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Victim (1961)

 Victim (1961)
type
TVTItem
 Victim (1961)
label
Victim (1961)
 Victim (1961)
page
Victim1961
 Victim (1961)
comment
A groundbreaking British neo-noir suspense thriller, directed by Basil Dearden (The League of Gentlemen) and starring Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, and Dennis Price, Victim centres around a closeted gay barrister named Melville Farr (Bogarde), who puts his thriving career, his marriage, and his freedom at risk by taking on a ring of blackmailers targeting gay men.Released in 1961 (six years before homosexuality was decriminalised in the United Kingdom), the film was highly controversial, earning an "X" rating from British censors (modern releases have been labelled "PG") and getting outright banned for a time in the United States.Notable as the first film to use the term "homosexual", thanks to Dirk Bogarde, who refused Basil Dearden's suggestion of "inverts" as a euphemism and rewrote several scenes himself. It's worth noting that Bogarde himself was gay, and considered Victim an extremely personal project.Victim has been widely credited with impacting British support for gay rights. None other than Lord Arran, who introduced the legislation repealing the Criminal Offences Act, wrote Bogarde praising the film as helping to create a climate where such reform was possible. The Celluloid Closet author Vito Russo singled Victim out as the first film he watched that didn't make him feel ashamed to be gay.
 Victim (1961)
fetched
2023-10-09T14:59:38Z
 Victim (1961)
parsed
2023-10-09T14:59:38Z
 Victim (1961)
processingComment
Dropped link to ArmoredClosetGay: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Victim (1961)
processingComment
Dropped link to Blackmail: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Victim (1961)
processingUnknown
ArmoredClosetGay
 Victim (1961)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Victim (1961) / int_1282bf4f
type
No Celebrities Were Harmed
 Victim (1961) / int_1282bf4f
comment
No Celebrities Were Harmed: Calloway the actor is an expy of Noël Coward.
 Victim (1961) / int_1282bf4f
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_1282bf4f
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_1282bf4f
 Victim (1961) / int_1dea3034
type
Cool Shades
 Victim (1961) / int_1dea3034
comment
Cool Shades: Youth's goggles make him look badass.
 Victim (1961) / int_1dea3034
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_1dea3034
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_1dea3034
 Victim (1961) / int_2a8a7ea6
type
Bury Your Gays
 Victim (1961) / int_2a8a7ea6
comment
Bury Your Gays: "Boy" Barret kills himself rather than reveal his lover's involvement with him, as it could ruin his life and career.
 Victim (1961) / int_2a8a7ea6
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_2a8a7ea6
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_2a8a7ea6
 Victim (1961) / int_37085956
type
Gayngst-Induced Suicide
 Victim (1961) / int_37085956
comment
Gayngst-Induced Suicide: "Boy" Barrett's suicide. He dies to protect the man he loves: knowing he'll be questioned by police, he hangs himself in his prison cell to avoid revealing a distinguished lawyer's involvement with him.
 Victim (1961) / int_37085956
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 Victim (1961) / int_37085956
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_37085956
 Victim (1961) / int_42215dce
type
Ambiguous Ending
 Victim (1961) / int_42215dce
comment
Ambiguous Ending: Farr helps the police catch the Blackmailers, also he will testify at their trial knowing very well this is the end of his career and reputation but he allows Laura to leave before, he offers her to return when it is over. Laura promises that she will, but the movie ends as Farr burns the photograph of him and Boy which leaves the future up to the viewer's mindset.
 Victim (1961) / int_42215dce
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_42215dce
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_42215dce
 Victim (1961) / int_466ccbb4
type
Gayngst
 Victim (1961) / int_466ccbb4
comment
Gayngst: The film is positively overflowing with gayngst. This is justified in that it was made when male homosexuality was still a criminal offense in Britain, while the whole plot involves gay men being blackmailed for the fact as a result. The film was a plea to end criminalization so they wouldn't undergo this.
 Victim (1961) / int_466ccbb4
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 Victim (1961) / int_466ccbb4
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_466ccbb4
 Victim (1961) / int_4d044580
type
Motive Rant
 Victim (1961) / int_4d044580
comment
Motive Rant: Miss Benham gives one at the end before being arrested by the police.
 Victim (1961) / int_4d044580
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_4d044580
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_4d044580
 Victim (1961) / int_529362a3
type
Obsessive-Compulsive Barkeeping
 Victim (1961) / int_529362a3
comment
Obsessive-Compulsive Barkeeping: The barkeeper at the pub is seen cleaning glasses while interacting with the patrons.
 Victim (1961) / int_529362a3
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_529362a3
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_529362a3
 Victim (1961) / int_5a365ed2
type
Incompatible Orientation
 Victim (1961) / int_5a365ed2
comment
Incompatible Orientation: Laura Farr can't stop loving her husband, despite her gradual realization that he can never return her feelings.
