Steaming

Five stars for this film of Nell Dunn's play set in an English council run Turkish bath on Women's day. There is some fine acting: Diana Dors steals the show of course for her sheer ability. Venessa Redgrave gives a stolid performance although there is nothing to stretch an actress of her abilities, and the rest of the cast give good performances. The whole film has an atmosphere of a BBC play for today and there is no real cinematic quality to the film as a whole. I really would not want to see this on the big screen. Perhaps this is due to the confines of the set: we see the plunge bath, steam room, hot room, exercise room, showers and rest room. And that's it. No exterior shots to establish the baths - all the action takes place in one location. The whole thing is simply a filmed play. Workmanlike but not inspired.The play however examines relationships between a number of women, mostly middle class.

This is an extremely unambitious film.Strange film for Losey to end his career on.Also rather ssdly the end for Diana Dors.She actually looks much better than in previous films where she looked blousy and overweight.Vanessa Redgrave looks like a fish out of water.

It's not that the whole movie is filled with unusual dialogue but half the time it feels as if there aren't conversations happening but monologues. I understand it's based off a play but that's what you have to do when adapting a play to a film.

Makes it hard to follow when you don't really care about half of what's being said.

Though it belies its stage origins this character study of a group of women who find a camaraderie in the local ladies steam bath that isn't available to them anywhere else keeps you involved thanks to Losey's firm directorial hand and superior performances by the cast.

The showpiece performance is from Patti Love as the combative Josie but both Vanessa Redgrave and Sarah Miles score sharply in more muted roles. This was the final film for Diana Dors before her far too early death and it provides her a lovely opportunity to exit on a fine grace note. Her fabled beauty while not a memory had by this point softened into a mature softness filled with character. As the motherly Violet she shows that the stunning good looks of her youth weren't all she had to offer.

This film is unfortunately like an extended edition of Loose Women. Loads of waffling, disagreements, precious little actual outcome. While it was nice to see some famous faces as I've never seen them before, the sheer boredom level is off the scale.