ESTHER WATERS

UK, 1948, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Kathleen Ryan, Dirk Bogarde, Cyril Cusack, Ivor Barnard, Fay Compton.
Directed by Ian Dalrymple and Peter Proud.

Esther Waters is based on a novel by George Moore, a re-creation of English life in the 1870s and 1880s. It was an era of upstairs-downstairs differentiation of the classes. The setting is a mansion, life among the servants – but, especially, with a young man who is interested in betting and racing. It is of interest to see how racing meetings were conducted in that period.

The film has the expected ingredients: the poor servant who has a Welsh Chapel background, charmed by the son of the main servant, seduced, pregnant, his leaving, her having to have the baby in the workhouse, the trials and tribulations she experienced, especially in service. There is some hope with a young preacher offering to marry her – at the time that the father of her son returns. There is generally a happy ending even though there is a touch of tragedy. It is the type of popular novel that makes a strong television miniseries.

Kathleen Ryan is a rather melancholic Irish actress in such films as Captain Boycott, Odd Man Out. This was the second main feature film for Dirk Bogarde and he showed his screen presence and skill in characterisation very strongly. Cyril Cusack is the preacher and Fay Compton is the kindly lady of the house.

The film seems very much of its period – even though it was made only sixty years after the events.

1. The popularity of this kind of costume drama, melodrama? The wages of sin…? An alternate title was The Sins of Esther Waters.

2. Black and white photography, re-creation of the English countryside in the 1870s and 1880s? The mansions, the servants’ quarters, the towns, the poorhouses, homes? The sequences on the racetrack? Musical score?

3. The background of Victorian England, the differentiation of the classes, the upper and middle class snobbery? The treatment of servants? The households? The restricted areas? The servants’ quarters, life amongst the servants themselves? The ball which the master of the house provided when the horse won the race? Dressing up? The workhouse, the harsh attitudes, the couples taking in children to starve them so that they would die? The pubs, the racetrack? An authentic atmosphere – and the spirit of the 19th century and Victorian times?

4. The introduction to Esther, her poor background, her father, her religious convictions, Chapel? The arrival, the encounter with William? The first reaction of William’s mother and the other servants? Her feeling humiliated? Her wanting to leave, her temper? Mrs Barfield and her kindness, the dress? Esther feeling more at home, doing her work, encouraged? The friendship with William, listening to him, differences of opinion, especially about betting? The attraction, his attentions to Peggy, his departure? The revelation that she was pregnant? Mrs Barfield and her kindness, Esther wanting to return home?

5. Esther as a strong character in herself, the impact of the seduction, the pregnancy? Her going to the workhouse after her father was missing and her mother dead? The difficulty of the birth? The discussions of adoption? Her being placed in service, the severity of the alleged charitable woman of the household? The child in care – the greedy couple and their starving the child, Esther denouncing them?

6. The years passing, Esther in service, sometimes successful, sometimes not? Her love for Jackie? The kindness of the policeman, taking her to his sister Florence, Florence looking after the boy?

7. Freddie, his sermon, kindness, his offer of marriage to Esther, the shock about the baby, his overcoming this? Her putting him off?

8. Her meeting William on the crowded train, his coming back into her life, the difficulties in making the decision for Freddie? William and his coming to see Jackie, offering him the gold sovereign, Esther’s anger? Her not wanting to see him again? Her discussions with Freddie – and her hesitations?

9. Going back to William, her love for him, his change? His explanations, his mother’s death? His leaving Peggy? His setting up the hotel? The betting? The marriage, the day at the races, the derby days? Randall and his place in service with Mrs Barfield, William helping him and his working in the hotel? The other staff?

10. Sarah, Mr Evans, the touts at the racing? William taking on Evans? The successful years, the prosperity, Esther learning how to manage the hotel?

11. William, his illness, the change of fortune, going into hospital, betting all the money, his death?

12. Esther, Randall and the bet, losing everything? Her strength of spirit, going to Mrs Barfield, in service with her? Jackie in the navy and his coming to visit?

13. The Victorian ethos of goodwill and strength of character overcoming all troubles?