1921-1999
Dirk Bogarde was a particularly British actor and writer. By the 1950s he had become a matinee idol to millions, with his heroic roles and handsome looks. Then he took the lead role in “Victim” (1961), against all good advice. The film tells the story of a successful married man who is blackmailed over a homosexual affair. The film caused a stir and played an important role in changing people’s attitudes and therefore in the partial legalisation of male homosexual acts. On such a
brave role, Bogarde commented, ‘I realised it was a risk, I knew a lot of people would rather see me
kill my wife on screen than play this role…but I decided it was a risk worth taking…this was a film
about a real person with a real problem.’.
He continued to make many films and in his later years wrote autobiographies, carefully avoiding mention of his sexuality, and several well-acclaimed novels. Possibly his most acclaimed role was in ‘Death in Venice’
in which he plays a dying composer who falls in love with a teenage boy and he did relax his guard somewhat about being gay towards the end of his life. He lived for forty years with his agent Anthony Forwood, a secret he shared with only a privileged few.
Despite being closeted for most of his life, with “Victim” he spearheaded a major cultural change in society’s attitude to male homosexuality at great risk to a highly lucrative career.
Patrick, Manchester.