The measure of each other

I can't possibly recommend a 500 page biography on the basis of its first, short introductary chapter. But if the rest of the book is as good as these first few pages, I will eventually urge you to read:

Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography. (I was foolish enough to get the hardcover. The paperback will be out soon.)

The prologue is an account of the actor's death and an introduction to the woman who took care of him the last two years of his life, Sheila Maclean from County Donegal. Originally hired to nurse Bogarde for 6 weeks, Sheila says:

"... he was unique and had contributed a lot and he still had something to say and do. And that is when it became clear to me that I should stay longer than six weeks. I thought: 'To hell with this, I'm not going to be able to walk away.'"

Bogarde eventually asks her to stay, in a convoluted way:

"You know, it is getting close to the six weeks. What is it that you want to do? Because it is really important to me."

Sheila tells him she can stay on "a wee bit longer," not wanting to over do it. And he says:

"You have no idea how much of a relief that is to me. Because in all honesty I think you and I have the measure of each other."

Sheila tells John Coldstream, the biographer:

"And I understood exactly what he meant. Because I did think that was true -- that we did have the measure of each other."

I think I understand too.

Dirk Bogarde was the lead in four of my favourite films:

* Joseph Losey'sThe Servant

* Liliana Cavani's The Night Porter

* Luchino Visconti's La Caduta degli dei
('The Damned')
* and Death in Venice, also by Visconti

'They don't make 'em like that anymore,' is a trite thing to say, but honestly? I think two of those films would not be made in the current conservative climate. All four would be considered morbid.

Morbid suited Bogarde, who made a clean break from his early Rank matinee idol status, seeking roles that were as dark as his brooding looks.

What attracted me to him was the expressiveness of his eyes. He was subtle performer, intense, mysterious and dangerous as well as slightly fey. A gentleman with secrets. To me he was Britain's finest actor.