McVICAR

UK, 1980, 112 minutes, Colour.
Roger Daltrey, Adam Faith, Cheryl Campbell, Billy Murray, Georgina Hale.
Directed by Tom Clegg.

McVicar is yet another prison film with the same sequences of defiance, brutality, warders and prisoners bullying one another. It focuses on one prisoner, John McVicar, who has been a media personality and commentator. During the film, this future seems highly unlikely as he robs (with violence), escapes and serves his sentences, his rehabilitation does not seem a probable prospect and the information is given only at the end. Which tends to leave a conventional enough story, played well by Roger Daltrey as McVicar (plus a range of songs by Daltrey in the background). Director Tom Clegg is from television (The Sweeney) and the film runs like a competent TV movie.

1. Audience interest in and enjoyment of prison films? The American prison film tradition, the British? The focus on the criminals? Warders? Way of life within the prison? The filling in of background of characters? Justice and injustice? Escape? How conventional was this material? How conventionally presented? The background of the writer-director in British television and focus on police films e.g. The Sweeney? The contribution of John McVicar himself?

2. The portrait of McVicar - as a person in himself, the criminal mind and type, his background of crime, his finding himself in prison, the way that he handled himself in prison, escape, with his family? The information given about his subsequent study and media career? How credible was this? On the basis of the film?

3. What was the purpose of the film: a slice of British life, a slice of prison life, insight into character, prison? All of these; if so, how well blended?

4. The contribution of Roger Daltrey to the film - producer, actor, the range of his songs in the background? The importance of the songs, their lyrics, mood, placement throughout the film? Roger Daltrey as a music superstar impersonating a crime superstar? The backgrounds of British sub-cultures and celebrities during the '60s, '70s and '80s? e.g. McVicar, Ronald Biggs?

5. How well did the film sketch in McVicar's background? Portray his personality? The reasons for his crimes, violence? The exploration of his mentality? Seeing him in prison, relating with people, cheeky? Friendship with Probyn and the plan to escape? The execution of the escape?

6. Survival in prison and the emphasis on expected detail? How vividly presented, protest, occupation of prison areas, reaction against regulations, McVicar in solitary, the straitjacket etc.? The effect on his personality, mind, determination? The ugly aspects of prison life?

7. The presentation of the escape, the methods, the digging, the cover up, the tension? Harrison and his being in on the plan, the decision to leave him behind, raising the alarm?

8. How well did the film make comment on the issues within the prison - the nature of the regulations, strictness of interpretation, prisoners' rights, rough treatment, the effect on the warders and the administration?

9. The sketch of Probyn, as friend, support? His help in the escape, the irony of his being caught?

10. McVicar and his sense of freedom, the encounter with Davis, his being delivered to Davis' house, the meeting with Kate, her cooking the meal, the sexy emphasis? ? with a humorous and ironic touch?

11. The warmth of the portrayal of Sheila and McVicar's son? Their home, way of life? The re-establishment of the relationship with Sheila? His needing to met his son, the gradual revelation of his being his father? The sentiment of the domestic sequences? The effect on his son? Their plans for going to Canada?

12. The need for money, McVicar once again robbing and shooting? The possibility of change? Davis informing and the build-up to his capture and arrest?

13. The postscript and the information about McVicar's study and his subsequent career? Did the film give evidence that this. was? possible?

14. How satisfying the insight into prison life? A personality ? type, change? British society in the 60s and 70s? Family and relationships? An ironic celebrity?