John Bindon

John 'Biffo' Bindon was a British actor and bodyguard (most notoriously for Led Zeppelin on their 1977 US tour, which he was subsequently sacked from for violent behaviour) with close links to the London underworld and a celebrated party trick; "I'd hang five half-pint beer glasses on me manhood. Everyone would ask how it's done beforehand so I'd put them out of their misery and thread my old chap through the handles of the glasses". The son of a London cab driver, Bindon was sentenced to Borstal twice in his youth and gained his nickname 'Biffo' from his propensity for starting fights. Spotted by Ken Loach in a London pub, Bindon got his acting break with the 1967 film Poor Cow. Roles in classic British films like Performance, Get Carter and Quadrophenia would follow, with Bindon often typecast as a gangland heavy. In 1968, Bindon met Vicki Hodge, a baronet's daughter turned model and actress, who introduced him to British aristocracy. This led to close and controversial links with Princess Margaret and her holiday hideaway of the Caribbean island resort of Mustique. Bindon and his alleged relationship with Princess Margaret is a major plot element in the 2008 crime film The Bank Job. Also in 1968, Bindon was awarded the Queen's Award for Bravery for diving off Putney Bridge into the River Thames to rescue a drowning man - although some said he had pushed the man in and only rescued him when a policeman appeared. In 1979, Bindon stood trial for the murder of London ...

11 Harrowhouse (1974)

A small time diamond merchant jumps at the chance to supervise the purchase and cutting of a large first class diamond. But when the diamond is stolen from him, he is blackmailed into pulling off a major heist at the Diamond Exchange, located at 11 Harrowhouse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aram Avakian
CAST:  Charles Grodin  •  Candice Bergen  •  James Mason  •  Trevor Howard

A small time diamond merchant jumps at the chance to supervise the purchase and cutting of a large first class diamond. But when the diamond is stolen from him, he is blackmailed into pulling off a major heist at the Diamond Exchange, located at 11 Harrowhouse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aram Avakian
CAST:  Charles Grodin  •  Candice Bergen  •  James Mason  •  Trevor Howard

Barry Lyndon (1975)

An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Ryan O'Neal  •  Marisa Berenson  •  Hardy Krüger  •  Diana Körner

An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Ryan O'Neal  •  Marisa Berenson  •  Hardy Krüger  •  Diana Körner

Get Carter (1971)

Jack Carter is a small-time hood working in London. When word reaches him of his brother's death, he travels to Newcastle to attend the funeral. Refusing to accept the police report of suicide, Carter seeks out his brother’s friends and acquaintances to learn who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Hodges
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Ian Hendry  •  Britt Ekland  •  John Osborne

Jack Carter is a small-time hood working in London. When word reaches him of his brother's death, he travels to Newcastle to attend the funeral. Refusing to accept the police report of suicide, Carter seeks out his brother’s friends and acquaintances to learn who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Hodges
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Ian Hendry  •  Britt Ekland  •  John Osborne

Inspector Clouseau (1968)

Detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau is borrowed from the Surete on special assignment for Scotland Yard in hopes that a fresh outlook will help the government recover the loot from the Great Train Robbery, which is being used to underwrite a new crime wave. What ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bud Yorkin
CAST:  Alan Arkin  •  Frank Finlay  •  Delia Boccardo  •  Patrick Cargill

Detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau is borrowed from the Surete on special assignment for Scotland Yard in hopes that a fresh outlook will help the government recover the loot from the Great Train Robbery, which is being used to underwrite a new crime wave. What ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bud Yorkin
CAST:  Alan Arkin  •  Frank Finlay  •  Delia Boccardo  •  Patrick Cargill

Juggernaut (1974)

A terrorist demands a huge ransom in exchange for information on how to disarm the seven bombs he has planted aboard a trans-Atlantic cruise ship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Lester
CAST:  Richard Harris  •  Omar Sharif  •  David Hemmings  •  Anthony Hopkins

A terrorist demands a huge ransom in exchange for information on how to disarm the seven bombs he has planted aboard a trans-Atlantic cruise ship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Lester
CAST:  Richard Harris  •  Omar Sharif  •  David Hemmings  •  Anthony Hopkins

Performance (1970)

In underworld terms, Chas Devlin is a 'performer,' a gangster with a talent for violence and intimidation. Turner is a reclusive rock superstar. When Chas and Turner meet, their worlds collide—and the impact is both exotic and explosive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicolas Roeg  •  Donald Cammell
CAST:  James Fox  •  Mick Jagger  •  Anita Pallenberg  •  Michèle Breton

In underworld terms, Chas Devlin is a 'performer,' a gangster with a talent for violence and intimidation. Turner is a reclusive rock superstar. When Chas and Turner meet, their worlds collide—and the impact is both exotic and explosive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicolas Roeg  •  Donald Cammell
CAST:  James Fox  •  Mick Jagger  •  Anita Pallenberg  •  Michèle Breton

Poor Cow (1967)

Thought provoking

A young woman lives a life filled with bad choices. At a young age she marries and has a child--with an abusive thief who quickly ends up in prison. Left alone, she takes up with the guy's mate, another thief, who seems to give her some happiness but who also ends ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ken Loach
CAST:  Carol White  •  John Bindon  •  Terence Stamp  •  Queenie Watts

A young woman lives a life filled with bad choices. At a young age she marries and has a child--with an abusive thief who quickly ends up in prison. Left alone, she takes up with the guy's mate, another thief, who seems to give her some happiness but who also ends ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ken Loach
CAST:  Carol White  •  John Bindon  •  Terence Stamp  •  Queenie Watts

