Victim

This is the first English language film to use the word "homosexual"...42 years after its very first use in film (in the German 1919 film Anders als die Anderen).

Dirk Bogard plays barrister Melville Farr, who gets caught up in systematic blackmails of gays when homosexuality was still illegal in the UK. One young man, Barrett, is threatened with a photo of himself and Farr being exposed. To protect the much more prominent public figure Farr, he steals money from his employer when he runs out.

The police coming to the construction site where he works kicks the story off. He runs, unable to find much assistance from his friends, most of whom are gay and living a lie themselves and some of whom are also victims of the blackmailer. In the end, the police catch up with him and he hangs himself in his cell.

Farr, feeling guilty for not having taken Barrett's desperate phone calls, starts digging into the issue and trying to find people willing to speak up about the blackmails, but most refuse. Farr is married and his wife knew about a relationship he had with a man before their marriage but she is somewhat stumped that he still feels the same way. She does, however, stand by him throughout.

Ultimately, it has to be Farr himself that stands up against the blackmailers, even if it will cost him his career.

7/10
  

Il portiere di notte (The Night Porter)

Max works the night shift on the front desk of a hotel in Vienna (my beautiful city!) where he one day recognizes one of the guests. Lucia is in the city with her conductor husband.

Lucia and Max met in a concentration camp, where she was an inmate while was in the SS. Some kinky stuff went on in the camp. Not only were the two having a sado-masochistic relationship, but some of the inmates entertained the staff, sometimes half naked.

Now, 13 years later, the pair picks up right where they left off, much to the chagrin of Max' friends from back then, one of which recognizes 'a female witness' to the entertainment evenings they all participated in. Lucia and Max hole up in his small apartment while Lucia's husband is looking for her and Max' friends try to get their hands on Lucia to do away with her (one presumes).

The pair is played by the always wonderful Dirk Bogarde and a young and pretty Charlotte Rampling (where did the time go?).

Disturbing.

7/10

The Servant

A claustrophobic film about an upper-class English twit named Tony and his manservant Barrett. Tony's fiance, Susan, immediately dislikes Barrett, but Tony is content and ambivalent. After having worked for Tony a while, Barrett brings his 'sister' into service, who starts an affair with the master of the house.

When he realizes that Vera is not actually Barrett's sister and he starts to doubt the servants' loyalty, Tony throws them out. Some time later, however, he meets Barrett in a pub. He decides to take him on again. The two engage in foolish games (like hide and seek) and the tables turn with Barrett gradually wining the upper hand while Tony turns to drink.

Wonderfully acted by Dirk Bogarde and James Fox (both very handsome) with interesting symbolic shots aided by mirrors.

Great, great film.

9/10