Straightforward, non-sensationalized British film, an original from screenwriters Janet Green and John McCormick, has a ring of blackmailers taking advantage of the laws prohibiting homosexuality in England and threatening to 'out' certain parties if they don't pay up; after one victim commits suicide, a former friend--and married lawyer--decides to play detective and expose the blackmailers, at the risk of ruining his own career and marriage. Dirk Bogarde is excellent in the lead; his grimace of both humility and humiliation is rather touching, and very human. The victims are the usual lot (an actor, a hairdresser, etc.),but the film is exceptionally engrossing and well-made, neatly camouflaging its plea for tolerance under the guise of a suspense drama (and the denouement is nicely staged). Director Basil Dearden includes a few intentionally sardonic visuals, and he isn't afraid to knock down walls (though any male-to-male intimacy stays off-screen). Still, a watermark for gay cinema. *** from ****

The fact that this was probably the first mainstream picture that addressed homosexuality does not mean this is a movie only for gay audiences. The bottom line is that it is an exceptional movie...period--gay or not.

The film begins with a young man contacting various acquaintances begging for help. However, in each case, he was made to feel about as welcome as cancer. Eventually, you learn that the man is gay and he's frantic because he's being blackmailed because of this. However, he has no money and is running out of options. Ultimately, his secret gets out and the police arrest him. Soon afterwords, he hangs himself in his jail cell.

Later, one of the men (Dirk Borgarde) the young man tried to contact finds out about the suicide and what led to it and he is determined to destroy the blackmailers. This is a serious problem because he doesn't know who is behind the ring AND because he, too, is gay (or at least bisexual) and is being blackmailed by them. Even more serious is that until 1967, homosexual behavior was punished by imprisonment in the UK--and the film was made in 1961.

As I said above, this isn't a gay-only picture, but a film that is for a much wider audience. Regardless of your attitudes about homosexuality, the blackmail scheme was evil and Bogarde's character choosing to risk everything to see justice was compelling. This deeply closeted man was rich, married and a barrister (A fancy English term for a lawyer who appears in court to argue cases). The bottom line is that the film is very well constructed, written superbly and makes a very compelling case for the elimination of the anti-sodomy laws, as it made those involved liable to blackmail and other mistreatment.

FYI--Bogarde actually was gay, though he only admitted it later in life. Despite his reticence, he played gay or women-hating men in quite a few films such as DEATH IN VENICE and CAST A DARK SHADOW and so it wasn't exactly surprising when he finally acknowledged his lifestyle.

VICTIM is an atmospheric and highly suspenseful British crime film that's gone down in history for being the first film to explicitly tackle the subject of homosexuality. Even the word 'homosexual' hadn't been uttered in the cinema until this time. Of course, the theme of sexuality is only part of an otherwise traditional crime story, but it's the bit everyone remembers.

The affable Dirk Bogarde expertly channels his own inner darkness for his central role as a lawyer investigating a blackmailing plot which has driven a man to suicide. Derren Nesbitt (BURKE & HARE) is suitably nasty as the guy who makes his living from exposing homosexuality - which, of course, carried a jail sentence in those days.

VICTIM is blessed with strong direction from the veteran Basil Dearden who makes a compelling thriller with some starkly lit black and white photography. The supporting cast, which incorporates Sylvia Sims, Dennis Price, and Charles Lloyd Pack, is exemplary. Okay, this isn't the most entertaining film out there - aside from the extraordinary subject matter the story is relatively familiar - but it has gone down in history as a document of its time.