The Krays (film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Krays


caption = | director = Peter Medak
producer = Dominic Anciano
Ray Burdis
writer = Philip Ridley
starring = Martin Kemp
Gary Kemp
Billie Whitelaw
Tom Bell
music = Michael Kamen
cinematography = Alex Thomson
editing = Martin Walsh | distributor = Rank
released = April 27, 1990
runtime = 119 min.
country = UK
language = English
imdb_id = 0099951

"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. ["Film about East London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray" http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=105078 Retrieved 19/09/07] The film was written by Philip Ridley and directed by Peter Medak. [ "Peter Medak Director" http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/person.jsp?id=15375 Retrieved 19/09/07]

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 to their rise in the 1960s to become the most infamous and notorious gangland leaders in London's criminal underworld. ["Kray Twins notorios gangsters" http://www.eastlondonhistory.com/krays.htm Retrieved 19/09/07] 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 the 1 October 2000 on health grounds. He died 3 weeks later of cancer. They were played by real-life brothers (Gary Kemp) and (Martin Kemp), who at the time of the film were more famous for their pop group Spandau Ballet. ["Spandau Ballet brothers Martin and Gary Kemp play The Krays" http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=105078 Retrieved 19/09/07]

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 with suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. ["Ronnie suffered from schizophrenia" http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/famous_criminal/37/home/1/Ronnie_Reggie_Kray.htm Retrieved 19/09/07]

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, quite literally, smiling "from ear to ear". ["Chelsea smile slang" http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A128152 Retrieved 19/09/07] On a lighter note the film also contains a memorable scene where the Krays hold a meeting at their parent's 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.

Cast

Billie Whitelaw .... Violet Kray

Tom Bell .... Jack 'The Hat' McVitie

Gary Kemp .... Ronald Kray

Martin Kemp .... Reggie Kray

Susan Fleetwood .... Rose

Charlotte Cornwell.... May

Kate Hardie .... Frances

Avis Bunnage .... Helen

Alfred Lynch .... Charlie Kray

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
Roger Monk .... Charlie 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

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0099951|title=The Krays
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/7/newsid_3325000/3325399.stm BBC website "On This Day 1966"]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/4/newsid_2515000/2515103.stm BBC website "On This Day 1969"]
* [http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=57 Film Review]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2fmVfcEvrQ youtube: The Krays Movie - BBC News Report From 1990]