The Servant was one of the key British films of the 1960s, winning three BAFTA awards for Dirk Bogarde (Best Actor), James Fox (Most Promising Newcomer) and Douglas Slocombe (Best Cinematography). Joseph Losey directed the film, adapted by Harold Pinter from Robin Maugham's novella, The Servant (1948). 

When Hugo Barrett arrives for his job interview as upper class Tony's servant he finds him asleep in a chair with an empty bottle in his hand. The shot of Barrett looking down on and appraising Tony anticipates what will follow, namely, the loss and disintegration of Tony's control over the house and himself as Barrett slowly assumes power over him. 

We see many of the early scenes through the eyes of Tony's upper class fiancee, Susan, who mocks Barrett's pretensions. She embarks on a power struggle with Barrett over who is the arbiter of taste and style in the house. Barrett counters by bringing his "sister" into the house on the pretext of using her as a maid, escalating the savage struggle for power.

The film explores themes of power, class and sexuality and will be introduced by Dr Sophie Belot, Senior Lecturer in Film and Screen Media at St Mary's University.