McVicar main backdrop
McVicar main poster

6.5/10 • 36

1980-08-011h 52m

CrimeDrama

Sentenced to 23 years-and he won't accept one day of it

John McVicar was a London Bad Boy. he graduated to armed bank robbery and was Britain's "Public Enemy No. 1". He was captured and put into a high security prison. Will even the highest security prison be able to hold him? This is the true story of his life, his criminal exploits and his eventual rehabilitation.

Directors
Tom Clegg
Writters
Tom Clegg
Editors
Peter Boyle

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Roger Daltrey

    Roger Daltrey

    John McVicar

  2. Adam Faith

    Adam Faith

    Walter Probyn

  3. Cheryl Campbell

    Cheryl Campbell

    Sheila McVicar

  4. Billy Murray

    Billy Murray

    Joey Davis

  5. Georgina Hale

    Georgina Hale

    Kate

  6. Steven Berkoff

    Steven Berkoff

    Ronnie Harrison

  7. Brian Hall

    Brian Hall

    Terry Stokes

  8. Malcolm Tierney

    Malcolm Tierney

    Frank

  9. Peter Jonfield

    Peter Jonfield

    Bobby Harris

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jul 19, 2019

8/10

Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee me! Can't you hear that's what I say. John McVicar is a tough uncompromising armed robber, after being sent to a maximum security prison for 23 years he dreams of escaping every day. As his reputation grows and friendships are formed, it would appear that his friend Wally Probyn may have figured a way out of this tough rigid prison. In 1979 America had The Warriors and The Wanderers, at pretty much the same time us British had Quadrophenia and McVicar to hold dear to our hearts, both films produced out of The Who Films Ltd, both films eminently quotable to a certain age group that were of the teenage persuasion. I love McVicar, I really do, based on the true life story of McVicar, well from his own accounts written in his book, "McVicar by Himself", the film boasts a Who soundtrack and a script that positively sparkles with wit and anger speak. Yes the charges of the film making hardened criminals seem likable characters is a fair one, but not only does the film show the disgust (and rightly outright hatred) for sex offenders, it also showcases just what a hard job the prison officers have, this is something that many of the user comment writers on line have failed to acknowledge. Roger Daltrey takes on the role of McVicar and dons a career best, gruff, perfectly in shape and a wide boy arrogance that comes off as gold dust in this particular piece. Backing him up is wonderful turns from Brian Hall (comic gold), Steven Berkoff (clearly enjoying himself), Matthew Scurfield (frighteningly unnerving) and Peter Jonfield. Once the escape happens the film switches in tone as McVicar tries to make some sense of his life, it's an emotional switch that tones the film down but never the less takes us successfully to the highly accomplished finale. We are then left with a wonderful quote from John McVicar himself and we are told just what this tough as nails armed robber actually did with himself from that point on. Perhaps it's because I was a teenager when the film came out, that I love it so much? Or maybe the script just appeals to me on a very primal level? Either way I'm always going to be a fan of it, and McVicar remains to me, along with Quadrophenia and Scum, British standards to revisit every single year. I don't care how late it is I'm not going home 8/10

Media

  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster
  • McVicar poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
prisonbased on true storycriminal1960s