Steaming (1985)

Steaming: Directed by Joseph Losey. With Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Diana Dors, Patti Love. Three female frequenters of a steam room decide to fight its closure.

“Five stars for this film of Nell Dunnu0026#39;s play set in an English council run Turkish bath on Womenu0026#39;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 thatu0026#39;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.”