"Villain" is often cited as the beginning of the end of Richard Burton's, who plays a homosexual cockney career-criminal, dominance as a box office draw. The film itself is a reasonably good crime drama, with some interesting characters and a good script, and Burton is fine although it is odd to hear him speaking in other than in his usual impeccable English. Ian McShane is very good as Burton's bi-sexual pimp boyfriend, by far the most complex and ambiguous character in the film. The central heist is interesting from modern perspectives as there are no elaborate security-systems to defeat with clever techno-gimmicks, and not a lot of guns: the job is mostly a brawl between Burton's goons and company goons. The movie is a bit bloody (by early '70s standards) but neither as violent as "Clockwork Orange", nor as cold-blooded as "Get Carter", two films to which I have seen "Villain" compared (as indicators of a trend towards violent realism). Overall, a good but not great movie that will appeal to fans of gangster film and of Richard Burton (who should be credited for taking a gamble to play against type).

This is a gritty, urban, British gangster film. The Long Good Friday can trace itself to this film. Much akin to the Michael Caine film, "Get Carter", which was released around the same time. It was a forerunner to the current crop of British gangster films, such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Layer Cake. Burton is the Villain of the title. He's the 'gov'ner of a group of west end thugs. Burton transforms himself in this film. He is pure evil and malice and as compelling to watch as a snake.The action in the film is propelled by a factory payroll robbery - its planning and its aftermath. There is big money at stake, but this type of crime is a bit out of Vic Daykin's (Burton's) league. His gang is usually into protection/extortion rackets. Plus he is relying on the discretion of a mousy and resentful middle aged low ranking clerical worker at the factory who feels unappreciated by his wife and employer and doesn't have a problem helping Daykin with insider information.Burton is fantastic in this role. There is extreme tension and especially violence here, so it might not be for everybody. Daykin is paranoid of everybody, enjoys beating people up with his bare hands just for the fun of it, and seems to hate/mistrust women to the extreme with the exception of his elderly mother to whom he is very gentle.Only one gaping plot hole that I could find, and that was Daykin bringing the two outside mobsters in on the payroll job. If, he in fact "doesn't know anything about their boys", and he trusts his own guys as much as this guy is going to trust anybody, why would somebody as paranoid as he bring outsiders in on the biggest job of his life? I'd recommend it. Just remember if you are accustomed to lots of introspective angst and dialogue from Burton, you don't really get that here. It is not that kind of film.

Villain is directed by Michael Tuchner and adapted to the screen by Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais and Al Lettieri from the novel The Burden of Proof written by James Barlow. It stars Richard Burton, Ian McShane, T.P. McKenna, Donald Sinden, Nigel Davenport, Fiona Lewis, Joss Ackland, Cathleen Nesbitt, Colin Welland and Tony Selby. A Panavision/Technicolor production, music is by Jonathan Hodge and cinematography by Christopher Challis.Ruthless London gangster Vic Dakin (Burton) agrees to orchestrate the robbery of a wages van. However, when it is requested for him to work with another gangster's firm, Dakin is less than enthused, especially as his private life is hanging heavy on his shoulders.1971 saw the release of the magnificent Get Carter, surely a benchmark film in the pantheon of British neo-noirs. The year also witnessed Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange bursting forth to bother the tabloids and gnaw away at the paying public's conscious, there really was something stirring In the violent belly of Blighty. There was also another very violent British film out in 71, Villain, a criminally overlooked slice of grim Britannia.Richard Burton, he a bastion of rugged masculinity and hard drinking legends, is here playing a sadistic homosexual gangster with a paunch. He is not beyond using a razor to enact retribution on a squealer, or to beat his boyfriend Wolfie Lissner (McShane) before making love to him, but he loves his mother beyond compare though! This was a tough sell to Burton fans one would think, which may go some way to explaining why it disappeared quickly and has still to this day been largely consigned to cult status appraisals only. In fact some of the more intimate scenes between Burton and McShane were cut, so the supposed fall out could have been worse. I say supposed because there's conflicting stories as to how the film actually performed at the box office…Viewing it now reveals Villain to be a biting piece of British cinema, often uncompromising and filled to the brim with character's either damaged or carrying around some sort of affliction or kinky trait. It is pure neo-noir, both in characterisations and narrative drive. Dakin is a maelstrom of tortured emotions, his anger issues frightening but off set by his mother fixation. Wolfie is a bisexual pimp and in a rut, Gerald Draycott (Sinden) is the MP with a thirst for sex getting in deeper than he can handle and on it goes. Thug with an ulcer, hapless girlfriends, snitch, blackmail, murder, violence unbound, nudity, sadism and two hard bastard coppers not beyond giving someone a few lumps to get what they need.Then of course there is the robbery itself, a chase and heist sequence of events that are excellently constructed by the makers. The script pings with menacing humour and the writers have a good ear for London dialogue. The London backdrops are classic early 70s monuments and iconic period points of interest, all photographed in that grubby low key way that sits perfectly with the unfolding story. Cast is a who's who of British actors of the time, and all perform well up to standard to make this a riveting and potent viewing experience. There were some complaints about Burton's accent, but it really isn't that bad and only becomes noticeable when he is called on to shout. Burton is great, a bold role gets a bold performance and it is definitely one of his most under valued turns.Not as brill as Get Carter, but it's something of a must see for any fan of British gangster films, while it actually makes for the perfect companion piece to Michael Caine's magnum opus. 8.5/10

Another excellent release from Warner Archive, has Richard Burton playing a violent, sadistic, homosexual, deranged killer, who loves his mum and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. His performance is dark, gritty, and scary. Spoiled and crazy, the end scene (which I will not give away) says it all. Ian Macshane is great as his business partner, and boy toy. Nigel Davenport is also great as the Inspector, as is Donald Sinden as the dirty, cheating MP. Joss Ackland is great, as he always is. This is one film that I guarantee you will not take your eyes off the screen. I put this film up at the top of British gangster films with, "Get Carter," "The Long Good Friday," and "Loophole," I highly recommend this gem. ***