The Black Panther

Depressing, authentic-looking account of the real-life kidnapping of wealthy heiress by a desperate ex-serviceman whose attempts to collect a relatively modest ransom unravels at every juncture placing the abducted girl at risk. We know how it ends, but not necessarily the brutal build-up which is depicted in violent, unflinching detail.

The mundanity of the kidnapper's bland home life paints a rather bleak existence in which he's compelled to commit more crimes to support his modest lifestyle, unwilling to accept the employment opportunities he's afforded, regarding them as undignified for a person with his service record. As he becomes more detached from reality, he manages to convince himself that the victims of his heinous crimes have only themselves to blame.

Sumpter plays the pathetic narcissist with selfish realism, an insecure criminal with a hair-trigger temper motivated by money; patient and pedantic in his preparation, but unable to execute his crimes efficiently, leading to multiple reckless and unnecessary murders.

There's been some speculative decisions made regarding the fate of the abductee at the film's anti-climax with the aftermath largely explained via on-screen text, but the emphasis is on the depravity of the crimes, moreover than their restitution.

Whilst the subdued, no-frills approach is gripping, the film's proximity to the actual events made it a contemporaneous commercial failure. Time has afforded it more favourable attention, now appreciated for its unglamorous portrayal of some of the most callous crimes committed in England in modern times. Understated and well worth a look.

Living in the surrounding area of where the crimes took place I was pleased to find that the film followed the truth of what actually happened very closely.I enjoyed the film immensely,I thought it was well acted and well shot.

Ian Merrick's directorial debut arrived in 1977 soon after Donald Neilson was convicted of the murder of Lesley Whittle in 1976.

At the time the movie was regarded as exploitative and inspired sensational headlines. It's run at the movie theatres was limited and it was in effect banned until released on video.

There are some rumours that the police wanted to see the back of this movie. It is clear they come across as inept when young heiress Lesley Whittle was kidnapped ny Neilson.

The film is not lurid or exploitative. It is a character study of Neilson played by Donald Sumpter. He had done National Service, although a builder by trade. He had done a series of burglaries in the 1960s.

By the 1970s he made money by robbing post offices. Despite military precision planning, several of them were bungled, as Neilson was now a killer. As he wore a black hood was the reason he became known as the black panther.

The kidnapping of Lesley Whittle was another attempt of doing something different. Post Offices had beefed up security by now.

The problem was the ransom drop off became too complicated and error prone.

The movie is a character study of Donald Neilson. Merrick uses economy to give details of the man. A racist, just watch him as he trips over and a black man goes to help him.

His home life was that of a bully. Aggressive to his wife and daughter.

Neilson was focussed on keeping fit, maintaining his arsenal of weapons and his thorough planning. Even if things did go wrong. He ended up being arrested by chance.

Of course now the movie looks rather tame. It did gloss over some of Neilsen's early life. There is a moody performance from Sumpter.

Donald Sumpter is flawless in his portrayal of Donald Neilson, a pretty weird guy. I saw this on tape when I was about five or six, and fifteen years later I still remember certain scenes very vividly. By all accounts one of the most factual true crime pictures ever made.

Although I have tagged this as 'liked', I don't think that's quite the word. Impressive, believable and very grim this is a virtual reenactment of real events that I remember well and took place only a couple of years before the film was made. A little bit of stylish photography, a bit of humour, just something to relieve the dull horror and it would have been possible to enjoy the film more.

What we have, though, is a unique cinematic impression of a real series of violent attacks and kidnap. The original newspaper reporting at the time presented a most unpleasant picture and here it is honestly and accurately represented on film. Everybody does well but the male lead is exceptional and the poor young girl victim almost too believable. You won't like it but as an example of gritty 70s UK cinema it is a great example.