Review of The Sleeping Tiger

Both starring Dirk Bogarde in a psycho-drama involving role and character reversal. This however deservedly lower rated due to its looser plot, implausibilities, lack of coherence, its cliches and its melodramatic style particularly in the closing stages. "The Servant" in contrast is original, compelling even claustrophobic and very memorable, Unclear if it was intentional that the most psychologically puzzling character was not the criminal, Bogarde, but the psychiatrist: Alexander Knox. Did the writer believe that the psychiatrist was in control and judgement vindicated, succeeding better than he ever expected in getting to the root of the criminals behavior and reforming him? By being persistently supportive to the extent of perjury himself, the psychiatrist is able to bond with his "patient" and discover the source of the criminal behaviour - childhood conflict with his father - presenting it to him and provoking a break-down of the callous criminal and achieving an extraordinary conversion. Bogarde suddenly becomes considerate, tactful, respectful, empathetic and thoroughly decent. The psychiatrist on the other hand suddenly pulls out the gun conveniently but dangerously sitting in his always unlocked desk draw and chases after Bogarde. Bogarde in his evil and manipulative mode has seduced the psychiatrist's younger wife but, post conversion, becomes the decent honourable character, controlled by his hitherto non-existent conscience. Too late though. It was though one of Bogardes performances.