Quadrophenia (1979)

Based on the 1973 rock opera album of the same name by The Who, this is the story of 60s teenager Jimmy. At work he slaves in a dead-end job. While after, he shops for tailored suits and rides his scooter as part of the London Mod scene.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Franc Roddam
CAST:  Phil Daniels  •  Leslie Ash  •  Phil Davis  •  Mark Wingett

Based on the 1973 rock opera album of the same name by The Who, this is the story of 60s teenager Jimmy. At work he slaves in a dead-end job. While after, he shops for tailored suits and rides his scooter as part of the London Mod scene.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Franc Roddam
CAST:  Phil Daniels  •  Leslie Ash  •  Phil Davis  •  Mark Wingett

Man in the Wilderness (1971)

In the early 1800s, a group of fur trappers and Indian traders are returning with their goods to civilization and are making a desperate attempt to beat the oncoming winter. When guide Zachary Bass is injured in a bear attack, they decide he's a goner and leave him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard C. Sarafian
CAST:  Richard Harris  •  John Huston  •  Henry Wilcoxon  •  Percy Herbert

In the early 1800s, a group of fur trappers and Indian traders are returning with their goods to civilization and are making a desperate attempt to beat the oncoming winter. When guide Zachary Bass is injured in a bear attack, they decide he's a goner and leave him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard C. Sarafian
CAST:  Richard Harris  •  John Huston  •  Henry Wilcoxon  •  Percy Herbert

No Sex Please: We're British (1973)

A porn-store owner orders some new stuff from his supplier, but the delivery address gets mixed with the address of the local Barclays Bank. Here, David (the bank's assistant manager) and his new wife are shocked when photos, then films and finally two girls are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cliff Owen
CAST:  Ronnie Corbett  •  Beryl Reid  •  Arthur Lowe  •  Ian Ogilvy

A porn-store owner orders some new stuff from his supplier, but the delivery address gets mixed with the address of the local Barclays Bank. Here, David (the bank's assistant manager) and his new wife are shocked when photos, then films and finally two girls are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cliff Owen
CAST:  Ronnie Corbett  •  Beryl Reid  •  Arthur Lowe  •  Ian Ogilvy

Trial by Combat (1976)

A group called The Knights Of Avalon are unhappy with the justice system so are taking the law into their own hands by executing criminals using medieval methods such as jousting.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kevin Connor
CAST:  John Mills  •  Donald Pleasence  •  David Birney  •  Barbara Hershey

A group called The Knights Of Avalon are unhappy with the justice system so are taking the law into their own hands by executing criminals using medieval methods such as jousting.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kevin Connor
CAST:  John Mills  •  Donald Pleasence  •  David Birney  •  Barbara Hershey

Dead Cert (1974)

As a surprise, two horse owners decide to ride their animals themselves in a steeplechase. But Bill Davidson's horse "Admiral" behaves weirdly, and falls hard after an obstacle. Bill dies from his injuries. His friend Alan York suspects the animal was doped by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Richardson
CAST:  Scott Antony  •  Judi Dench  •  Michael Williams  •  Nina Thomas

As a surprise, two horse owners decide to ride their animals themselves in a steeplechase. But Bill Davidson's horse "Admiral" behaves weirdly, and falls hard after an obstacle. Bill dies from his injuries. His friend Alan York suspects the animal was doped by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Richardson
CAST:  Scott Antony  •  Judi Dench  •  Michael Williams  •  Nina Thomas

Every Home Should Have One (1970)

Teddy works for a large advertising company. Given the seemingly impossible task of selling frozen porridge, he decides to produce commercials that make the product seem sexy. This leads him to confrontation with the "Keep Television Clean" movement, of which his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Clark
CAST:  Marty Feldman  •  Judy Cornwell  •  Garry Miller  •  Shelley Berman

Teddy works for a large advertising company. Given the seemingly impossible task of selling frozen porridge, he decides to produce commercials that make the product seem sexy. This leads him to confrontation with the "Keep Television Clean" movement, of which his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Clark
CAST:  Marty Feldman  •  Judy Cornwell  •  Garry Miller  •  Shelley Berman

The MacKintosh Man (1973)

A member of British Intelligence assumes a fictitious criminal identity and allows himself to be caught, imprisoned, and freed in order to infiltrate a spy organization and expose a traitor; only, someone finds him out and exposes him to the gang...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Huston
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Dominique Sanda  •  James Mason  •  Harry Andrews

A member of British Intelligence assumes a fictitious criminal identity and allows himself to be caught, imprisoned, and freed in order to infiltrate a spy organization and expose a traitor; only, someone finds him out and exposes him to the gang...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Huston
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Dominique Sanda  •  James Mason  •  Harry Andrews

Her Majesty's Pleasure (1973)

They are all 'in' for life so the pleasures are sparse, and strictly of their own making.Their really big event is the Christmas pantomime, only this year they have lost their star. Mother Bear has escaped. Still, there is some consolation. The new arrival looks a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Davis
CAST:  John Bindon  •  Bob Hoskins  •  Yolande Turner  •  Peter Firth

They are all 'in' for life so the pleasures are sparse, and strictly of their own making.Their really big event is the Christmas pantomime, only this year they have lost their star. Mother Bear has escaped. Still, there is some consolation. The new arrival looks a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Davis
CAST:  John Bindon  •  Bob Hoskins  •  Yolande Turner  •  Peter Firth