Victim

When this BAFTA-awarded film was released in 1961, it touched on a controversial topic that had never been challenged quite so openly before. Full plaudits, in more ways than one, must go to its star, movie idol Dirk Bogarde, for playing such a challenging role…

Bogarde features as top barrister Melville Farr, a man concealing a guilty secret from his adoring wife Laura (Sylvia Syms). Gradually, this secret is revealed when Farr receives a distressed and unsolicited phone call from Boy Barrett (Peter McEnery), a wages clerk employed for a construction site. It transpires that Barrett has stolen some money and is now on the run. And why should our upper crust barrister want to help a man employed on a building site?

Now we come to the crux of the matter! Despite Farr’s dismissal of Boy, it soon becomes clear that there was a relationship between the two men – and I say a relationship as opposed to a friendship. Misunderstanding the reason for Boy’s phone call, Farr tells him not to bother him again, however, pretty soon he has reason to regret his hasty decision. The real reason for Boy’s call to Farr was to warn him that a blackmailer has gotten hold of a photograph depicting him and Farr in a compromising situation… It is at that point that it becomes clear that Boy Barrett is a homosexual and that Farr has in fact a gay past. Despite Boy’s fevered efforts both to warn and to get other people to help him in his plight, least of all bookshop owner Harold Doe (Norman Bird), help does not arrive but the police do! However, rather than answer their questions and endanger his former lover, he hangs himself in the prison cell – as it turns out, in vain: police find evidence which Boy tried to hide, connecting him to Farr… and a whole can of worms is opened. Farr now realises that Boy’s call was not intended to blackmail him, but to warn him about the fact that he himself was being blackmailed with regards to their former ‘friendship’. Suddenly, the ghosts from the past have returned to haunt Farr and he realises, sharp barrister that he is, that he’s got to do something about it and double-quick! It’s not before long that Farr finds himself a victim of the blackmailer, leading to the discovery of various other gay men who are in the same position. It should be borne in mind that until 1967 homosexuality in England was illegal. Suffice to say, the whole situation puts a great strain on Farr’s seemingly happy marriage and the future of his career.

This b/w film is atmospherically photographed and was shot mainly around London’s ‘theatreland’. One of the key scenes was shot in the Salisbury pub on St. Martin’s Lane, where three years later famed photographer David Bailey snapped girl du jour Marianne Faithfull. The majority of the cast features a multitude of then popular British actors. Let’s start with Dennis Price (Kind Hearts & Coronets) who plays his usual pompous and sneering character. Derren Nesbitt (Where Eagles Dare) as the seedy Sandy Youth is exceptionally well cast here. The same can be said for Peter MyEnery, whose anguished portrayal of the young Boy Barrett (the film’s original title) is not easily forgotten. That said, it is a little far fetched to see this demure and sensitive looking young man working as a wages clerk on a construction site. A stockbroker’s clerk maybe… A slim, pretty Sylvia Syms (Ice Cold In Alex) has the daunting task of playing Farr’s loyal wife, a woman who stands by her man no matter what. Last but not least, Dirk Bogarde puts in a very convincing performance as the bi-sexual barrister. Obviously, his courage in accepting this part paid off, and went on to feature him in films such as The Servant (1963) and Night Porter (1974).

This Blu-ray release has the following Special Features:

Dirk Bogarde in Conversation - an extensive interview with Bogarde where he talks frankly about his career (Standard Definition only)
Original theatrical trailer
Four image galleries, including extensive promotional and behind-the-scenes shots
Promotional material PDFs