This was the first serious approach to homosexuality the cinema had ever made. Made in Britain in 1961 where, as in the US, being gay was still a crime, the movie was actually banned from American theaters simply because it used the word ‘homosexual’.
This stunning movie was a groundbreaking departure for Dirk Borgarde the star who until then had been the country’s most successful matinee idol. His brave and daring decision to play Farr against everyone’s advice was all the more significant for the fact he was never openly gay in his lifetime despite having a male partner for some 50 years. After this role he went on to give more superb performances in movies such as ‘Death In Venice’ ‘Accident’ ‘ The Night Porter’ etc that have since become essential classics for gay audiences everywhere.
Victim is essentially a film of courage. It also paved the way for legislation top de-criminalise homosexuality in the UK. And even though we have gained such freedom since then this entertaining and compelling highly dramatized thriller still deserves our attention.
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Labels: 1961, British, classic, drama, gay, ground-breaking, thriller
