Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Victim is about a group of gay men being blackmailed during a time when it was a crime to be homosexual. It’s also the type of film that works best when you don’t know what you’re getting into, so I’m not going to get into a lot of detail.
The film opens with Jack Barrett (Peter McEnery) running from the police. He calls Melville Farr (Dirk Bogarde), a successful barrister, but Farr doesn’t want to speak with him. Barrett tries contacting other people, but most of them refuse to help. Soon the police catch up to him and he gets arrested.
From here the story focuses on Farr, and things start to come together. We find out that Barrett is being blackmailed because he’s gay, but that’s about all. Nobody knows who was blackmailing him, and it isn’t until Farr realizes his connection to the blackmailer that he must find a way to catch the criminal.
Some Thoughts:
Victim looks good, leaves you guessing, and has an edge. The camerawork and visuals are decent, and the acting is spot on, as is the pacing. There isn’t as much tension as you would expect from a film noir, but it has a lot of heart and well-developed characters.
In 1961, when you could be arrested for being gay, it was risky for a movie to show gay men in a sympathetic light. The film does a good job showing what the LGBT community was up against, and what we had to overcome. And because of that, this is an important piece of cinema.
The subject matter must have been shocking enough in 1961, but Farr’s marriage must have taken it over the edge. I can’t say much about their relationship, but it does have some twists. Sylvia Syms plays Farr’s wife, Laura, a woman caught in a situation that would be unthinkable back then. Syms does a great job with the role, making Laura relatable and reasonable.
Victim won’t have you at the edge of your seat, but it will keep you guessing and entertained. There’s not a lot I can say without giving everything away, so see this gem for yourself.
The Final Verdict:
Victim is a delightful gay classic that many people may not have heard of. If you ever get a chance to see it, don’t pass it up.