Joseph Losey: A Revenge on Life

by David Caute

In 1963 Joseph Losey achieved international acclaim with his film "The Servant", which also marked the beginning of his collaboration with Harold Pinter. Their film "Accident" was followed by "The Go-Between", which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Losey's career began with experimental theatre in New York before he moved to Hollywood and the blacklist forced him into exile. Drawing on FBI files and private documents, this book sets out to show why Losey finally compromised by signing non-communist affidavits. In addition to appraising his 31 feature films, the author provides a portrait of a driven talent, honoured in Europe but ignored by Hollywood, whose creative generosity, alcohol addiction and egotism produced equally fierce reactions.

Genres: Film

591 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Tom De Ville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive on Losey's life and work, but dry in places (lots of regurgitating old documents, particularly when it comes to Losey's politics) and strangely catty in others.

[Robby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though Caute's biography is often catty and I don't agree with all his assessments of the films (MODESTY BLAISE is more fun than he gives it credit for, THE PROWLER's script is pulpy, but it's supposed to be) but his exhaustive research of Losey's life and his attempts to excavate Losey's exaggerations and lies pays off quite well. I certainly had a greater appreciation for Losey's Zelig-like presence in the theatre and film scenes across two continents over several decades, even if my personal estimation of him fell.