A closeted lawyer risks his career to bring a blackmailer to justice.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dirk Bogarde | ... |
Melville Farr
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| Sylvia Syms | ... |
Laura
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| Dennis Price | ... |
Calloway
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| Anthony Nicholls | ... |
Lord Fullbrook
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| Peter Copley | ... |
Paul Mandrake
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| Norman Bird | ... |
Harold Doe
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| Peter McEnery | ... |
Barrett
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| Donald Churchill | ... |
Eddy
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| Derren Nesbitt | ... |
Sandy Youth
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| John Barrie | ... |
Det. Inspector Harris
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| John Cairney | ... |
Bridie
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| Alan MacNaughtan | ... |
Scott Hankin
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| Nigel Stock | ... |
Phip
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Frank Pettitt | ... |
Barman
(as Frank Pettit)
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| Mavis Villiers | ... |
Madge
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Charles Lloyd Pack | ... |
Henry
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| Hilton Edwards | ... |
P.H.
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David Evans | ... |
Mickey
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| Noel Howlett | ... |
Patterson
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Margaret Diamond | ... |
Miss Benham
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| Alan Howard | ... |
Frank
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Dawn Beret | ... |
Sylvie
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Frank Andrews | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Del Baker | ... |
Man in pub (uncredited)
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Joe Beckett | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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| John Bennett | ... |
Undercover Detective (uncredited)
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John Boxer | ... |
Policeman in Cell (uncredited)
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| Jim Brady | ... |
Transport Cafe Patron (uncredited)
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Victor Brooks | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Mike Conner | ... |
Pub Patron (uncredited)
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Fred Davis | ... |
Constable (uncredited)
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Jack Dearlove | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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| Basil Dignam | ... |
Barrister (uncredited)
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John Doye | ... |
Salesman (uncredited)
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Norman Fisher | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Alan Gibbs | ... |
Man in Pub (uncredited)
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Charles Gilliard | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Nora Gordon | ... |
Farr's Housekeeper (uncredited)
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George Holdcroft | ... |
Man in Pub (uncredited)
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Denis Holmes | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Colin McKenzie | ... |
Constable (uncredited)
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Bill Reed | ... |
Man in Cafe (uncredited)
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Arnold Schulkes | ... |
Man in Pub (uncredited)
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| Jeff Silk | ... |
Police Motorcyclist (uncredited)
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Jack Taylor | ... |
Foreman at Building Site (uncredited)
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| Frank Thornton | ... |
George - Henry's Assistant (uncredited)
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Martin Voss | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Basil Dearden | ||
Written by
| Janet Green | ... | (written by) and |
| John McCormick | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Michael Relph | ... | producer |
Music by
| Philip Green | ||
Cinematography by
| Otto Heller | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| John D. Guthridge | ||
Editorial Department
| Stephen Durbridge | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Alex Vetchinsky | ||
Makeup Department
| Harry Frampton | ... | makeup artist |
| Barbara Ritchie | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Denis Holt | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Bert Batt | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Vernon Dixon | ... | set dresser |
| Dickie Bamber | ... | stand-by props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Gordon K. McCallum | ... | sound recordist |
| C.C. Stevens | ... | sound recordist |
| Les Wiggins | ... | sound editor (as Leslie Wiggins) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| H.A.R. Thomson | ... | camera operator |
| George Courtney Ward | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Philip Green | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Joan Davis | ... | continuity |
Production Companies
- Allied Film Makers (AFM) (present) (made by also)
- Parkway Films (copyright holder)
Distributors
- Rank Film Distributors (1961) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Sweden (1962) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Astor Pictures Corporation (1962) (United States) (theatrical)
- Pathé-America Distributing Company (1962) (United States) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Italy (1962) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Rank Film (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1962) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Janus Films (World-wide)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- The Criterion Collection (1997) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Park Circus (2005) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- The Criterion Collection (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- Elephant Films (2018) (France) (video)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Parvisfilmi (1962) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Home Vision Cinema (United States) (VHS)
- Nelson Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1974) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Parkway Films (artwork and design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A plea for reform of England's anti-sodomy statutes, Melville Farr (Sir Dirk Bogarde), a married lawyer, tries to locate a blackmailer who has photos of Farr and a crying young gay man (who becomes blackmailed) in Farr's car. After the suicide, Farr tracks down other gay men being extorted for money by the same blackmail scheme. Worldly Police Detective Inspector Harris (John Barrie) considers the anti-sodomy law nothing more than a license to blackmailers, and eventually is contacted by Farr to capture the malicious blackmailer. The movie, far ahead of its time, ends with Farr and his loving wife coming to terms with his homosexual tendencies in advance of the public exposure he will face in the team of blackmailers' trial.
Written by Mike Mills |
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| Taglines | A Daring Picture About the World's Most Un-talked About Subject. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | GBP153,756 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The famous scene where Melville Farr (Dirk Bogarde), having been confronted by his wife Laura (Sylvia Syms) about Barrett (Peter McEnery), finally admits to her that he "wanted him," was added at Bogarde's request, and was partially written by him. Bogarde states in his autobiography that he felt the screenplay lacked credibility because it was too ambiguous and did not adequately explain Farr's involvement with Barrett, and skirted around the issue. It's worth noting that Bogarde was gay, and considered this movie an extremely personal project. See more » |
| Goofs | Camera shadow moves onto Madge's coat as it pushes in closer from behind after Eddy leaves the bar. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Dirk Bogarde (1961). See more » |
| Soundtracks | String Quartet, Op.18 See more » |
| Quotes |
Detective Inspector Harris:
I can see you're a true puritan, Bridie. Eh? Bridie: There's nothing wrong with that, Sir. Detective Inspector Harris: Of course not. There was a time when that was against the law you know. See more » |