What’s On In London – Sept 1961

WordPress Photo Gallery Plugin

VICTIM

VICTIM, at the ODEON, Leicester Square, is a film that takes a definite and unequivocal point of view about homosexuality, coming down heavily in its conclusion on the side of the Wolfenden Report, crying out without hysteria against the law as it has stood-though always accepting the obvious fact that the normal male must be utterly revolted by the abnormality that the Report, in at least one sense, seeks to protect.

Victim does this by telling a story of a blackmail racket by which homosexuals are ruthlessly milked of their cash by the threat of exposure. A half and- half barrister becomes involved and eventually bravely decides, even though he knows it will mean the end of a most promising legal career and possibly, too, the end of his hitherto happy marriage, that he will go into the box and testify against the gang – something which none of their other victims have had the courage to do.

Owing something to the “whodunit,” the film cleverly builds its tension and though this is brutally dispelled by an ending which somehow never convinces it finally emerges with considerable distinction, both for the courage with which this delicate subject has been tackled and the excellent, even highly entertaining movie that has been made from it.

It must have needed great courage for Dirk Bogarde to accept the leading role of the tainted barrister. As it is, he plays it superbly, and Sylvia Syms is delightful as the humiliated wife. A strong supporting cast includes Dennis Price and many other fine players.