VictimPG

Directed by Basil Dearden | UK | 1961 | 1h 40m | Starring Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, Peter Copley

In early 1960s London, respected barrister Melville Farr has a thriving legal career and a seemingly perfect marriage. But when he’s linked to a young gay man targeted by blackmailers, Farr risks everything to expose the truth and confront the men behind the scheme. Featuring a fearless performance by Dirk Bogarde, Victim was groundbreaking in its time (the first British film to openly address homosexuality) and remains a powerful, deeply human portrait of courage in the face of societal hypocrisy.

Classic Season: Queer Thrillers

Reviews

‘Recent critics find Victim timid in its treatment of homosexuality, but viewed in the context of Great Britain in 1961, it’s a film of courage.’
★★★★★
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

‘There are many pleasures to be found in the quirky supporting cast, expressive, noir-style lighting and an effectively suspenseful opening.’
★★★★
Ben Walters, Time Out

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We showed Victim between June 22, 2025 and June 25, 2025.

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Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!

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