Victim (1961)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Janet Green (screenplay) and
John McCormick (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 1961 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A prominent lawyer goes after a blackmailer who threatens gay men with exposure (homosexual acts still being illegal). But he's gay himself...

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Homosexual | Blackmail | Suicide | Law

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Melville Farr
Sylvia Syms	...	Laura
Dennis Price	...	Calloway
Nigel Stock	...	Phip
Peter McEnery	...	Barrett
Donald Churchill	...	Eddy
Anthony Nicholls	...	Lord Fullbrook
Hilton Edwards	...	P.H.
Norman Bird	...	Harold Doe
Derren Nesbitt	...	Sandy Youth
Alan MacNaughton	...	Scott Hankin (as Alan MacNaughtan)
Noel Howlett	...	Patterson
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Henry
John Barrie	...	Det. Inspector Harris
John Cairney	...	Bridie

Runtime:

90 min | 100 min (pre-censored version) | 96 min (video version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2004) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | Finland:K-16 | West Germany:18 (bw) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) (uncut)

Filming Locations:

Cambridge Circus, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Company:

Allied Film Makers (AFM)

Trivia:

Many performers refused roles in this film because of the subject matter.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Melville is stood outside the Counsel & Clerks office, the shadow of the boom microphone is visible beside the sign, on the wall behind him.

Quotes:

Frank: Well it used to be witches. At least they don't burn you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Kind of Loving (1962)

A Striking, well shot and memorable film

Set in 1950's Britain at a time when homosexuality is against the law, a top Barrister ( Dirk Bogarde) puts his career on the line to tackle the outrageous blackmail of London's homosexuals.

Impressive cast and outstanding performance by Dirk Bogarde as the troubled barrister whose anguish and pain one can see in his face throughout the film. Watching this now in the 21st century, it seems unbelievable to think that homosexuality was illegal here forty years ago. This is not to say that homophobia is not a concern now, because it still is, however there have been large strides forward for the acceptance and tolerance of homosexuals in mainstream society.

This film is an excellent historical snippet at a time of contentious laws as well as being a fine piece of art. Basil Dearden directs brilliantly and the script maintains a gripping interest throughout. In addition it was nice to see many parts of London as they were in the fifties before factories were knocked down and the hordes of yuppie apartments where built along the Thames.