 Victim (1961) / int_5a365ed2
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_5a365ed2
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_5a365ed2
 Victim (1961) / int_733ca2f8
type
Noble Bigot with a Badge
 Victim (1961) / int_733ca2f8
comment
Noble Bigot with a Badge: Sergeant Bridie is outspokenly homophobic, but that doesn't stop him from doing his utmost to bring the blackmailing ring to justice.
 Victim (1961) / int_733ca2f8
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_733ca2f8
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_733ca2f8
 Victim (1961) / int_84b1a036
type
Gay Aesop
 Victim (1961) / int_84b1a036
comment
Gay Aesop: The anti-homophobia message dropped like an anvil so heavily, it is part of the reason homosexual relations were decriminalized in Britain.
 Victim (1961) / int_84b1a036
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_84b1a036
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_84b1a036
 Victim (1961) / int_9398f2b0
type
Get Back in the Closet
 Victim (1961) / int_9398f2b0
comment
Get Back in the Closet: Very much in effect in the original judgement of the British film censors. One of their four main reasons for giving the film an X rating was Melville's simple statement "I wanted him."
 Victim (1961) / int_9398f2b0
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_9398f2b0
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_9398f2b0
 Victim (1961) / int_9f62723d
type
Get Out!
 Victim (1961) / int_9f62723d
comment
Get Out!: Line said by Harold Doe when evicting Barrett from his bookshop.
 Victim (1961) / int_9f62723d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_9f62723d
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_9f62723d
 Victim (1961) / int_a08199ec
type
The Dog Was the Mastermind
 Victim (1961) / int_a08199ec
comment
The Dog Was the Mastermind: The man behind the blackmail ring is... Miss Benham, Doe's secretary who was innocuously introduced early on. Sandy Youth acts as her dragon.
 Victim (1961) / int_a08199ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_a08199ec
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Victim (1961) / int_a08199ec
 Victim (1961) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Victim (1961) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: At one point, the Police Inspector says that, as police, they cannot be dealing with the Bill Sikes of the world all the time. Several scenes also take place outside the New Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) while it was hosting the original West End run of Oliver!.
 Victim (1961) / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_c75df49a
 Victim (1961) / int_ca5eda76
type
Heteronormative Crusader
 Victim (1961) / int_ca5eda76
comment
Heteronormative Crusader: Sergeant Bridie goes on a rant against homosexuality, opposing its decriminalization. It doesn't stop him from pursuing blackmailers extorting closeted gay men though. The barkeeper is clear on not liking homosexuality at all, though he still amiably serves gay men. Miss Benham is motivated not just by profit while blackmailing gay men, but intense homophobia, saying they deserve it for their behavior.
 Victim (1961) / int_ca5eda76
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1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_ca5eda76
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_ca5eda76
 Victim (1961) / int_d4508136
type
There Should Be a Law
 Victim (1961) / int_d4508136
comment
There Should Be a Law: Inverted - the film's clear message is there should not be one criminalizing homosexual relations, as it only leads to gay men getting blackmailed as they're forcibly stuck in the closet.
 Victim (1961) / int_d4508136
featureApplicability
1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_d4508136
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Victim (1961) / int_d4508136
 Victim (1961) / int_dbca2c99
type
Red Herring
 Victim (1961) / int_dbca2c99
comment
Red Herring: There's a lengthy subplot involving an older blind man and his partner which implies they're involved in the blackmail ring. Turns out they're just minor swindlers operating their own separate racket.
 Victim (1961) / int_dbca2c99
featureApplicability
1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_dbca2c99
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1.0
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Victim (1961) / int_dbca2c99
 Victim (1961) / int_df410b77
type
Decoy Protagonist
 Victim (1961) / int_df410b77
comment
Decoy Protagonist: Boy Barrett seems to be the hero of the story but after his suicide the focus shifts to barrister Farr.
 Victim (1961) / int_df410b77
featureApplicability
1.0
 Victim (1961) / int_df410b77
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_df410b77
 Victim (1961) / int_e9505dd1
type
Crusading Lawyer
 Victim (1961) / int_e9505dd1
comment
Crusading Lawyer: Mel morphs into one after the death of Barrett.
 Victim (1961) / int_e9505dd1
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 Victim (1961) / int_e9505dd1
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961) / int_e9505dd1
 Victim (1961) / int_name
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ItemName
 Victim (1961) / int_name
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 Victim (1961) / int_name
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 Victim (1961) / int_name
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 Victim (1961)
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Victim (1961)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Armoured Closet Gay / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Bury Your Gays / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Crusading Lawyer / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Film Noir Index / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Gay Aesop / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Gayngst / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Gayngst-Induced Suicide / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Get Out! / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Heartwarming in Hindsight / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Heteronormative Crusader / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Incompatible Orientation / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Lover and Beloved / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Motive Rant / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Noble Bigot with a Badge / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Obsessive-Compulsive Barkeeping / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Out of the Closet, Into the Fire / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
Queer Character, Queer Actor / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
The Dog Was the Mastermind / int_11e72865
 Victim (1961)
hasFeature
There Should Be a Law / int_11e72865