I think I need to see all the early British Loseys to get a clear sense of his development in the industry. But it’s pretty hard to get his TV work, including Mark Sabre, which Richard Lester describes amusingly in the Soderbergh interview book. They would have a few cabaret acts filmed, so that if an episode ran short, Mark Sabre would go to the cabaret, looking for clues, and the show would stop for a juggler or a song, then Mark would mutter “Nothing here,” wander out, and the plot would resume!

According to most film histories Losey’s “comeback” begins with The Servant. But critically Time Without Pity is the film. It’s the beating heart of Mac-Mahonist Losey-worship.

And yes, that’s a cut-rate Dirkalike.