McVicar (1980)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

John McVicar (screenplay) and
Tom Clegg (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

August 1980 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

John McVicar was a London Bad Boy. he graduated to armed bank robbery and was Britain's "Public Enemy No...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Criminal | Based On True Story | Independent Film | Based On Book

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

The Who Films

Trivia:

Although in the book on which the film is based, McVicar was in prison with many infamous criminals of his day, the majority of characters in the film have fictitious names. For example, the character of Cody is based on the notorious Moors Murderer Ian Brady, and his girlfriend, mentioned during the riot scenes (as McVicar and others read the transcription from Cody's trial), is Myra Hindley.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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.

Quotes:

[Prisoner Cody is brought from the secure wing for dinner]
Terry Stokes: Sex case! Sex case! Hang him, hang him, hang him!
Prisoners: [joining in from their cells] Sex case! Sex case! Hang him, hang him, hang him!
Prisoners: [louder] Sex case! Sex case! Hang him, hang him, hang him!
Prisoners: [louder still] Sex case! Sex case! Hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him!
Prisoners: [shouting] Hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him, hang him!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Alan Meets Roger Daltrey (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Bitter and Twisted

I was ten when I first watched this film, and it remains one of my favorites

An absolute classic, with Daltrey portraying McVicar to a T. One of the best British gangster flicks, that will undoubtedly have taught Guy Ritchie a thing or two. Directed in such a way that the viewers sympathy lies unequivocally with the criminal, it relates a message without being pious. Very refreshing.