Although the authorship of 'The Servant' is usually solely attributed to Joseph Losey - who gets to give full reign to his obsession with the British class system - it should always be borne in mind that there were actually three intellects behind this film.
It makes more sense if one is aware that it originated with a 1948 novella by Robin Maugham, who admitted that it was based on an episode when he was a young man when a butler introduced a good-looking young 'nephew' into the household and the book is a version of what might have happened had he risen to the bait; and certainly makes one view Barrett's 'fiancé' Vera in a new light.
But the major creative element was probably Harold Pinter's script, which supplied the playfully sinister wit such as the poisonous scenes between the two bachelors forced to cohabit; although Maugham sneered contemptuously upon viewing (SLIGHT SPOILER COMING:) the climactic orgy that it was plainly the work of a simple working class lad "who'd never been to an orgy in his life!"
Finally there's the element of serendipity which provides the visual impact supplied by a London shrouded in snow by the great winter of 1963 that the film of 'The Caretaker' had also recently benefitted from.
It makes more sense if one is aware that it originated with a 1948 novella by Robin Maugham, who admitted that it was based on an episode when he was a young man when a butler introduced a good-looking young 'nephew' into the household and the book is a version of what might have happened had he risen to the bait; and certainly makes one view Barrett's 'fiancé' Vera in a new light.
But the major creative element was probably Harold Pinter's script, which supplied the playfully sinister wit such as the poisonous scenes between the two bachelors forced to cohabit; although Maugham sneered contemptuously upon viewing (SLIGHT SPOILER COMING:) the climactic orgy that it was plainly the work of a simple working class lad "who'd never been to an orgy in his life!"
Finally there's the element of serendipity which provides the visual impact supplied by a London shrouded in snow by the great winter of 1963 that the film of 'The Caretaker' had also recently benefitted from.