CrimeDrama

McVicar

- 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.

Release Date : 1980-08-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Who FilmsPolytelCrown International Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : John McVicar

Original Name : Roger Daltrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walter Probyn

Original Name : Adam Faith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheila McVicar

Original Name : Cheryl Campbell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joey Davis

Original Name : Billy Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kate

Original Name : Georgina Hale

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ronnie Harrison

Original Name : Steven Berkoff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Terry Stokes

Original Name : Brian Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : Malcolm Tierney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bobby Harris

Original Name : Peter Jonfield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Streaky Jeffries

Original Name : Matthew Scurfield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rabies

Original Name : Tony Haygarth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hitchens

Original Name : Ian Hendry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bootsy

Original Name : Tony Rohr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aitch

Original Name : Harry Fielder

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cody

Original Name : Michael Feast

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jimmy Collins

Original Name : Leonard Gregory

Gender : Male

Character Name : Panda

Original Name : Joe Turner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ronnie Johnson

Original Name : Jeremy Blake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tate

Original Name : Anthony Trent

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sid

Original Name : Terence Stuart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Allen

Original Name : Ralph Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name : 'Nobby' Styles

Original Name : Ronald Herdman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Principal Officer

Original Name : Malcolm Terris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Billy

Original Name : Anthony May

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sewell

Original Name : James Marcus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Warder

Original Name : Stephen Bent

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Warder

Original Name : Paul Kember

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Warder

Original Name : Charles Cork

Gender : Male

Character Name : Douglas

Original Name : Richard Simpson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bimbo

Original Name : Raymond Skipp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Graham

Original Name : John Rolfe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jackson

Original Name : Allan Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Driver

Original Name : Jamie Foreman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Magistrate

Original Name : Stanley Lloyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : David Beames

Gender : Male

Character Name : Secretary

Original Name : Mikki Magorian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Russell McVicar

Original Name : Ricky Parkinson

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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