: first as the sensitive pianist George Bland in the ‘Alien Corn’ segment of Quartet, an adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s play and second, totally miscast as a speedway racer in Once a Jolly Swagman (1949). Hollywood was interested even then, but only if Dirk learned Spanish, entered the States ‘reborn’ as a Mexican to fill the shoes of the Latin lover. The final straw was the plan for his arranged marriage to a girl vetted by the studio. It was an offer Dirk could and hurriedly did refuse. (Dirk Bogarde: By Myself).

Invariably cast in the beginning as spivs, petty criminals and men on the run, he still chalked up strong performances, which caught the imagination of audiences and of a few early critics.