Villain (1971 film)

Infobox Film
name = Villain


caption = "Meet Vic Dakin. Then wish you hadn't."
director = Michael Tuchner
producer = Jay Kanter
Elliott Kastner
Alan Ladd, Jr.
writer = James Barlow Novel
Dick Clement
Ian La Frenais
Al Lettieri Adaptation
starring = Richard Burton
Ian McShane
T.P. McKenna
Frank Fletcher
Donald Sinden
music = Jonathan Hodge
cinematography = Christopher Challis
editing = Ralph Sheldon
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (US)
MGM-EMI (UK)
released = May 26, 1971
runtime = 98 min.
country = United Kingdom
language = English
amg_id = 1:115614
imdb_id = 0067952

"Villain" is a 1971 gangster film directed by Michael Tuchner and starring Richard Burton, Ian McShane, T.P. McKenna and Donald Sinden.

It tells the story of ruthless East End gangster Vic Dakin and his plans for an ambitious raid on the wages van of a plastic factory. This is a departure from Dakin's usual modus operandi, and the job is further complicated by his having to work with fellow gangster Frank Fletcher's firm. As Dakin plots, Wolfe wheels and deals and MP Draycott gets caught in a web of his own iniquity, they are doggedly pursued by Inspector Bob Matthews (Nigel Davenport) who's just waiting for Dakin to slip up.

The film was written by the unusual combination of well-known British comedy television writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and the American actor Al Lettieri, renowned for his 'tough-guy' image in films such as The Godfather and The Getaway.

Critical Reception & Performance at the Box Office

According to Melvyn Bragg's 1988 biography "Richard Burton: A Life", the movie was a terrible flop and helped erode Burton's status as a box office star. Two years before "Villain", Burton had played a homosexual hairdresser in the comedy "Staircase" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065031/] , which had proved a huge bust at the boss office despite the talents of co-star Rex Harrison and director Stanley Donen. A gay love scene between Burton and co-star Ian McShane was cut from "Villain", possibly as it was felt it wouldn't boost ticketsales, as cinema audiences already had not accepted Burton, one of the cinema's most notorious Don Juans, as a homosexual.

Ironically, Burton was mentioned in James Barlow's 1968 novel, "The Burden Of Proof", which the film was based on. In the book, the prosecutor asks a female witnesses if she "likes the actor Richard Burton". [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067952/trivia]

The movie received egregious reviews, and Burton -- whose acting style was predicated upon the precise use of his mellifluous voice -- was particularly savaged for his attempt at a Cockney accent.

Cast

* Richard Burton...Vic Dakin
* Ian McShane...Wolfe Lissner
* T.P. McKenna...Frank Fletcher
* Donald Sinden...Gerald Draycott.
* Fiona Lewis...Venetia
* Joss Ackland...Edgar Lewis
* Colin Welland...Tom Binney
* Tony Selby...Duncan
* Cathleen Nesbitt...Mrs Dakin
* John Hallam...Terry
* Elizabeth Knight...Patti
* James Cossins...Brown

Quotes

The film is noted for its fast-paced and colourful dialogue, for example:

:Bob Matthews: I don't know what you expect to get out of this, Dakin, apart from maybe an orgasm.:Vic Dakin: Don't be a berk all your life, Sergeant.:Bob Matthews: It's Inspector now.:Vic Dakin: Bit extra on your widow's pension.

:Edgar Lewis: He's losing a lot of claret, Vic.

:Vic Dakin: Boxed in and buggered! What is it?

:Henry: Big tough boys.:Frank Fletcher: They're the local rugby team.:Henry: Well, they'll be short on Saturday.

:Vic Dakin: Fancy living here.:Webb: Nice and quiet.:Vic Dakin: Stupid punters. Telly all the week, screw the wife Saturday.

:Vic Dakin: Go and make a phone call, Terry.:Terry: Who to?:Vic Dakin: I don't know, your fairy-sodding-godmother.

Actor memories

Ian McShane revealed recently in The Daily Mail the he had mixed feelings about playing Richard Burton's bisexual lover. 'After kissing me, he's going to beat the hell out of me and it's that kind of relationship - rather hostile. It was very S&M. It wasn't shown in the film. He said to me "I'm very glad you're doing this film." I said, "So am I Richard." He said, "You know why, don't you?". I said, "Why?". He said, "You remind me of Elizabeth". I guess that made the kissing easier.'Fact|date=August 2008

External links

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