''The Black Panther'' is a 1977 British

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

. Its subject is the real life ex-military criminal

Donald Neilson Donald Neilson (born Donald Nappey; 1 August 1936 – 18 December 2011), alias the “Black Panther,” was a British armed robber, kidnapper, and multiple murderer. From 1971, he committed a series of robberies of sub-post offices; in 197 ...

, known as the "Black Panther". It was directed and produced by Ian Merrick, his first feature, and stars

Donald Sumpter Donald Sumpter (born 13 February 1943) is an English actor who has appeared in film and television since the mid-1960s. Career One of his early television appearances was the 1968 ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Wheel in Space'' with Patrick Troug ...

, Debbie Farrington and

Marjorie Yates Marjorie Yates (born 13 April 1941) is a British actress best known for her role as Carol Fisher in the Channel 4 drama '' Shameless''. Yates was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, and studied at the Bournville College of Art. An early TV ro ...

.Chibnall & Petley p.225 The film was highly controversial on its release, regarded as deeply exploitative as it was released only a few years after the occurrence of the real life events. It was slated by media figures such as

Sue Lawley Susan Lawley (born 14 July 1946) is a retired English television and radio broadcaster. Her main broadcasting background involved television news and current affairs. From 1988–2006, Lawley was the presenter of ''Desert Island Discs'' on BBC R ...

of ''

Tonight Tonight may refer to: Television * ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC * ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...

''. Subsequently, the film was effectively banned from viewing.John Patterso
"Why The Black Panther can hold its head up high"
''The Guardian'' (blog), 6 June 2012

Plot

The story begins with Neilson's robbery at Heywood Post Office in

Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority, combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: City of Manchester, Manchester, City of Salford, Salford ...

on 16 February 1972. Neilson loses his black-hooded mask after a fight with the owner, but manages to escape. He later travels home to his wife and teenaged daughter, who are unaware of his criminal activity. Nielson is a strict family man, expecting complete obedience from his wife and daughter, while planning his next robberies and future kidnapping. On 15 February 1974, Neilson robs the Post Office in New Park, shooting the sub-postmaster in the process. A reward in set for Neilson at £5,000. While collecting newspaper articles on his activities, Neilson reminisces on his time in the army, and prepares for the kidnapping of the wealthy heiress Lesley Whittle. He robs the Post Office at Higher

Baxenden Baxenden is a village and ward in the Borough of Hyndburn in Lancashire, North-West England. The ward population taken at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 4,042. Baxenden is sometimes known to locals as Bash. History Whilst ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

on 6 September 1974, where he shoots the owner. He is seen scurrying away over rooftops by witnesses, and becomes known as The Black Panther, due to his black hood, and ability to disappear into the night. On 11 November, he robs Langley Post Office, shooting both clerks in the process. The press now regards him as public enemy number one. On 14 January 1975, Neilson travels to

Highley Highley is a large village in Shropshire, England, on the west bank of the River Severn and 7 miles south east of Bridgnorth. The closest cities being Wolverhampton and Birmingham. History Highley began as a rural farming community, including ...

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...

and kidnaps Lesley Whittle from her bed. He drives her to Bathpool Park in

Kidsgrove Kidsgrove is a town in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, on the Cheshire border. It is part of the Potteries Urban Area, along with Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. It has a population of 26,276 (2019 census). ...

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation Staffs.) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Cheshire to the northwest, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, Warwickshire to the southeast, the West Midlands Cou ...

, where he takes her sixty feet underground into a reservoir drainage shaft system. He puts her on a narrow ledge, with food and drink, so nobody can hear or find her. He tightens a steel ligature around her neck to stop her escaping while he is away arranging the ransom. The Whittle family decide to inform the police after discovering Neilsen's ransom note in the house. His demand is for £50,000. After two failed attempts at communication, and another shooting by Neilsen, Lesley's brother Ronald receives instructions on where to deliver the ransom. He is to drive to Bathpool Park where he is to look out for a flashing light. Ronald gets lost in the dark and cannot find Bathpool Park. In the confusion, Neilsen becomes paranoid and angry, and goes back to Lesley. She falls from the ledge and dies, although it is not clear how it happens. On 23 January, the car which Neilsen stole earlier is found abandoned. After the discovery, the police manage to link the kidnapping with the Black Panther killings. On 7 March, Lesley's body is found in Bathpool Park, and on 11 December 1975, Nielsen is apprehended by two police officers after threatening them with a shotgun.

Cast

* Debbie Farrington as

Lesley Whittle British teenager Lesley Whittle was kidnapped on 14 January 1975, and her body discovered on 7 March 1975. Her kidnapping and murder dominated national headlines for 11 months. The investigation involved over 400 officers from the West Mercia ...

as Neilson's Wife * Sylvia O'Donnell as Neilson's Daughter *

Andrew Burt Andrew Thomas Hutchison Burt (23 May 1945 – 16 November 2018) was a British actor, voiceover artist, and counsellor. Early life and education Andrew Burt was born on 23 May 1945 in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to Hutchison Bu ...

as Lesley's Brother * Alison Key as Lesley's Sister-In-Law *

Ruth Dunning Ruth Dunning (17 May 1909 – 27 February 1983), born Mary Ruth Dunning, was a Welsh actress of stage, television, and film. Although her year of birth was long given as 1911, her birth was registered in Holywell in 1909. Personal life Mary R ...

as Lesley's Mother * David Swift as Detective Chief Superintendent *

Michael Barrington Michael Barrington (3 July 1924 – 5 June 1988) was a British actor best known for his television work. His best remembered role is as the ineffectual Governor Venables in the BBC sitcom ''Porridge'' which featured Ronnie Barker in the lead r ...

Barbara New Barbara Helene Barrington (9 May 1923 – 24 May 2010) better known by her stage and birth maiden name Barbara New was an English character actress, well known for playing Mabel the scullery maid in the David Croft sitcom '' You Rang M'Lord?''. ...

Peter Copley Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English television, film and stage actor. Biography Copley was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of the printmakers, John Copley and Ethel Gabain. After changing his mind about joining ...

Brenda Cowling Brenda Rose Cowling (23 April 1925 – 2 October 2010) was an English actress from London. Cowling wanted to be a film actress from the time she was a child; however, upon leaving school, she trained instead as a shorthand typist. Biography Aft ...

Paul Luty Paul Graham Luty (5 May 1932 – 12 January 1985) was an English wrestler who later became a film and television actor. In 1973 Luty played window cleaner, Bert Henshaw on '' Coronation Street''. Other television credits include '' Love ...

Edwin Apps Edwin Apps (14 May 1931 – 16 April 2021) was an English television actor and writer. He appeared in many British and French television series and films, which include ''Whack-O!'', ''I Thank a Fool'', ''Danger Man'', '' The Avengers'', ''S ...

Legacy and home media

In 2012, the film was remastered and resurrected into the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

''Archives and Hall of Fame'', as an important British film to rave reviews. John Patterson of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' commented that ''The Black Panther'' "emerges as a meticulous, tactful, well made and highly responsible true crime movie". The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in 2012.

References

Bibliography

* Chibnall, Steve & Petley, Julian. ''British Horror Cinema''. Routledge, 2002.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Panther, The 1977 films 1970s thriller films British thriller films Crime films based on actual events Films scored by Richard Arnell Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios 1970s English-language films 1970s British films