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BFI Film Classics
Victim
Victim (1961) was a landmark film, not only for Dirk Bogarde in taking on the role of the title’s victim - the homosexual barrister who takes on the blackmailers who prey on gay men - but also in the personal lives of many who went to see the film. Its message about the need for society to remove, by decriminalization, a means of persecuting a specific minority was one with which Bogarde identified fully, but could, for obvious reasons, champion only through a work of fiction. James Mason and Jack Hawkins had turned down the role; Bogarde, with more to lose than either of them, seized it with relish. Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, John Coldstream’s insightful study addresses the film’s importance in the campaign to decriminalize homosexuality; the contribution of its stars Dirk Bogarde and Sylvia Syms to its emotional impact; and the risk Bogarde took in taking on the central role.
- GenresFilmHistoryNonfiction
120 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2011
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 5, 2019
Recently the BFI had a Dirk Bogarde season. To tie in with this they produced a brilliant little book, all about a rather brilliant film - 'Victim' . The book is written by John Coldstream, who was a perfect choice for the task, as he recently wrote a fantastic biography of Mr Bogarde and put together Dirk's letters!
To read that and of course this book, you are struck once again by what a dichotomy Dirk was. He lived with his partner Anthony Forward for over 40 years and yet up to his dying day never Hi admitted their love. They were merely friends who happened to live together... there is a very poignant letter right at the end of the 'Bogarde Letters' book when his niece asks him about his sexuality and even then he denied it. So you can only then ask yourself why time and again he chose to play a homosexual in 'Victim', 'The Servant', 'The Spanish Gardner' (albeit he wasn't gay but the object of Michael Hordens affection.), the Servant and of course, 'Death in Venice'. It's as though he were crying out to tell of his love....
The book focuses on the film, how it was conceived by the writer Janet Green, how they managed to get it past the censors, who in fact helped them out to make it suitable for the 1961 audience. The book contains some lovely photographs but also the notes that Dirk made on the back of his leather bound script, in his own hand - he takes you through the emotional journey he takes during the story.
Dirk often tells of how it was he who came up with the wonderful speech he gives to his wife about his feelings for the boy, 'I wanted him' ......
The film at the time was of course groundbreaking! People tell how it changed their lives forever, sat in silent film houses people found out for the first time they were not alone in their feelings!
It's a great book and a great accompaniment for this film.
To read that and of course this book, you are struck once again by what a dichotomy Dirk was. He lived with his partner Anthony Forward for over 40 years and yet up to his dying day never Hi admitted their love. They were merely friends who happened to live together... there is a very poignant letter right at the end of the 'Bogarde Letters' book when his niece asks him about his sexuality and even then he denied it. So you can only then ask yourself why time and again he chose to play a homosexual in 'Victim', 'The Servant', 'The Spanish Gardner' (albeit he wasn't gay but the object of Michael Hordens affection.), the Servant and of course, 'Death in Venice'. It's as though he were crying out to tell of his love....
The book focuses on the film, how it was conceived by the writer Janet Green, how they managed to get it past the censors, who in fact helped them out to make it suitable for the 1961 audience. The book contains some lovely photographs but also the notes that Dirk made on the back of his leather bound script, in his own hand - he takes you through the emotional journey he takes during the story.
Dirk often tells of how it was he who came up with the wonderful speech he gives to his wife about his feelings for the boy, 'I wanted him' ......
The film at the time was of course groundbreaking! People tell how it changed their lives forever, sat in silent film houses people found out for the first time they were not alone in their feelings!
It's a great book and a great accompaniment for this film.
January 10, 2016
A detailed and compelling guide to the 1961 film Victim. The book covers the situations that led to the script being written, the work that went into delivering a working script, a critical look at the plot and the shooting of the film, reactions to the film by critics and audiences, and its legacy. Written by the official biographer and letter editor of Dirk Bogarde.
February 28, 2022
A comprehensive analysis of this 1961 film, with a lot of the correspondence between the players ahead of filming illustrating the social context of the day. In its day, an important milestone in British film, six years before homosexuality was legalised.
June 14, 2020
Great study of one of my favorite films.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews