   victim is a 1961 british suspense film directed by basil dearden, starring dirk bogarde and sylvia syms. it is notable in film history for being the first english language film to use the word "homosexual". the world premiere was at the odeon cinema in leicester square on 31 august 1961. on its release in the united kingdom it proved highly controversial and was initially banned in the united states. == plot == a successful barrister, melville farr (dirk bogarde) has a thriving london practice. he is on course to become a queen's counsel and people are already talking of his being appointed a judge. he is apparently happily married to his wife, laura (sylvia syms). farr is approached by "boy" barrett (peter mcenery), a younger working class man with whom farr shared a romantic but asexual relationship. farr rebuffs the approach, thinking barrett wants to blackmail him about their relationship. what farr does not know is that barrett himself has fallen prey to blackmailers who know of their relationship. the blackmailers have a picture of farr and barrett in a vehicle together, in which barrett is crying. barrett has been trying to reach farr to appeal for help since barrett (a construction site wages clerk) has stolen Â£2,000 from his employers to pay the blackmail and the police are now onto him. with farr intentionally avoiding him, barrett is soon picked up by the police, who in turn discover why he was being blackmailed. knowing it will be only a matter of time before he is forced to reveal farr's identity as the other man, barrett hangs himself in a police cell. after discovering the truth of what happened to barr
1960s_LGBT-related_films 1960s_crime_drama_films 1961_films British_LGBT-related_films British_drama_films British_films English-language_films Films_directed_by_Basil_Dearden Films_set_in_London Pinewood_Studios_films