Villain

19711971
RR
1h 38m

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

6.6/10

1.7K

Director
- Michael Tuchner
Writers
- Dick Clement(screenplay)
- Ian La Frenais(screenplay)
- Al Lettieri(adaptation)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

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Richard Burton, John Hallam, Del Henney, and T.P. McKenna in Villain (1971)

Fiona Lewis and Ian McShane in Villain (1971)

Richard Burton and Ian McShane in Villain (1971)

Of East London, Vic Dakin dotes on his aged and largely bedridden mother. He is also the leader of a criminal gang whose proceeds are largely from the regular collection of "protection money" from their victims. Vic often uses brutal violence against enemies as well as "friends" to prove a point, the violence in and of itself which he seems to relish. While not a regular means to money, Vic decides that his gang will work on a tip to rob a factory payroll, which, somewhat against his wants, will entail working with fellow criminal Frank Fletcher, who understands such a job better than Vic or anyone on his team. Making the job more complex at this time are: the police being after Vic for the vicious attack on one of Vic's associates who acted as a police snitch; and Vic's association with Wolfie Lissner, who procures sexual services for a number of people, including some fairly high profile ones, and who often acts as Vic's "on demand" sexual partner. —Huggo

homosexuality torturer scotland yard gangster homosexual 54 more

Taglines
- Meet Vic Dakin. Then wish you hadn't.
Genres
Certificate
- R
Parents guide

Trivia
A sex scene between Richard Burton and Ian McShane was cut from the original theatrical release.

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" .

Quotes
[last lines]
[Vic Dakin has shot and killed Edgar Lowis because he thinks he has betrayed him. He tries to run but realizes that the police have got the place surrounded so he walks up to Inspector Matthews and throws down his gun]
Bob Matthews: See them?
[camera shows shots of various onlookers]
Bob Matthews: And them. And them. You can't put the frighteners on *all* of them. Not all the time.
Vic Dakin: Why not?
Bob Matthews: You call 'em punters. We call 'em witnesses.
Vic Dakin: You know, if I looked at one of them, they'd piss in their pants. Because I'm Vic Dakin.
Bob Matthews: Used to be.
Vic Dakin: And who are you? What do *you* do? Keeping Britain clean on thirty quid a week. Respect! Respect! You don't know what it is. Unless you're Vic Dakin. Tell 'im, someone, tell 'im.
[no-one says anything to support Vic]
Vic Dakin: A hundred witnesses. But only twelve men on the jury. You remember that. Only twelve men on the jury.
[more shots of various onlookers and policemen, none of them looking scared]
Vic Dakin: [shouting angrily at the onlookers] Who are you looking at?

Connections
Featured in A Bit of Scarlet (1997)

Top review

Underrated, violent London gangster film with almost comic overtones

Perhaps a poor relation to "Get Carter," (they were made around the same time as each other), this is nonetheless an underrated, interesting gangster film. Richard Burton is strangely cast as the violent East End villain, Vic Dakin. You can see that his character is obviously based on Ronnie Kray, and Burton has difficulty pulling off a cockney accent. He is often seen fumbling through his lines. With lots of London location filming and cockney banter, Americans will love this film. There is even a brilliant car chase during the violent wages snatch. Donald Sinden is brilliant as the sleazy, blackmailed MP who frequents high society sex parties. In this respect, the film is very satirical, the characters are stereotypical of an era where scandal amongst the English establishment and local "businessmen" was (and still is) rife.

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