The Bogarde Magic

Dirk Bogarde came on the scene at a time when his startlingly handsome dark looks and edgy screen persona were just different, just foreign looking enough, to make him stand out from the crowd of often predictable looking, bland by contrast, British leading men.
Bogarde projected a dangerous magnetism, a simmering sexual intensity, and fierce intelligence on screen. His finely defined, sensitive features and dark velvet eyes caught and held spellbound the viewer, especially the female viewer. No matter that his character Tom Riley shot the beloved PC Dixon in The Blue Lamp. No matter if he played a scheming lowlife or a neurotic criminal on the run. Females were attracted to his screen image like moths to a flame, ranking his sexually sadistic Riley seventh in a Picturegoer poll. (Spicer, 95) Bogarde brought a sense of danger and volatility to his characters, combined with a vulnerability and humanity, which riveted filmgoers’ attention and at the same time drew their sympathy. When the scene changed to romantic war hero or handsome young doctor, he captured hearts and ratings and led the popularity polls for the rest of the decade.