I though it was important to remind myself that Victim was made in 1961, when homosexuality was still a crime in many civilized countries. That's partly why I think Victim belongs in a class of its own. Basil Dearden, the director of The Blue Lamp is a personal favorite of mine and Dirk Bogarde, well Dirk Bogarde is an actor who also belongs in a class of his own. Courageous is the first word who comes to mind. He was a hugely popular actor in 1959's England. Beautiful to look at on top of that. A matinée idol who was also gay in real life. Imagine the courage it took to play a secret gay in this movie and he doesn't shy away from giving a face, his face to the truth of his tortured character. - Kudos also to Sylvia Syms who plays his wife. Sylvia Syms who also played the Queen Mother to Helen Mirren's The Queen in 2006 is a real standout and her reaction to her husband's revelation is worthy of study. Superb. Dirk Bogarde with a successful career behind him, started, with this film a new and spectacular career, starring in films directed by Luchino Visconti, Joseph Losey, Reiner Werner Fassbinder, Alain Resnais and others.
Review of Victim
