Tweet

Set in 19th century England, Esther Walters features Dirk Bogarde in his first starring role - a dashing cad who's making a mess of Kathleen Ryan's life. Alex Davidson enjoys this moving tale.

Esther Waters gave Dirk Bogarde his first starring role as William, the charismatic yet feckless groom who seduces the eponymous heroine (Kathleen Ryan, fresh from the success of Odd Man Out), a devoutly religious maid.

After he runs off with the Lady of the Manor’s niece, Esther discovers she is pregnant and is consequently made redundant. She moves from job to job with her son, until she finally finds another man willing to marry her - until a chance encounter with William throws her life back into disarray.

Ryan is excellent as the complex title character, torn between passions of the heart and her devotion to God. But this is Bogarde’s film, and he gives a star-making performance. As William enters the shady world of bookmaking (leading to a thrilling, pivotal horserace at the film’s climax), Esther is again forced to question her beliefs (gambling being a sin), yet surrenders faced with Bogarde’s captivating antihero.

While the film has its pessimistic moments (including a sinsiter scene where a woman offers to kill Esther’s baby to make life easier), Esther Waters is a moving and poignant hymn to humanity and redemption.

 

Alex Davidson on 26th January 2011
View all 216 of Alex Davidson's reviews