Suppose you were making a hard hitting crime drama in the 1970s and needed someone to play a mother obsessed violent homosexual gangster from London . Who would be your first choice ? That's right without a second's hesitation you'd cast a well known highly regarded Welsh stage actor . Richard Burton wasn't exactly famous for picking good roles in films but even by his own low standards there's something deranged about the casting here . Looking on the bright side there's something totally endearing about Burton's performance which makes VILLAIN a pleasure to watch . Okay it's a guilty pleasure but still a pleasure
The screenplay is written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais two writers who would go on to find fame as comedy creators for such shows as PORRIDGE and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LIKELY LADS and this movie has a wonderful streak of black humour running throughout it . The plot revolves around Inspector Bob Matthews trying to bring to book feared East End villain Vic Dakin . Matthews is played in a wry manner by Nigel Davenport with dialogue is laugh out loud funny as it's waspishly delivered . Take the scene in a restaurant where waiter Barzun explains Dakin's presence to Matthews
Barzun : Ah that's Vic Dakin . He sometimes pops in to have a meal
Matthews : And to pick up the rent too
Barzun : I don't know know what you mean Mr Matthews
Matthews : Bollox
and a following scene where Matthews meets Dakin in the toilets
Matthews : I don't know what you're trying to achieve in here - except maybe an orgasm
and there's a laugh out loud scene where Matthews locates one of Dakin's gang in a shed
Matthews : You coming inside Edgar . It's cold out here
As I said it's a most amusing film . I doubt if that was anyone's intention while it was being made but certainly a miscast Richard Burton beating up Ian McShane as a prelude to gay sex or indeed any scene where Dakin viciously batters someone does contain much humorous joy . Along with THE WILD GEESE and THE MEDUSA TOUCH it's the most entertaining movie experience I've seen Burton in
The screenplay is written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais two writers who would go on to find fame as comedy creators for such shows as PORRIDGE and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LIKELY LADS and this movie has a wonderful streak of black humour running throughout it . The plot revolves around Inspector Bob Matthews trying to bring to book feared East End villain Vic Dakin . Matthews is played in a wry manner by Nigel Davenport with dialogue is laugh out loud funny as it's waspishly delivered . Take the scene in a restaurant where waiter Barzun explains Dakin's presence to Matthews
Barzun : Ah that's Vic Dakin . He sometimes pops in to have a meal
Matthews : And to pick up the rent too
Barzun : I don't know know what you mean Mr Matthews
Matthews : Bollox
and a following scene where Matthews meets Dakin in the toilets
Matthews : I don't know what you're trying to achieve in here - except maybe an orgasm
and there's a laugh out loud scene where Matthews locates one of Dakin's gang in a shed
Matthews : You coming inside Edgar . It's cold out here
As I said it's a most amusing film . I doubt if that was anyone's intention while it was being made but certainly a miscast Richard Burton beating up Ian McShane as a prelude to gay sex or indeed any scene where Dakin viciously batters someone does contain much humorous joy . Along with THE WILD GEESE and THE MEDUSA TOUCH it's the most entertaining movie experience I've seen Burton in