McVicar (film)
| McVicar | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Tom Clegg |
| Produced by |
Roy Baird Bill Curbishley Roger Daltrey |
| Written by |
John McVicar Tom Clegg |
| Starring |
Roger Daltrey Adam Faith Cheryl Campbell |
| Music by |
Roger Daltrey Various Artists |
| Editing by | Peter Boyle |
| Studio |
The Who Films Polytel |
| Distributed by |
Brent Walker PLC (UK) Crown International Pictures (USA) Universal Pictures (2004, DVD) |
| Release dates | August 1980 |
| Running time | 108 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
McVicar is a British drama film released in 1980 by The Who Films, Ltd., starring Roger Daltrey of The Who in the title role of John McVicar.
John McVicar was a 1960s armed robber turned writer who Scotland Yard publicly announced to be Public Enemy Number One and "wanted dead or alive". The film was directed by Tom Clegg, and was based on a non-fiction book written by John McVicar describing several months of his experiences in prison. Bill Curbishley and Roy Baird acted as producers, and the film received a nomination in 1981 for Best Picture at MystFest, the International Mystery Film Festival of Cattolica.
Plot synopsis
The film is set in two halves, the first in Durham prison and the second half whilst McVicar is on the run in London. The first half of the film focuses on relations between the prison officers and inmates and also McVicar's plotting and eventual prison escape.
Roger Daltrey, (the lead singer of the British Rock Band The Who) and ‘sixties pop star and actor Adam Faith, play the two lead roles. The supporting cast includes Billy Murray, Brian Hall, Steven Berkoff, Georgina Hale and Cheryl Campbell as Sheila McVicar.
The latter half of the film is set in London after McVicar has escaped from Durham. Here he re-establishes relationships with his wife and young son and he eventually decides to try to escape from his life of crime by trying to fund a new life in Canada.
Eventually John McVicar is forced to fund his family’s relocation plan by returning to crime. Soon the Metropolitan Police are hard on his heels and he is eventually recaptured when one of his colleagues in the crime world informs the police officer in charge of John McVicar's recapture of his whereabouts.
John McVicar is returned to prison and his sentence is increased — during this time he studies for a BSc and is eventually released.
Cast
- Roger Daltrey as John McVicar
- Adam Faith as Walter Probyn
- Cheryl Campbell as Sheila McVicar
- Billy Murray as Joey David
- Georgina Hale as Kate
- Steven Berkoff as Ronnie Harrison
- Brian Hall as Terry Stokes
- Peter Jonfield as Bobby Harris
- Matthew Scurfield as Streaky Jeffries
- Leonard Gregory as Jimmy Collins
- Joe Turner as Panda
- Jeremy Blake as Ronnie Johnson
- Anthony Trent as Tate
- Terence Stuart as Sid
- Harry Fielder as Harry 'Aitch'
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Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was released as McVicar, performed by Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Kenney Jones of The Who, besides other musicians, conducted by Jeff Wayne. The songs are:
- "Bitter and Twisted", written by Steve Swindells
- "Just a Dream Away", written by Russ Ballard
- "White City Lights", written by Billy Nicholls and Jon Lind
- "Free Me", written by Russ Ballard
- "My Time Is Gonna Come", written by Russ Ballard
- "Waiting for a Friend", written by Billy Nicholls
- "Without Your Love", written by Billy Nicholls
- "McVicar", written by Billy Nicholls
See also
External links
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