4 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

The 'Villain' coach built Mini Cooper S Mk2 is for sale in the December 'Mini Cooper Register' (MCR) magazine ads (or may have been sold by now?), for offers over £32k (owned by the seller for 36 years) and the 1971 film below is on Talking Pictures TV channel tonight @ 10.05pm. (Saturday)

Villain - Saturday 16th December 2023 - Talking Pictures TV - (Freeview 82, Sky 328, Virgin 445, Freesat 306)
"At 10.05 pm Richard Burton stars in Villain (1971), playing an everyday London businessman and sadistic gang leader; Once you've met, you'll wish you hadn't, also with Ian McShane and Nigel Davenport. Director: Michael Tuchner.

Edited by mab01uk, 17 December 2023 - 05:35 PM.

[beardylondon]

Good spot, I watched the first hour, that Cooper looked similar to Peter Sellers Mini in A Shot in the Dark, as it had the wicker work sides.

According to iMDB trivia, it seems because of the financial and critical failure of Villan, this film ended Richard Burton's viability as a box office star. If you look what he made after this, it all went down hill.

Although written for screen by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, and they did alright!

Edited by beardylondon, 17 December 2023 - 09:59 AM.

[mab01uk]

Some nice 'Then and Now' screenshots from the films locations here:-
https://www.reelstre.../films/villain/

 

 

 

 

[mab01uk]

I liked this typical London used car lot of the era, pictured in the 'Reel Streets' captures 37/38....even has a Mini for sale on the forecourt with two 'go faster' stripes.  


Edgar Lowis's used car lot in Suffolk Road, Willesden, NW10. (1971)

 

[mab01uk]

For those that missed it last weekend, Villain is on Talking Pictures again tonight at 10:45 if you want to set your recorders.....