In 1961Dirk arrived at a turning-point in his career when he played the blackmailed homosexual barrister Melville Farr in the film Victim.  By taking on the role, and deliberately shedding his matinée-idol image, he was considered at the time to be riskjng both box office poison and professional suicide.  Victim marked not only Dirk’s new independence from Rank and the studio contract system, but also his transition to the New Wave in British film.    Moreover it contributed towards an historic change in the law governing homosexuality.

To coincide with the film’s release Dirk gave this fascinating interview.