The Krays (1990)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Peter Medak

Writer:

Philip Ridley (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When People are afraid of you, You can do anything. Remember that.

Plot:

This fact-based movie follows the life of the twin crime-lords in London's 60's underworld.

Plot Keywords:

Twins | Gangster | Crime Boss | Homosexual | London England

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

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

Also Known As:

The Kray Twins (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bethnal Green, London, England, UK

Company:

Fugitive TV Productions

Trivia:

Last feature film of Avis Bunnage.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Modern 1980's cars can be seen in some shots, particularly when Frances is running down the street and in the long shot when she and Reg are kissing in the back garden.

Quotes:

Violet Kray: Shall I tell you my dream? I dreamed that I was a beautiful white swan. And I could fly anywhere, do anything. I ate fish and pecked at things with my beak. And I had this egg, a beautiful egg it was. And there were noises coming from inside the shell...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gorgo (#10.9)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Bittersweet

It`s The Steven Berkoff Show

Do I detect that Steven Berkoff was slightly put out at appearing in this ? He must have since he tends to ruin THE KRAYS with some of the hammiest acting ever seen on film . For each and every scene he appears in he goes so over the top that he`s in danger of going out of orbit. Witness the scene in the scrapyard : " These Krays are getting on my T***. Wot`d I want you to do ? Get a gun . Bang bang end off . Shoot the F****** B******* they`re just a pair of nancy boys , all they care about is wot they look like " . Possibly the worst ham acting in history . Abysmal . If Berkoff was upset at playing a mere supporting character in a low budget Brit flick then he should have turned the part down instead of showing off like that .

But apart from Berkoff - Whose hysterical performance is very funny for all the wrong reasons - THE KRAYS still isn`t very good as far as gangster films go . The real life Ronnnie and Reggie were totally feared in the East End of London , but this film doesn`t tell us much about them. Worse than that the film falls into the trap of glorifying them both . Even today people who knew them still defend them with the old cliches " They was cruel but fair. They stuck to their own. They didn`t hurt woman or kids " . Yeah yeah whatever . There`s also some subtext about sisterhood with the Krays mother and aunt but it`s so vague it`s just confusing

" Goodnight girls "