Dirk Bogarde’s telegram to Joseph Losey

Joseph Losey was born on this day in 1909. Read this moving telegram to the great director from his regular star Dirk Bogarde, sent following the shoot of their 1967 classic Accident.

14 January 2014

Accident (1967)

Screen idol Dirk Bogarde wrote to director Joseph Losey after completing Accident (1967), a witty study of simmering class conflict and sexual tension: 


Telegram sent by Dirk Bogarde to Joseph Losey

Thank you from my heart for the last three months. Stephen* has completely gone away and it seems has taken part of myself with him. I have never felt quite so abandoned and destroyed as I do today but in the vacuum which remains there is great happiness that you trusted me to play him even if here and there I might have failed you though I tried constantly, sometimes desperately, not to. I miss you greatly and love you more than you could ever guess.
 

* Bogarde is referring to his character in the film, an academic who develops an obsession with one of his students.

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