- Actors: Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, Peter Copley
- Directors: Basil Dearden
- Writers: Janet Green, John McCormick
- Producers: Basil Dearden, Michael Relph
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Carlton
- DVD Release Date: 26 Jan 2004
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0000Z0IAC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 120,239 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Victim is quite simply a watershed moment in cinema history. The first mainstream film to portray sympathetically and realistically homosexual society, it did so at a time when homosexuality was still a crime in Britain. Janet Green and John McCormick's screenplay makes Dirk Bogarde's Melville Farr a deeply conflicted man; married and in love with his wife, he also has relationships with men; while as a lawyer he is bound to uphold the law, even as he is compelled to break it. When Jack Barrett (a young Peter McEnery) commits suicide to avoid the consequences of blackmail, Farr sees this as murder, and decides to end the extortion even if it costs him his career.
Rather more skilfully plotted than it initially appears, Victim generates considerable tension, and boasts fine performances from an ensemble cast including Sylvia Syms as Farr's wife, Norman Bird, Donald Churchill and John Barrie. Basil Dearden, who memorably featured Bogarde in an early role in The Blue Lamp (1950), directs with professional assurance. Not just a historical document--though the location footage of central London circa 1961 is fascinating in its own right--Victim was instrumental in changing attitudes, which led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality. A turning point for Bogarde too, the film marked a move from matinee idol to the more serious fare of The Servant (1963) and Darling (1965).
On the DVD: Victim is presented in an anamorphically enhanced 16:9 transfer, which beautifully captures the noir-ish black-and-white cinematography of Otto Heller. There is occasional print damage, but it is minimal and doesn't distract from the film. The mono sound is very good. The disc also includes the original trailer, an annotated gallery of production photographs and a 28-minute television interview with Dirk Bogarde. This excellent feature was filmed in the actor's house just prior to the release of Victim and finds him discussing his career with particular reference to Hunted (1952), the Doctor comedies, Song Without End (1960) and his latest, "bitterly controversial" picture, which he says couldn't have been made even two years earlier. --Gary S Dalkin
Special Features
Trailer
30-minute interview with Dirk Bogarde
Stills gallery
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Sound: Mono
Subtitles: English HOH
30-minute interview with Dirk Bogarde
Stills gallery
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Sound: Mono
Subtitles: English HOH
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
....they do things differently there.
Never more true than in this remarkable (for its time) film. Apart from being a story of courage, determination and sacrifice, it presents a picture of a time, now happily gone, when to be gay was a matter of secrecy and shame. Dirk Bogarde's career could have disappeared overnight when he took the brave decision to make this film and he gives a fine performance of a man torn between his comfortable life and successful career and his deep and secret passion. He is surrounded by a fine ensemble cast led by the splendid Sylvia Syms as his wife, Peter McEnery as "Boy" Barratt, the object of his desire and with Dennis Price, Nigel Stock and Charles Lloyd Pack in strong support. A special mention should go to a character actor by the name of Norman Bird who plays a second-hand book seller deeply in love with "Boy" Barratt, the catalyst for Bogarde's actions. Bird gives a wonderful and very moving performance as this bland little man who must mourn his loss in secret. Well ahead of its time, the film still packs a significant punch and tells a heartbreaking tale about what it was to be gay before the law changed in 1967.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Given the age of this film (early 1960's) it is nothing short of incredible.
It handles the subject of homosexuality in a very sensitive and yet inspiring way. I was especially impressed with the relationship between husband and wife - this could have been treated in a very negative way, but was in fact very moving.
This is a film that everyone should see at least once as it is profoundly significant - I would put it on a par with The Colour Purple - as it similarly confronts the viewer with human truths.
It handles the subject of homosexuality in a very sensitive and yet inspiring way. I was especially impressed with the relationship between husband and wife - this could have been treated in a very negative way, but was in fact very moving.
This is a film that everyone should see at least once as it is profoundly significant - I would put it on a par with The Colour Purple - as it similarly confronts the viewer with human truths.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There are lots of reasons why you should watch this film (and it repays repeated viewings)but Dirk Bogarde is possibly the best of them. Here he is in a role that few actors - at the time - would have dared attempt (the fact that Bogarde was himself a homosexual, albeit one who preferred to keep his private life to himself only emphasises how much he stood to lose in a less 'liberal' social climate than the one we have today). With one stroke, he ended his increasingly uncomfortable career as a matinee idol and became the great actor he was always destined to be.
This film is criticised nowadays for its attitude to homosexuals: it treats them as sad, tortured creatures who deserve our pity - and whilst I can understand people making that objection, I think that director Basil Dearden and all involved had their hearts in the right place. You'll also see a very early (and moving) performance by Peter McEnery and a couple of excellent acting turns by Sylvia Syms and Dennis Price.
Definitely a film to watch, learn from and savour.
This film is criticised nowadays for its attitude to homosexuals: it treats them as sad, tortured creatures who deserve our pity - and whilst I can understand people making that objection, I think that director Basil Dearden and all involved had their hearts in the right place. You'll also see a very early (and moving) performance by Peter McEnery and a couple of excellent acting turns by Sylvia Syms and Dennis Price.
Definitely a film to watch, learn from and savour.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Victim - Homophobia - laws
What a truly brilliant film. It was SO brave of Dirk Bogarde to even consider acting in it; especially with the attitudes there were at the time ... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Andy V
A 'land-mark' in British Cinema!
This is a fascinating film - not least because of its subject matter at the time it was made - but also the stellar cast which includes: Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by FAMOUS NAME
Victim, the film
Very good cast and the interpretations are very good. Possibly a shocking film at the time, and presumably some of the topics are still current. Dirk Bogarde is remarkable.
Published 7 months ago by Lou Review
Ahead of it's time.
Given the subject matter it is difficult to comprehend that this movie was made at all at that time let alone advocating a change in the law to decriminalise homosexuality. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr O
Groundbreaking film
I love this film for both personal & critical reasons - I saw it at a time of personal stress and so any film that gets you a bit weepy / is cathartic will have resonance and stay... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. John Tate
Art imitating life..
I've just watched this film on tv for the first time in many years. A first-rate film and brilliantly written. Read more
Published 22 months ago by dannyboy24
shame about the lack of subtitles
This is a fantastic film, revolutionary for the time, but it's a real shame the makers of the dvd didn't take the time to produce subtitles for it. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by rageintothenight
groundbreaking!
As other reviewers have stated this was truly a groundbreaking movie at the time and its story still holds up today. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by ciaran moore
Dirk does it again ... So does London.
This is one of those classic British movies - and the film world would be a sadder place without it. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by Green Knight
A film ahead of its time
Dirk Bogarde plays Farr, a top barrister on the verge of becoming a judge, who thinks he's being blackmailed by a young man with whom he once had a brief, platonic dalliance. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2009 by Blackhorse47
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