McVicar (1980)

John McVicar was a London Bad Boy. he graduated to armed bank robbery and was Britain's "Public Enemy No. 1". He was captured and put into a high security prison. Will even the highest ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

John McVicar (screenplay), Tom Clegg (screenplay),

Stars:

Roger Daltrey, Adam Faith, Cheryl Campbell

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Daltrey	...	John McVicar
Adam Faith	...	Walter Probyn
Cheryl Campbell	...	Sheila McVicar
Billy Murray	...	Joey Davis
Georgina Hale	...	Kate
Steven Berkoff	...	Ronnie Harrison
Brian Hall	...	Terry Stokes
Peter Jonfield	...	Bobby Harris
Matthew Scurfield	...	Streaky Jeffries
Leonard Gregory	...	Jimmy Collins
Joe Turner	...	Panda
Jeremy Blake	...	Ronnie Johnson
Anthony Trent	...	Tate
Terence Stuart	...	Sid
Harry Fielder	...	Harry Aitch

Storyline

John McVicar was a London Bad Boy. he graduated to armed bank robbery and was Britain's "Public Enemy No. 1". He was captured and put into a high security prison. Will even the highest security prison be able to hold him ? This is the true story of his life, his criminal exploits and his eventual rehabilitation.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | criminal | based on true story | independent film | based on book

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Taglines:

Sentenced to 23 years-and he won't accept one day of it

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1980 (UK)

Also Known As:

En fånge har rymt

Filming Locations:

Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polytel, The Who Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's McVicar title refers to the film's central character John McVicar played by Roger Daltrey.

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Goofs

At the end of the film a caption says that McVicar was arrested in 1970. This means that the action in the film took place in the late 1960s before his arrest. However throughout the film, in the street scenes, there are cars from a later date. This is most notable in a scene where the E-type Jag turns right, behind what appears to be a Mark IV Cortina - a late 1970s model.

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Quotes

John McVicar: Make sure you're not involved, woncha? Cos I'll put a tool right in your belly!

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Crazy Credits

Quote by John McVicar in the closing credits: "Being a thief is a terrific life. But the trouble is they put you in jail for it."

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Connections

Referenced in Alan Meets Roger Daltrey (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Waiting for a Friend"
Written by Billy Nicholls
Performed by Roger Daltrey

User Reviews

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee me!

Can't you hear that's what I say.

John McVicar is a tough uncompromising armed robber, after being sent to a maximum security prison for 23 years he dreams of escaping every day. As his reputation grows and friendships are formed, it would appear that his friend Wally Probyn may have figured a way out of this tough rigid prison.

In 1979 America had The Warriors and The Wanderers, at pretty much the same time us British had Quadrophenia and McVicar to hold dear to our hearts, both films produced out of The Who Films Ltd, both films eminently quotable to a certain age group that were of the teenage persuasion. I love McVicar, I really do, based on the true life story of McVicar, well from his own accounts written in his book, "McVicar by Himself", the film boasts a Who soundtrack and a script that positively sparkles with wit and anger speak. Yes the charges of the film making hardened criminals seem likable characters is a fair one, but not only does the film show the disgust {and rightly outright hatred} for sex offenders, it also showcases just what a hard job the prison officers have, this is something that many of the user comment writers here have failed to acknowledge.

Roger Daltrey takes on the role of McVicar and dons a career best, gruff, perfectly in shape and a wide boy arrogance that comes off as gold dust in this particular piece. Backing him up is wonderful turns from Brian Hall {comic gold}, Steven Berkoff {clearly enjoying himself}, Matthew Scurfield {frighteningly unnerving} and Peter Jonfield. Once the escape happens the film switches in tone as McVicar tries to make some sense of his life, it's an emotional switch that tones the film down but never the less takes us successfully to the highly accomplished finale. We are then left with a wonderful quote from John McVicar himself and we are told just what this tough as nails armed robber actually did with himself from that point on.

Perhaps it's because I was a teenager when the film came out, that I love it so much? Or maybe the script just appeals to me on a very primal level? Either way I'm always going to be a fan of it, and McVicar remains to me, along with Quadrophenia and Scum, British standards to revisit every single year.

I don't care how late it is I'm not going home 8/10