2. Homosexuality - Victim (1961)
Homosexuality was, in 1961, illegal in Britain, and Victim - a tale of closet gayness, blackmail and deceit starring Dirk Bogarde, was the first ever film to feature the word 'homosexual'. It also featured another taboo - the use of the word 'queer'. Audiences were shocked and scandalised at the film which was the first movie to tackle the plight of gay men as stigmatised outcasts. Dirk Bogarde took a major risk in his career to play the lead role in Victim. He had established himself as one of British cinema's reliable and talented acting stalwarts although he was subject to gossip about his private life and speculation that he was gay himself. Victim was not a big box office hit, but it is considered to be an immensely important movie in the social history of Britain. The BBFC were concerned about several scenes and gave the film an X certificate. It was banned in America, but gradually they softened their stance on the portrayal of homosexuality in films and allowed it to be shown. Attitudes in the BBFC underwent a similar liberalisation to the portrayal of gays on film. Victim seems innocent today compared to Brokeback Mountain, but it was a cultural event that paved the way for homosexuality to be filmed frankly and accepted.