Other Directors
in the Sixties

In 1965, Bogarde would win a second BAFTA for his subtle, controlled portrayal of Robert, a journalist disillusioned by his scheming lover Diana, played by Julie Christie, in Darling. Inexplicably, the director, John Schlesinger, was not satisfied and kept editing Bogarde’s role in and out of the film. The award was a fitting payback. Margaret Hinxman of the Sunday Telegraph wrote, ‘Only Dirk Bogarde’s performance touches a responsive chord... more probably because he has the experience and independence to create something true and moving from within himself.’ (Hinxman and d’Arcy, 157). In a brief return to television, he did two classy Hallmark TV productions, ‘Blithe Spirit’ by Noël Coward (7 December 1966), and James Costigan’s ‘Little Moon of Alban’. (1964 NBC)

One of his most enjoyable films of the time was the dark comedy Our Mother’s House, (1967) directed by Jack Clayton, whose recent success Room at the Top was foremost in the public mind. He found working with the child actors and playing their no-good, conman father a wonderful experience. The film was chosen as the British entry at the Venice Film Festival, an honour also given The Servant, King and Country and Accident. Bogarde felt ‘a glow of pride’ saying, ‘at last, I am really contributing something to the British Film Industry, especially abroad.’ (A Particular Friendship, 34)