''The Dressmaker'' is a 1988 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by Jim O'Brien and starring

Joan Plowright Joan Ann Olivier, Baroness Olivier, (née Plowright; born 28 October 1929), professionally known as Dame Joan Plowright, is an English retired actress whose career has spanned over seven decades. She has won two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony ...

, Billie Whitelaw and

Pete Postlethwaite Peter William Postlethwaite, (7 February 1946 – 2 January 2011) was an English character actor. After minor television appearances, including in '' The Professionals'', his first major success arose through the British autobiographical fil ...

. It is an adaptation of the 1973 novel '' The Dressmaker'' by

Beryl Bainbridge Dame Beryl Margaret Bainbridge (21 November 1932 – 2 July 2010) was an English writer from Liverpool. She was primarily known for her works of psychological fiction, often macabre tales set among the English working class. Bainbridge won the ...

Plot

Set during the Second World War in England, the story concerns a claustrophobic relationship between two middle-aged sisters and their fragile 17-year-old niece.

Cast

– Nellie * Billie Whitelaw – Margo *

– Jack *

Jane Horrocks Barbara Jane Horrocks (born 18 January 1964) is a British actress. She portrayed the roles of Bubble and Katy Grin in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous''. She was nominated for the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the title role in th ...

– Rita * Tim Ransom – Wesley *

Pippa Hinchley Philippa Lucy Hinchley (born 7 April 1966) is an English actress who played Elaine Fenwick in '' Coronation Street''. She has also been in ''The Bill'', '' Bugs'', '' Doctors'', '' Holby City'' and '' EastEnders''. She appeared in the one-off d ...

– Val *

Rosemary Martin Rosemary Martin (17 December 1936 – 14 August 1998) was an England, English actress, born in Birmingham. She appeared in dozens of films from 1964 to 1998 and is also known for television roles including Mrs. Partridge in ''Last of the Summe ...

– Mrs Manders *

Tony Haygarth George Anthony Haygarth (4 February 1945 – 10 March 2017) was an English television, film and theatre actor. Life and career After leaving Marlborough College, Liverpool, Haygarth worked unsuccessfully in 1963 as a lifeguard in Torquay, and a ...

– Mr Manders * Michael James Reed – Chuck *

Sam Douglas Sam Douglas (born Douglas Samuel Waters; 17 June 1957) is a British actor best known for his role as private detective Scott Shelby in the PlayStation 3 video game ''Heavy Rain'', as King Herod in ''The Bible'' miniseries for the History Chan ...

– Corporal Zawadski *

Bert Parnaby James Bertram "Bert" Parnaby (4 March 1924 – 30 July 1992) was a British actor who was notable for a string of TV and Film roles from the 1960s through the 1980s. His TV roles included performances in ''Blackadder'', ''By the Sword Divided' ...

– Mr Barnes *

Lorraine Ashbourne Lorraine Ashbourne (born 10 April 1961) is an English actress. Career Ashbourne has appeared on British series and television films, including: '' The Street'', ''True Dare Kiss'', '' Thin Ice'', ''In a Land of Plenty'', ''Boon'', '' Playing th ...

– Factory Girl * Mandy Walsh – Factory Girl *

Margi Clarke Margi Clarke (born 25 May 1954) is an English actress and radio and television presenter. She had a leading role in the film ''Letter to Brezhnev'' (1985), a low-budget film which had an international release. Later, Clarke played Jackie Dobbs ...

– Shopwoman * Andrew Moorcroft – Butcher's Boy * Marie Jelliman – Mrs O'Toole

References

External links

* 1988 films 1988 drama films Films scored by George Fenton Films based on British novels Films directed by Jim O'Brien Films set in Liverpool Films shot at Pinewood Studios American World War II films British World War II films British drama films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films 1980s British films {{1980s-UK-film-stub