Victim

"A Scorching Drama of the Most Un-talked About Subject Of Our Time!"

Oct 11 1961 Not Rated 1h 30m
Drama

A web of blackmail and murder attracts the attention of a barrister with a seemingly idyllic life, threatening to derail his career on the path of success.

Plot

A plea for reform of England's anti-sodomy statutes, Melville Farr (Sir Dirk Bogarde), a married lawyer, tries to locate a blackmailer who has photos of Farr and a crying young gay man (who is being blackmailed and later commits suicide) in Farr's car. After the suicide, Farr tracks down other gay men being extorted for money by the same blackmail scheme. Worldly Police Detective Inspector Harris (John Barrie) considers the anti-sodomy law nothing more than a license to blackmailers, and eventually is contacted by Farr to capture the malicious blackmailer. The movie, far ahead of its time, ends with Farr and his loving wife coming to terms with his homosexual tendencies in advance of the public exposure he will face in the team of blackmailers' trial.

Written by

Janet Green, John McCormick

Directed by

Basil Dearden

Production Countries

United Kingdom

Production Companies

Allied Film Makers

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 2 BAFTA 3 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
7,882
Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
85
Popularity
NA