McVicar

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

1980 1h 52m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 44

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

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

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Cast

Roger Daltrey
John McVicar
Adam Faith
Walter Probyn
Cheryl Campbell
Sheila McVicar
Billy Murray
Joey Davis
Georgina Hale
Kate
Steven Berkoff
Ronnie Harrison
Brian Hall
Terry Stokes
Malcolm Tierney
Frank

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tom Clegg
Writers: John McVicar, Tom Clegg
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tom Clegg, shot by Vernon Layton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Boyle shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Roger Daltrey and Adam Faith and Cheryl Campbell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sentenced to 23 years-and he won't accept one day of it".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0081144 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 44 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tom Clegg directs. Vernon Layton behind the camera. Peter Boyle cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Tom Clegg, shot by Vernon Layton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Peter Boyle shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Roger Daltrey and Adam Faith and Cheryl Campbell carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "Sentenced to 23 years-and he won't accept one day of it".
6IMDB entry: tt0081144 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 44 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Vernon Layton
Editing: Peter Boyle
Runtime: 112 min · 1h 52m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): 18
IMDB: McVicar (1980)

Also by

Tom Clegg

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2019-07-19
★ 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

Production companies