I though it was important to remind myself that Victim was made in 1961, when homosexuality was still a crime in many civilized countries. That's partly why I think Victim belongs in a class of its own. Basil Dearden, the director of The Blue Lamp is a personal favorite of mine and Dirk Bogarde, well Dirk Bogarde is an actor who also belongs in a class of his own. Courageous is the first word who comes to mind. He was a hugely popular actor in 1959's England. Beautiful to look at on top of that. A matinée idol who was also gay in real life. Imagine the courage it took to play a secret gay in this movie and he doesn't shy away from giving a face, his face to the truth of his tortured character. - Kudos also to Sylvia Syms who plays his wife. Sylvia Syms who also played the Queen Mother to Helen Mirren's The Queen in 2006 is a real standout and her reaction to her husband's revelation is worthy of study. Superb. Dirk Bogarde with a successful career behind him, started, with this film a new and spectacular career, starring in films directed by Luchino Visconti, Joseph Losey, Reiner Werner Fassbinder, Alain Resnais and others.

Half a century's age, this hidden curio from UK cinema revolves around a series of homosexual blackmailing cases (while men could be put in jail simply for being gay), an eminent married lawyer in the closet decides to expose the extortion on account of his "young admirer" commits suicide in order not to comprehend him into the dark corner, so as to prompt to unseat the discrimination inside UK's legislative system and which will inexorably end his prominent career. The film counts in a flock of various characters, among which mostly are gay men (of divergent ranks), under the milieu of repression, some are diffident and dodging, some are well-off and laissez-faire, and depicts a vivid gay scene at then with a briskly unobtrusive measure (in spite of multiply exploiting unsettling close-ups of faces to attenuate the dramatic currents), deftly projects Dirk Bogarde's heroic lawyer as the knight in shining armor to rescue the gay sub- culture being bullied and threatened. Bogarde is bold (off the screen) and instinctively mesmerizing (on the screen) in the film, even subconsciously one could dive into his dilemma and being shepherded until the exit of the maze, remarkably it is not a common whodunit trickery, no actions, no noir atmosphere, it is a moral lecture with a cogent victory of defending oneself's nature. Sylvia Syms is steadfast in her role as the wife, knowingly indulging her marriage and naively believes there is an alternative, the two-hander between her and Bogarde is the zenith of this film. The film's laconic 90 minutes length does seep some coerced discontentment, but frankly speaking the story has no loose end, one could divine its subsequent development in his own aftertaste.

London construction worker Peter McEnery (Jack "Boy" Barrett) is tracked by blackmailers and police. Desperate, he turns to successful barrister Dirk Bogarde (as Melville "Mel" Farr). The men had been having car sex, but Mr. Bogarde, who married Sylvia Syms (as Laura Hankin) and intended to give up homosexuality, called off the affair. Now, Bogarde avoids the younger man, fearing exposure. When Mr. McEnery hangs himself in jail, Bogarde decides to risk his marriage and career to track down the blackmailers who are preying on the city's secretive gay community...Not knowing what to expect here, the plot completely eluded me until Bogarde's excellent performance put the pieces together. Fortunately, it didn't take too long, and the story being about the blackmailing of gay men becomes obvious. This is a fine production; however, the "sympathetic" approach to the subject matter leans perilously close to pity. Still, it was released at a time when sexual contact between people of the same gender was illegal - and, if things were different, they'd be no basis for the blackmail plot. Bogarde and Basil Dearden deservedly won honors.******** Victim (8/31/61) Basil Dearden ~ Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Peter McEnery, Dennis Price

Reflection of our own history is fascinating, especially when we take the time to notice that what was once considered illegal, is now quite tolerated. The film, " Victim " is truly remarkable for it's time. The main star, Dirk Bogarde plays Melville Farr, who is married, dedicated and a well respected English Barrister (Lawyer) in England. Furthermore, as an official of the Court, he holds a prominent position in the hierarchy of polite society and is about to be appointed a Judge. Like most people,he has secrets, one of which remains deep and dark. Indeed, except for his wife Laura (Sylvia Syms) few are privy to know his is a closeted Homosexual. Years ago, it was not only damming, but against English law, punishable by imprisonment. From far in Farr's past, emerges an echo of his early indiscretions, in the form of a tormented young man named Barret (Peter McEnery) who desperately wants to meet with him. Believing he is out to blackmail him, Farr dismisses him, only to learn he later commits suicide. This changes the tempo of what is regarded as a sleeper of a movie. Yet, far from it, this black and white film extends an invitation into the dramatic, nightmarish world of terror feared by any gay individual seeking to avoid the wrath of a homophobic world. Aside from such notables as Derren Nesbitt (Where Eagles Dare), John Barrie and John Cairney (Cleopatra), there is the excellent direction of Basil Dearden. Too often a minor film such as this has a greater impact on society than many expected. Dirk Bogarde who gave us other Classics like 'A Death in Venice', 'The Servant and 'Sebastian' has once again created yet another monumental Classic. Easily recommended. ****