Basil Dearden

Victim Basil Dearden

Basil Dearden directs this British crime drama starring Dirk Bogarde and Sylvia Syms. Now happily married to wife Laura (Syms), successful lawyer Melville Farr (Bogarde) has tried to forget his past homosexual affair. However, he finds he cannot escape it when he receives a phone call from his former lover, Jack Barret (Peter McEnery), who has been arrested for theft.

Once the police discover that he has no money to his name they come to the assumption that he is being blackmailed because of his sexuality. When Melville refuses to help him Jack commits suicide. Opening himself up to legal proceedings, and risking his career, Melville decides to prosecute the blackmailers himself with the help of their other victims.