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Villain (1971 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Villain' is a 1971 gangster film directed by Michael Tuchner and starring Richard Burton, Ian McShane, Nigel Davenport and Donald Sinden. It is based on James Barlow's 1968 novel 'The Burden of Proof'. 'Villain' was director Michael Tuchner's first feature film after directing in television.
As with other films of 'Villain'
Plot
Ruthless East End gangster Vic Dakin has plans for an ambitious raid on the wages van of a plastics factory. This is a departure from Dakin's usual 'modus operandi' and the job is further complicated by having to work with fellow gangster Frank Fletcher's firm.
The film's intricate subplots explore Dakin's sadistic nature, his relationship with small-time associate Wolfie and his irritation at having to work with Fletcher's seemingly weak brother-in-law Ed Lowis. Other parts of the story follow Wolfie's bisexual liaisons with Venetia and Dakin, the blackmailing of MP Gerald Draycott to provide an alibi for Dakin and the dogged detectives Bob Matthews and Tom Binney pursuing Dakin.
Cast
* Richard Burton as Vic Dakin
* Ian McShane as Wolfe Lissner
* Nigel Davenport as Bob Matthews
* Donald Sinden as Gerald Draycott
* Fiona Lewis as Venetia
* T. P. McKenna as Frank Fletcher
* Joss Ackland as Edgar Lowis
* Cathleen Nesbitt as Mrs Dakin
* Colin Welland as Tom Binney
* Elizabeth Knight as Patti
* Tony Selby as Duncan
* Del Henney as Webb
* James Cossins as Brown
* John Hallam as Terry
* Anthony Sagar as Danny
* Clive Francis as Vivian
* Shirley Cain as Mrs Matthews
Production
Writing
Unusually, the film was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, two well-known British comedy writers. They worked from a treatment by American actor Al Lettieri, renowned for his tough-guy image in films such as 'The Godfather' and 'The Getaway' as well as for his real-life associations with the New York Gambino Family.Clement and La Frenais based their screenplay on 'Burden of Proof', a novel by James Barlow that the 'Chicago Tribune' had called a "sizzling, compelling book." Coincidentally, Barlow mentions Richard Burton in his book in a scene in which Dakin's barrister asks a female witness if she likes Burton in an effort to sow doubt in the jury's mind about her identification evidence. Though several of the main characters and important situations carry over from the novel, Clement and La Frenais altered the plot considerably.
Casting
Burton wrote in his diaries that he was approached to make the film by Elliott Kastner, who had produced 'Where Eagles Dare' with Burton:It is a racy sadistic London piece about cops and robbers - the kind of 'bang bang - calling all cars' stuff that I've always wanted to do and never have. It could be more than that depending on the director. I play a cockney gangland leader who is very much a mother's boy and takes her to Southend and buys her whelks etc but in the Smoke am a ruthless fiend incarnate but homosexual as well. All ripe stuff.Burton, 9 July 1970
Burton normally earned $1,000,000 per film but agreed to make 'Villain' for no salary in exchange for a larger percentage of the profits. "These are the times of economies for everyone making pictures," said Burton, "And actually working this way - if you can afford it and don't mind waiting for your money - is far more exciting for the actor. You feel more involved in everything rather than just like an old hired hand."Burton Turns Cockney and Cruel for 'Villain' Johnson, Patricia. Los Angeles Times 27 Dec 1970: m1.
Burton also said that the producers persuaded him to take the part through "... great American conmanship. One of the producers said to me - 'I bet if I offered you the part of a cockney gangster you'd turn it down, wouldn't you?'. And of course one's immediate response is to say - don't be daft of course I wouldn't - and the next thing you know you've got a script in your hand." Burton admitted that he had always wanted to play a gangster, having long admired Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart: "I suppose like the fat man who would have loved to be a ballet dancer." During filming, he said: "I usually play kings or princes or types like that ... I've never played a real villain... Interesting type. I'm not sure about this film. We'll see."The Prime of Mr. Burton? By BERNARD WEINRAUB. New York Times 6 Dec 1970: 171.
In 2013, Ian McShane said that he had mixed feelings about playing Burton's bisexual lover. "After kissing me, he's going to beat the hell out of me and it's that kind of relationship rather hostile. It was very S&M. It wasn't shown in the film. He said to me, 'I'm very glad you're doing this film.' I said, 'So am I Richard.' He said, 'You know why, don't you?' I said, 'Why?' He said, 'You remind me of Elizabeth.' I guess that made the kissing easier."
Filming
The film was shot over ten weeks in late 1970. Exteriors were shot on location in areas of London (such as the Winstanley and York Road Estates), Brighton, Bedford and Bracknell.Box office
British exhibitors voted Burton the most popular star at the box office in 1971, although 'Villain' was not listed among the top ten most popular films.Peter Waymark. "Richard Burton top draw in British cinemas." Times [London, England] 30 Dec. 1971: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012. On 30 May 1971, Burton wrote in his diary that 'Villain' was "... a goodish film but so far isn't doing very well in the States but has not yet opened in Britain and the Commonwealth where it should do better."Burton, 30 May 1971 On 21 August 1971, he wrote that the film's director was "whassisname" and that he:
Received a cable... from [executive] Nat Cohen saying the notices for [the film]... superb and great boxoffice, and another cable said we expect a million pounds from UK alone. That means about $1/2 m for me if I remember correctly. There is no accounting for differing tastes of Yanks and English critics. 'Villain' was received badly in the US and with rapture in the UK. I know it is cockney and therefore difficult for Yanks to follow but one would have thought the critics to be of sufficiently wide education to take it in their stride. The English critics, after all, are not embarrassed when they see a film made in Brooklynese. Anyway I am so delighted that it is doing well in UK. Otherwise I would have doubted E's and my judgement in such matters. I thought it was good and she said she knew it was good. The American reaction was therefore a surprise.Burton 21 August 1971
Reception
The film received generally unfavorable reviews, possibly because it was seen as a veiled portrait of the Kray twins, who had been jailed for life in March 1969. It has been described as a "disappointingly histrionic London gangster movie." In 2009, 'Empire' named 'Villain' #2 in a poll of the "20 Greatest Gangster Movies You've Never Seen* (*Probably)."
References
Bibliography
* Burton, Richard, 'The Richard Burton Diaries'.Buy Villain (1971 film) now from Amazon
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