Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Nov 27, 2019 8:41:12 GMT
As to the film itself, which I watched yesterday for the first time, in a word, superb. Filming on location makes such a massive difference to the look and feel of a film The London locations are worth the price of admission alone. The Bracknell scenes are a great contrast.
The cast are great. And, for the time, it's surprisingly gritty... some full on violence, homosexuality, blackmail etc. It's only the coppers who are less convincing. Or maybe I've been conditioned by too many episodes of The Sweeney? And the blag itself is very convincing.
I was especially happy to see Brighton and Hove's West Pier. I've not come across too many films that have an extended scene on the West Pier excepting Oh! What a Lovely War I'll definitely be giving it a rewatch and try to identify a few of the locations. The boozer is the Assembly House in Kentish Town. What do you think about Burton in the main role? Would a different actor have made it even more convincing?
I notice Johnny Shannon turns up right at the end, when the gang are springing Frank Fletcher's brother-in-law Ed Lowis from the hospital. I wonder what he might have done with the Vic Dakin role?
A pretty thorough run through of many of the film's key locations....
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Villain
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Nine Elms, 1970, looking for the loot...
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Post by Villain on Nov 27, 2019 15:20:13 GMT
Glad you enjoyed it LE - another convert! I honestly don't think anyone could have done the role of Vic Dakin justice, despite some critics picking up on his cockney accent Richard Burton still brought the required amount of seediness and menace to the role, particularly in the closing scenes where he's cornered by the old Bill. Johnny Shannon is a good call, but I think it would have been no different from the way he played Harry Flowers in 'Performance' just two years earlier, he was much more of a 'geezer', and not quite the vicious psychopath that Dakin undoubtedly is. A few years ago (2011 I think it was) some of us on the old Sweeney lounge did a Villain location tour, taking in the plastics factory at Bracknell and the Assembly Rooms in Kentish Town. We re-enacted part of the blag scene in our classic cars, I'm sure Gene has some smudges of this (I can't find mine!). Villain
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Nov 27, 2019 15:48:37 GMT
A few years ago (2011 I think it was) some of us on the old Sweeney lounge did a Villain location tour, taking in the plastics factory at Bracknell and the Assembly Rooms in Kentish Town. We re-enacted part of the blag scene in our classic cars, I'm sure Gene has some smudges of this (I can't find mine!). Villain Thanks Villain
By the by, I wasn't suggesting Burton was bad in the role, but it was not an obvious bit of casting. His ability to intimidate comes from his rep in the context of the film, rather than from any physicality. That said, his pale blue eyes do give a hint of unpredictability and menace
You're right when you say Shannon would only have been reprising his role in Performance
You re-enacted the blag scene?! How did that work?
Gene, we need to see any smudges.
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Villain
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Post by Villain on Jan 1, 2020 19:06:08 GMT
A few years ago (2011 I think it was) some of us on the old Sweeney lounge did a Villain location tour, taking in the plastics factory at Bracknell and the Assembly Rooms in Kentish Town. We re-enacted part of the blag scene in our classic cars, I'm sure Gene has some smudges of this (I can't find mine!). Villain Thanks Villain
By the by, I wasn't suggesting Burton was bad in the role, but it was not an obvious bit of casting. His ability to intimidate comes from his rep in the context of the film, rather than from any physicality. That said, his pale blue eyes do give a hint of unpredictability and menace
You're right when you say Shannon would only have been reprising his role in Performance
You re-enacted the blag scene?! How did that work?
Gene, we need to see any smudges.
Well we didn't go as far as smashing up an S-Type Jag and squealing off into the Berkshire sunset with our ill gotten gains, but we did razz up and down the dual carriageway a few times in our motors, I was in my old red P6B 3500 and one of the other lads brought his Vauxhall Victor FD! I've posted a few more 'Villain' stills over on the Pistonheads forum, scroll down the page from this link... www.pistonheads.com/gassing//topic.asp?h=0&f=140&t=1807882&i=740(I was actually tempted to buy some prints from the alamy archive but they're about £150 each...!) Villain
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Lord Emsworth
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jan 3, 2020 7:42:24 GMT
Great stuff Villain - thanks so much
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Post by Ronnie Kray on Mar 8, 2020 19:17:21 GMT
Don't know if this has already been posted but Villain is being realised on blu-ray on 30th March.There is a new interview with Ian Mcshane as well as a behind the scenes still gallery included in the extras.Hope they have made a good job with this,really looking forward to finding out.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Mar 8, 2020 19:44:17 GMT
Don't know if this has already been posted but Villain is being realised on blu-ray on 30th March.There is a new interview with Ian Mcshane as well as a behind the scenes still gallery included in the extras.Hope they have made a good job with this,really looking forward to finding out. This is marvellous news Ron. I'll be getting a copy of this no danger! Gene.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Mar 8, 2020 20:51:56 GMT
Thanks Ronnie. This is one blue ray film I will buy for sure.
By the way there is a new film called 'Villian' which came out recently. Does anyone knowing it's a remake of the one with Richard Burton?
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Post by Gene Hunt on Mar 8, 2020 20:53:58 GMT
No Charles. The new film is nothing to do with the original.
Gene.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Mar 8, 2020 21:31:02 GMT
That's Gene. I thought not. I wouldn't have thought they would be allowed to use the title of such a classic film as the original villian though?
Oh well! Probably the new one is rubbish anyway. It's not very often I like a modern film.
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