The Krays (film)
| The Krays | |
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| Directed by | Peter Medak |
| Produced by | Dominic Anciano Ray Burdis |
| Written by | Philip Ridley |
| Starring | Martin Kemp Gary Kemp Billie Whitelaw Tom Bell |
| Music by | Michael Kamen |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Editing by | Martin Walsh |
| Distributed by | Rank |
| Release date(s) | 27 April 1990 |
| Running time | 119 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Krays is a 1990 film based on the lives and crimes of the British gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray, twins who are often referred to as The Krays.[1] The film was written by Philip Ridley and directed by Peter Medak.[2]
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[edit] Plot summary
The film begins with a shot of a swan in flight over the caption "Shall I tell you my dream?" and charts Ronnie and Reggie Kray's lives from their humble beginnings in the East End of London, where they were born in 1933, to their rise in the 1960s to become the most infamous and notorious gangland leaders in London's criminal underworld.[3] They were subsequently convicted of murder and were incarcerated for over 30 years. Ron died in Broadmoor Hospital, a high security psychiatric hospital, in 1995. Reg however was released on 1 October 2000 on health grounds. He died 3 weeks later of cancer. They were played by real-life brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, who at the time of the film were more famous for their pop group Spandau Ballet.[4]
The film charts the lives of the Krays from childhood, paying particular attention to how they were very close to their doting mother (played by Billie Whitelaw) and also the relationship between the twins, with Ronald (Gary Kemp) the more dominant and violent twin and Reginald (Martin Kemp) carrying out acts of violence primarily at the behest of his brother. The real-life Ronnie was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.[5]
The film contains a notoriously gruesome scene in which Ronald gives someone a so-called 'Chelsea smile', which involves holding a knife horizontally over the victim's mouth and applying pressure, the blade carving through the victim's cheeks and the resulting injuries giving the impression they are smiling "from ear to ear".[6] On a lighter note the film also contains a memorable scene where the Krays hold a meeting at their parents' house. Halfway through the meeting the Krays' mother cheerfully brings up cups of tea for everyone and fusses over all the heavily built men who are crammed into one tiny room. Their mother was supposedly unaware that her sons' business activities were illegal. The other gangsters know how devoted the Krays are to their mother and they treat her with fawning respect.
[edit] Availability
Sometime after the film's theatrical run, the movie was released on videocassette by RCA/Columbia. The movie has never been released on Region 1 DVD, and as of 3 January 2010 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has yet to announce any plans for a DVD release. However, a special edition region 2 DVD has been released in the UK. This UK DVD release also contains a 53-minute documentary about the Krays, featuring interviews from the press and the police about their activities and eventual arrest, as well as from a former member of their gang.
As of 27 September 2011 the film is available for instant streaming only on Netflix.
[edit] Cast
- Billie Whitelaw .... Violet Kray
- Tom Bell .... Jack 'The Hat' McVitie
- Gary Kemp .... Ronnie Kray
- Martin Kemp .... Reggie Kray
- Susan Fleetwood .... Rose
- Charlotte Cornwell.... May
- Kate Hardie .... Frances
- Avis Bunnage .... Helen
- Alfred Lynch .... Charlie Kray, Snr
- Gary Love .... Steve
- Steven Berkoff .... George Cornell
- Jimmy Jewel .... Cannonball Lee
- Barbara Ferris .... Mrs. Lawson
- Victor Spinetti .... Mr. Lawson
- John McEnery .... Eddie Pellam
- Philip Bloomfield .... Charlie Pellam
- Norman Rossington .... Shopkeeper
- Patti Love .... Iris
- Michael Balfour .... Referee
- Terence Dackombe.... Thug
- Jonty Reason .... Thug
- Roger Monk .... Charlie Kray, Jnr.
- Jimmy Flint .... Perry
- Andrew Kitchen .... Dennis
- Michael Carr .... Eddie
- Ian Burfield .... Whip
- Bob Brimson .... Grey
- Russell Gold .... Terry
- David Arlen .... Dickie
- Jon McKenna .... Sam Ripley
- Sean Blowers .... Chris Ripley
- Murray Melvin .... Newsagent
- Sadie Frost .... Sharon Pellam
- Stephen Lewis .... Policeman
- Peter Turner .... Regal Manager
- Soo Drouet .... Jack's Girlfriend
- John H. Stracey .... Boxer
- David Fenwick .... Doctor
- Laura Cox .... Ivy
- Angus MacInnes .... Palendri
[edit] Soundtrack and audio
The film sound track came out on the Parkfield music label and featured: Chris Rea .... Bitter Sweet, The Zombies .... She's Not There, Jimmy Jewel .... Balling the Jack, Matt Monro .... Walk Away. Audio voice samples from the film have also been popular in modern music and featured on jungle tracks such as Buju Bantons Murderer remix by R33CE.COM.
[edit] References
- ^ Film about east London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=105078 Retrieved 19/09/07
- ^ Peter Medak Director http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/person.jsp?id=15375 Retrieved 19/09/07
- ^ Kray Twins notorios gangsters http://www.eastlondonhistory.com/krays.htm Retrieved 19/09/07
- ^ Spandau Ballet brothers Martin and Gary Kemp play The Krays http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=105078 Retrieved 19/09/07
- ^ Ronnie suffered from schizophrenia http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/famous_criminal/37/home/1/Ronnie_Reggie_Kray.htm Retrieved 19/09/07
- ^ Chelsea smile slang http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A128152 Retrieved 19/09/07
[edit] External links
- The Krays at the Internet Movie Database
- BBC website On This Day 1966
- BBC website On This Day 1969
- Film Review
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