Villain
“By the time he's ready to kill you, its an act of mercy.”
Synopsis
In 1970s London, Scotland Yard orchestrates the downfall of mob boss Vic Dakin after he crosses the line by blackmailing Members of Parliament.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Villain (1971) - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-06-21
Top Cast
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Richard Burton
Vic Dakin
Ian McShane
Wolfe Lissner
Nigel Davenport
Bob Matthews
Donald Sinden
Gerald Draycott
Fiona Lewis
Venetia
T. P. McKenna
Frank Fletcher
Joss Ackland
Edgar Lowis
Cathleen Nesbitt
Mrs. Dakin
Elizabeth Knight
Patti
Colin Welland
Tom Binney
Tony Selby
Duncan
John Hallam
Terry
Del Henney
Webb
Ben Howard
Henry
James Cossins
Brown
Anthony Sagar
Danny
Clive Francis
Vivian
Stephen Sheppard
Benny Thompson
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 26, 1971
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Michael Tuchner
- Screenplay & Story
- Ian La Frenais, Dick Clement
- Original Score
- Jonathan Hodge
- Original Title
- Villain
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Studios
- Kastner/Ladd/Kanter, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Anglo-EMI
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Michael Tuchner
Ian La Frenais, Dick Clement, Al Lettieri, James Barlow
Jonathan Hodge
Christopher Challis
Ralph Sheldon
Alan Ladd Jr., Jay Kanter, Elliott Kastner
Department Leadership Roster
Ian La Frenais
Screenplay
Michael Tuchner
Director
Dick Clement
Screenplay
Ralph Sheldon
Editor
Alan Ladd Jr.
Producer
Christopher Challis
Director of Photography
Jay Kanter
Producer
Elliott Kastner
Producer
Jonathan Hodge
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Villain.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Villain.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Gangster
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Heists & Capers
Time Out's 60 best heist movies, selected by Matthew Singer and Phil de Semlyen (19 August 2025). Complete selection, including international films and the 1903 short; editorial ranking preserved. Mesrine comprises two films, so 60 selections become 61 TMDB entries. Obvious source-year errors corrected when matching. Source: https://www.timeout.com/film/the-60-best-heist-movies-ever-made Followed by 22 separately curated, library-informed supplemental picks. These additions are not Time Out selections.
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Heist Films
Heist films from Wikipedia's list and category tree plus Wikidata genre tagging.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Villain
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Villain about?
In 1970s London, Scotland Yard orchestrates the downfall of mob boss Vic Dakin after he crosses the line by blackmailing Members of Parliament.
Who directed Villain?
Villain was directed by Michael Tuchner.
Who stars in Villain?
The principal cast of Villain includes Richard Burton, Ian McShane, Nigel Davenport, Donald Sinden, Fiona Lewis.
When was Villain released and how long is it?
Villain was released in 1971 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
Who composed the musical score for Villain?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Villain was composed by Jonathan Hodge.
Is Villain based on a book or true story?
Villain is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "James Barlow".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Villain?
Villain holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).