100 GREATEST MOVIE VILLAINS

Pt. 10  46-50

CAPTAIN BEATTY

Who's he?: Captain Beatty is the commander of a fireman's squad. However, since this is a future, Dystopian society, the firemen do not put out fires, but burn books instead. For the written word has been forbidden. 
How bad is he?: OK, one could argue that Captain Beatty is just 'doing his job' and he has the full support of the law in doing so. Which makes even more evil, in my opinion, than any common criminals. Captain Beatty represents a society where, deprived of litterature, humans have been turned into depressive, suicidal plastic people who only live to watch mindless TV and have lost any capacity to internalise deeper, and more profoundly meaninful, emotions. If you don't believe me, ask his fellow fireman Montag's wife, who can't even remember the day she first met her husband, and live only to participate in stupid so-called "interactive" television.
What happened?: Don't you hate it when you realise your life's work has been actually supporting an oppressive regime? Montag did, and when Beatty served him another one of his self-righteous monologues, he was quickly burned to a crisp.
Appearance: Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

JACK THE RIPPER

Who's he?: There are many theories about the Ripper's identity. One is that he was John Leslie Stephenson, a surgeon and great pal of H.G. Wells. When Cornered by the police at Wells' house, he used his friend's time machine to escape to 1979 San Francisco.
How bad is he?: A surgeon with a warped mind, able to combine an extensive knowledge of anatomy with criminal psychopathy. The results speak for themselves. In restrospect, escaping to the future was a bad move. As Stephenson says himself: "90 years ago I was a freak, today I'm an amateur". Back in the day, Stephenson was alone in his "chosen field of expertise", in 1970s America he was outclassed and outmatched by luminaries such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, the Son of Sam, Zodiac and many, many others. Competition was stiff, and Stephenson became just another also-ran.
What happened?: Stephenson had enough and wanted to take Wells' time machine for another spin. That he did, though not before Wells took out That Special Thingamabob which sent Stephenson all across time and space...without the machine. He was never heard from again and the Ripper's identity still eludes the Law.
Appearance: Time After Time (1979), for this version of the Ripper. There are countless others.

PROFESSOR MORIARTY

Who's he?: The "Napoleon of Crime", according to his arch-enemy Sherlock Holmes. James Moriarty was a professor of Mathematics at one of those ol' Victorian colleges. Boredom set in and Moriarty used his extraordinary brain power to set himself up as a criminal mastermind.
How bad is he?: When someone commits crimes that can trump the Great Detective, you know you're in for a special treat. Pr. Moriarty is a cold, calculating and ruthless villain who plays the world like a game of chess. A game he knows all too well. And like a good chessplayer, he is not above sacrificing minor chesspieces while keeping his eyes on the prize.
What happened?: Moriarty went to see Holmes and told him he didn't appreciate undue interference in his affairs. You don't say things like that to Sherlock Holmes. The two of them went mano a mano at Reichenbach Falls, in Switzerland where Holmes was unceremoniously pushed over the cliff (he got better).
Appearances: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) is the latest in a long list of appearances.

ROWNTREE

Who's he?: He's the Senior Whip at College House, a British public school. Although technically only a student, Rowntree wields a great deal of authority able to run roughshod over the heads of anyone who actually thinks they run College House, like, say, the Headmaster.
How bad is he?: Oh dear. We could start by saying he's an insufferable tin-pot tyrant, full of his own self-importance but that's just scratching the surface. To think that he's destined to a very prominent job as a civil servant gives a frightening new meaning to the word "bureaucracy". Rowntree here will not hesitate to punish anyone whom he feels a challenge to his authoritee, even if they haven't really done anything. He likes to play mindgames with people, sporting that disgusting air of superioty all the while. Fortunately, such bastards have a tendency to create their own opposition...
What happened?: ...Like Mick Travis, Johnny and Wallace for instance. These three were just minding their own business, bumming it 'till the summer holidays when Rowntree had to be Rowntree and make an enemy of the power trio. Faster than you can say "sod that", Mick and his friends had gone from revolutionary rethoric to full blown insurrection. And on Founders' Day to boot!
Appearance: If.... (1968)

GANGLION MAN & FAT BASTARD

Who're they?: Two guys from the Deep South driving along in a pickup truck.
How bad are they?: This one's fairly cut and dried. They meet two bikers on the highway and decide to "scare" them by killins both of them with a shotgun. For no good reason. Just like that. There are no words...no words.
What happened?: Since that incident happened at the end of the movie, probably nothing much. I, for one, strongly doubt that the police inquiry over the death of two "outlaw bikers" from California revealed anything conclusive, and that any charges were actually brought against anyone.
Appearance: Easy Rider (1969)