Villain — 50 Years On
Why Richard Burton’s turn as a Kray inspired gangster needs reappraised.
It’s hard not to mention Get Carter (1971) when discussing Villain; critics did it when the film was released, anyone reappraising the movie can’t help doing it now. The films came out within two months of one another in 1971, and they both feature two bona fide movie stars minted in Hollywood, coming back to the UK to play violent English gangsters. While the former is hailed as a classic Villain rarely receives such plaudits. But it’s well worth another look.
Richard Burton’s Vic Dakin is every inch the anti-hero, a ruthless gangster who can inflict fear with merely a look but often throws a punch to the kidneys in for good measure. Critics throw shade at the son of Port Talbot’s cockney accent, but what Burton brought with him to every role was a presence, and it’s here in spades. The character has to invoke respect or fear by just walking into a room, and Burton embodies it in every scene.
Dakin’s suited and booted gang indulge in shady dealings at the bottom and top of society, from gambling dens to country houses. They move through a world of pimps, grasses, inside men and corrupt politicians. Dakin runs a protection racket, which allows him an alibi for every occasion, frustrating the police in their every attempt to bang him up…
