McVicar (1980)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Good concept, poorly executed.

Awesome Movie

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

This movie is a family favourite as the youngest of four and the only girl my brothers introduced me to this film as they new about my THING for Mr Daltrey !!! My brothers and I have watched this film together on many occasions and I have watched it without them and am sure they have done the same. Mr Daltrey is topclass in the movie, the soundtrack so good i downloaded to my mp3 player. Years ago one of my brothers had a car crash and was in a coma for 3 weeks, we were asked to bring in a stereo headphone with his favourite music for him to listen to while he was in a coma (" they say they can still hear"). THis soundtrack was one of the first we played to him as he liked the music and film. Please listen to the soundtrack as you can still picture the film along with the songs. 10 out of 10 great film .

I do not see peoples strange fixation with this film. Are people not aware of what an evil sick child molester that Wally Probyn is? I was one of these man victims, he repeatedly raped me for four years from the age of 7. He also used to take indecent photographs of his victims for his sick pleasure. I got to know what a conniving cowardly man Wally Probyn was and he certainly does not deserve god like status. Wally Probyn was convicted at The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) he received a 4 year sentence for abusing his step daughter, I was a supporting witness, but I was put through weeks of police interviews, taken to places where he had abused me and had to look through 1000's of indecent photographs this man had taken of other poor young children some were severely mentally disabled. This will haunt me forever. Every time this film comes on to TV I feel sick, he had a long history of paedophilia back from when he raped his own 3 year old sister.

In the mid seventies Roger Daltrey read ex-bank robber John McVicar's autobiography and realized how similar their life situations could have been if he hadn't chosen to become a singer with The Who. He decided to buy the rights to the book and have movie made about McVicar's life in prison and his escape and life as a wanted fugitive. It was only right that Daltrey himself should play McVicar. He does an incredibly impressive job too. Looking and acting like the tough belligerent convict who is determined to break out of a maximum security prison. He succeeds with the help of a fellow inmate played by Adam Faith. Once on the outside he goes back to see his common law wife and young son. After he decides life spent constantly looking over his shoulder is not for him he pulls one more bank heist in order to afford to move out of the country with his family. Unfortunately it doesn't quite turn out as he planned. Recommended.

A gripping portrayal of a seasoned villain's desire to escape from prison and start a new life. Roger Daltrey succeeds in making John McVicar appear to be a decent family man despite his hard-man antics. Adam Faith is excellent as Walter, McVicar's colleague in prison. Again, he is portrayed to be a cheeky Cockney geezer, immensely likeable. From the outset, the prison guards are given no sympathy, they are brutal,unfair and dim-witted. Daltrey's vocals are used extensively to colour the film and the viewer is left in no doubt as to the director's sympathies. John McVicar is now a respected writer and broadcaster.