a classic Brit film of the early seventies,Villain remains a superbly made and well crafted example of pure villainy and layered characters making the best of the likes of Burton,McShane,Davenport and Acland. It opens with a gritty murder of some shady character who has crossed Richard Burton,who plays Vic Dakin,the central crook, who embarks on a wages snatch which goes horribly wrong,and ends with Dakins comeuppance at the hands of the law. With Jaguars and Zodiacs, seedy nightclubs and a dash of homosexuality,Villain makes at times uneasy watching and yet with Burton it remains compulsive. It has echoes of James Cagney and his 'Ma' in White Heat,as Vic Dakin and his Mother exercise a ring of steel midst crooks and cops. Watch it, enjoy it and savour the whole meal of man and mob.It is on video but still scarce to find, DVD is long overdue.
