tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post6965889496476950714..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: Victim: John Coldstream's New Book about the Landmark 1961 FilmRick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-85894819010774453802012-03-10T20:37:42.145-05:002012-03-10T20:37:42.145-05:00Victim is a favorite of mine, although it's ha...Victim is a favorite of mine, although it's hard to imagine a whole book about it. Dirk Bogarde was indeed wonderful in the part, and like you, Rick, I love films that catch you in the beginning because you don't know exactly where it's going. The story is such a sad statement about people being treated so badly and having to live in fear. I think it is excellent.ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-7268641347369947742012-03-09T00:37:26.700-05:002012-03-09T00:37:26.700-05:00I saw the film not too long ago and was struck by ...I saw the film not too long ago and was struck by how daring it was for its time. The book sounds like a good read.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-31201944972931668032012-03-08T22:29:44.159-05:002012-03-08T22:29:44.159-05:00Toto, the BFI series reminds me of the "Filmg...Toto, the BFI series reminds me of the "Filmguide" series of books published by Indiana University in the 1970s. Those books also focused on a single film (with much analysis) and THE subjects included 2001, PSYCHO, and THE RULES OF THE GAME.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-12154979257920261332012-03-08T22:26:01.840-05:002012-03-08T22:26:01.840-05:00R.D., you certainly make a valid point about Farr&...R.D., you certainly make a valid point about Farr's motivation being about more than just self-preservation. I think Bogarde is fabulous in my favorite of his films. I can easily envision Courtenay as Barrett; it definitely sounds like he was auditioning for that role given the filmmakers and the time period. As I've mentioned elsewhere in this blog, VICTIM grabbed me with its opening scenes--I had no idea where it was going (and I always find that intriguing in a film). I've only seen SAPPHIRE once and that was several years ago, so thanks for mentioning the Basil Dearden boxed set.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-77847809163090480572012-03-08T18:44:11.767-05:002012-03-08T18:44:11.767-05:00Rick, this was a very interesting post. Like you, ...Rick, this was a very interesting post. Like you, I prefer film references to focus less on summary and more on analysis and interesting things about the making of the film, the story behind the story, etc. I saw "Victim" in the '90s and found it compelling. Dirk Bogarde was remarkable. I checked out some of the other titles available from this BFI series and it includes titles like "Gun Crazy," "I Know Where I'm Going!," and "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer." Great post!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-23096630071300141232012-03-08T17:10:59.600-05:002012-03-08T17:10:59.600-05:00Rick, a most interesting review. I saw "Victi...Rick, a most interesting review. I saw "Victim" about a year ago and though I didn't think it was a great film, I found it a good one. I think in the quotation from James Breen you use, Breen underestimates the significance of homosexuality (which, as you write, was still illegal in Britain at the time) to the film. I found the most compelling thing in the film Dirk Bogarde's conflict about whether to give in to the blackmail attempt or not. Bogarde gives one of his finest, subtlest, and most heartfelt performances. (Bogarde was coy about his sexual orientation but is generally considered to have been gay.) For Farr the issue becomes more than just protecting his career and personal reputation. It becomes a matter of exposing the social and personal cost of making it illegal to be gay. His decision to defy the blackmailers despite the personal cost to him is one not easily reached.<br /><br />When I was researching a post on Tom Courtenay awhile back, he wrote about being interviewed by Dearden and Relph in 1960 for a film they were casting. He decided to go to the interview in character, dressed in working class student clothes. They were offended by what they saw as his casual attitude to the opportunity they were presenting (he was still in drama school at the time). He didn't name the part or the film, but I inferred that it must have been Barrett in "Victim."<br /><br />For anyone interested in seeing "Victim," it as well as "Sapphire" and two other Dearden-directed films (including the delightful heist film "The League of Gentlemen") is included in the Criterion Eclipse set "Basil Dearden's London Underground" released about a year ago.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.com