Sitting Target – 1972 | 93 mins | Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Violent British crime thriller adapted from Laurence Henderson’s pulp crime novel and directed at a frantic pace by Douglas Hickox. The tension builds up rapidly with the audacious prison break and never lets up as Oliver Reed’s brutal convict carves a path of violence and mayhem through Battersea in order to wreak revenge on his unfaithful wife. Reed gives one of his violent brooding performances and there’s a splendid supporting cast of TV regulars.

When his unfaithful wife, Pat (Jill St John), admits she is pregnant by another man and demands a divorce, convicted murderer Harry Lomart (Oliver Reed) engineers a spectacular prison break with fellow inmate Birdy (Ian McShane) in order to revenge himself on his wayward spouse. After a daring escape, Harry refuses to lay low and the pair of hardened criminals head to London seeking vengeance. After paying a quick and eventful visit to his wife and the policeman guarding her, Inspector Milton (Edward Woodward), Harry and Birdy head to the mews of crimelord Marty Gold (Frank Finlay) to hold up for the night. The following morning they set out to murder Harry’s wife and leave the country.