Villain (1971)

In 1970s London, Scotland Yard orchestrates the downfall of mob boss Vic Dakin after he crosses the line by blackmailing Members of Parliament.

Director:

Michael Tuchner

Writers:

Dick Clement (screenplay), Ian La Frenais (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Burton, Ian McShane, Nigel Davenport

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Burton	...	Vic Dakin
Ian McShane	...	Wolfe Lissner
Nigel Davenport	...	Bob Matthews
Donald Sinden	...	Gerald Draycott
Fiona Lewis	...	Venetia
T.P. McKenna	...	Frank Fletcher
Joss Ackland	...	Edgar Lowis
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Mrs. Dakin
Elizabeth Knight	...	Patti
Colin Welland	...	Tom Binney
Tony Selby	...	Duncan
John Hallam	...	Terry
Del Henney	...	Webb
Ben Howard	...	Henry
James Cossins	...	Brown

Storyline

Murderous, sadistic London gang leader Vic Dakin, a mother-obsessed homosexual modeled on real-life gangster Ronnie Kray, is worried about potential stool pigeons that may bring down his criminal empire. The brutal Vic cuts the throat of one bloke who has been a little too loose-lipped, afraid that his gossiping may turn into a grand operatic performance for the coppers. Vic, who enjoys playing at rough trade with his sidekick Wolfe, plans a payroll robbery and directs the blackmailing of Members of Parliament with a taste for unorthodox sex. Scotland Yard Police Inspector Matthews, playing Javert to Vic's Jean Valjean, is moving in on him and the gang. Gang-member Edgar is hospitalized for an ulcer, and Inspector Matthews might be able to make him sing. Will Edgar spill the beans to the coppers before Vic can silence him?

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Plot Keywords:

homosexuality | torturer | scotland yard | gangster | homosexual | 

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Taglines:

Meet Vic Dakin. Then wish you hadn't.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many critics in 1971 felt that Richard Burton was the wrong actor to play Cockney gangster Vic Dakin, and that his performance and accent were over the top.

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Goofs

There is a clear overdub when Wolfe and Venetia arrive at the country house for the party. As they are walking up the drive they both survey the front of the mansion. Wolfe describes the house as, "fit for a king". Venetia responds, "I bet the bathrooms are freezing", but if you watch her mouth movements closely, she actually completes Wolfe's sentence with the phrase , "or queen" .

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Quotes

Vic Dakin: Frank, Frank. We're the boys, aren't we? Aren't we the boys. Always have been, ever since we were kids. Hardly got off our mother's tit when we had 'em quaking down in Hackney.

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Connections

Featured in Queerama (2017)

User Reviews

Solidly acted gangster movie.

I saw this movie about 15 years ago, so it is somewhat hazy now. But I remember it had a cast of solid British character actors. It also possessed an aura of menace and creulty that went from Vic Dakin down through the rest of the cast. The dialogue was tough and believable, as was the violence. The Dakin character was obviously based on Ronnie Kray, but so what, the Krays were topical at the time.

I enjoyed this film. It certainly stands up against the drek of today. I am sick and tired of violence and gangster's being treated with clever and stylistic humour.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1971 (UK)

Also Known As:

Villain

Filming Locations:

Arundel Gardens, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anglo-EMI, Kastner/Ladd/Kanter, Atlantic United Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1