Following hot on the heels of Mike Hodges' "Get Carter" (1971), this movie is another example of the new type of grit and realism that became de rigueur in British crime movies made in the years that immediately followed the demise of the Production Code. "Villain" was most notable, at the time, for its graphic violence, nudity and scenes of gay encounters which were presented with far greater frankness than audiences would have been used to at that time. This new realism also extended to its depiction of gangsters as being far nastier, more brutal and less sympathetic than had been typical in earlier years.
Based on James Barlow's novel "The Burden of Proof" this movie focuses on the events surrounding a payroll heist and the nature of the gangster who takes charge of the job. His propensity for extreme violence is depicted in an early scene in which, after a couple of his thugs beat up an informer, he carries on punching the guy before going to work on him with an open razor and strapping him to a chair on which he's left to dangle horizontally from the outside of a window that's five storeys above street level. When the gangster and his henchmen then leave the building where the assault took place and see splashes of blood on the pavement, in a remark that's typical of the movie's cynical humour, the gangster utters "bleeding pigeons".
When cockney gangster Vic Dakin (Richard Burton) is approached by club owner Danny (Anthony Sagar) about an opportunity to carry out a payroll heist at a plastics company, he's initially reluctant to get involved because his speciality is racketeering and he thinks that the job carries too many risks. He reconsiders, however, after realising that Danny knows a disgruntled employee who's willing to supply any assistance or information that the gang might need and furthermore, as the money is routinely delivered in an ordinary saloon car, it could be a soft target.
As the location of the plastics company falls within another crime boss' territory, Dakin follows protocol and meets with Frank Fletcher (T.P. McKenna) to discuss what he has in mind. Fletcher is agreeable for the plan to go ahead subject to him and his brother-in-law, Edgar Lowis (Joss Ackland) being brought into the action. Despite his misgivings about Lowis' involvement, Dakin agrees to this proviso and the robbery goes ahead but also goes badly wrong in a number of ways. After making their getaway, the criminals split up and Lowis is instructed to take the money and meet Dakin later at his boyfriend's flat. Dakin's boyfriend is Wolfe Lissner (Ian McShane), a bisexual pimp who specialises in procuring female company for rich clients.
Police Inspector Bob Matthews (Nigel Davenport) is a Scotland Yard detective who, for years, has been obsessed with bringing Dakin to justice and when he's able to arrest Lowis after the ulcer-sufferer's fingerprints are found in the getaway car, he feels that he can get the information he needs to catch and convict Dakin. He hits a problem, however, when Wolfe uses some compromising photographs to blackmail one of his clients (a Member of Parliament) into providing Dakin with a cast-iron alibi. Matthews then decides that devising a plan to trap his man would probably provide him with his only chance of winning his personal duel with Dakin and bringing his criminal activities to a permanent conclusion.
The unconventional decisions to employ comedy writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to supply the screenplay and a well-respected Shakespearean actor to fill the lead role, certainly paid off as the dialogue is often witty and Richard Burton's strong baritone delivery adds considerable authority and credibility to his depiction of the sadistic, mother-fixated crime boss. Wolfe is probably the only character who shows any semblance of charm and Ian McShane does a great job as the amoral Wolfe who's always ready to do whatever's needed to survive. The quality of the acting is good throughout with Nigel Davenport excelling as the exceptionally determined honest cop who's also an atrocious whistler! "Victim" is by no means a classic but is certainly worth watching.
Based on James Barlow's novel "The Burden of Proof" this movie focuses on the events surrounding a payroll heist and the nature of the gangster who takes charge of the job. His propensity for extreme violence is depicted in an early scene in which, after a couple of his thugs beat up an informer, he carries on punching the guy before going to work on him with an open razor and strapping him to a chair on which he's left to dangle horizontally from the outside of a window that's five storeys above street level. When the gangster and his henchmen then leave the building where the assault took place and see splashes of blood on the pavement, in a remark that's typical of the movie's cynical humour, the gangster utters "bleeding pigeons".
When cockney gangster Vic Dakin (Richard Burton) is approached by club owner Danny (Anthony Sagar) about an opportunity to carry out a payroll heist at a plastics company, he's initially reluctant to get involved because his speciality is racketeering and he thinks that the job carries too many risks. He reconsiders, however, after realising that Danny knows a disgruntled employee who's willing to supply any assistance or information that the gang might need and furthermore, as the money is routinely delivered in an ordinary saloon car, it could be a soft target.
As the location of the plastics company falls within another crime boss' territory, Dakin follows protocol and meets with Frank Fletcher (T.P. McKenna) to discuss what he has in mind. Fletcher is agreeable for the plan to go ahead subject to him and his brother-in-law, Edgar Lowis (Joss Ackland) being brought into the action. Despite his misgivings about Lowis' involvement, Dakin agrees to this proviso and the robbery goes ahead but also goes badly wrong in a number of ways. After making their getaway, the criminals split up and Lowis is instructed to take the money and meet Dakin later at his boyfriend's flat. Dakin's boyfriend is Wolfe Lissner (Ian McShane), a bisexual pimp who specialises in procuring female company for rich clients.
Police Inspector Bob Matthews (Nigel Davenport) is a Scotland Yard detective who, for years, has been obsessed with bringing Dakin to justice and when he's able to arrest Lowis after the ulcer-sufferer's fingerprints are found in the getaway car, he feels that he can get the information he needs to catch and convict Dakin. He hits a problem, however, when Wolfe uses some compromising photographs to blackmail one of his clients (a Member of Parliament) into providing Dakin with a cast-iron alibi. Matthews then decides that devising a plan to trap his man would probably provide him with his only chance of winning his personal duel with Dakin and bringing his criminal activities to a permanent conclusion.
The unconventional decisions to employ comedy writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to supply the screenplay and a well-respected Shakespearean actor to fill the lead role, certainly paid off as the dialogue is often witty and Richard Burton's strong baritone delivery adds considerable authority and credibility to his depiction of the sadistic, mother-fixated crime boss. Wolfe is probably the only character who shows any semblance of charm and Ian McShane does a great job as the amoral Wolfe who's always ready to do whatever's needed to survive. The quality of the acting is good throughout with Nigel Davenport excelling as the exceptionally determined honest cop who's also an atrocious whistler! "Victim" is by no means a classic but is certainly worth watching.