Steaming *** (1985, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Diana Dors, Patti Love, Brenda Bruce, Felicity Dean) – Classic Movie Review 5847

The British women’s steam room drama Steaming from 1985 is a sad occasion as it marks the final movie of both director Joseph Losey and star Diana Dors. Indeed it is advertised as ‘The final classic from acclaimed director Joseph Losey.’

It is a dour but mostly enjoyable movie, in which an all-female cast plays a group of middle aged women who gathers in the steam room / sauna of a tatty London Turkish bath to relax and to exchange gossip. Three of them decide to fight its planned closure.

Excellent performances from the fine cast, who also include Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Patti Love, Brenda Bruce, Felicity Dean, Anna Tzelniker and Sally Sagoe, bring out the best in the involving dialogue in Patricia Losey’s talk-heavy screenplay closely based on Nell (Up the Junction) Dunn’s London West End stage play.

But otherwise the film is oddly forgettable, especially considering the cast, director and that it is based on Dunn’s fascinating stage hit. It was filmed on just the one set at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, for $3,000,000. It ends up a bit too talky and a bit unremarkable, apart from the appealing performances.

In 1997, Jenny Eclair starred in a London stage revival of the play.

Steaming runs 95 minutes, is made by World Film Services, is released by Columbia-EMI-Warner (1985) (UK) and New World Pictures (1986) (US), written by Patricia Losey, based on Nell Dunn’s play, shot by Christopher Challis, produced by Richard F Dalton and Paul Mills, scored by Richard Harvey and designed by Maurice Fowler. Additional narrative is by Robin Bextor [Robin Ellis-Bextor] who also wrote the lyrics to Harvey’s song Steaming, sung by Stephanie De Sykes. He is the father of singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

By the time it was released in 1985 both director and star were gone.

The veteran of 41 movies, Losey died on 22 June 1984, aged 75.

Blonde bombshell Diana Dors, aka The Siren of Swindon, died on 4 May 1984, age 52. Steaming is her 100th film and TV credit. She is best remembered for A Kid for Two Farthings and Yield to the Night.

Another 1985 British film featured a group of women characters discussing life: She’ll Be Wearing Pink Pyjamas.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5847

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