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Post by london777 on Mar 21, 2021 13:20:33 GMT
I have started this thread as a home for irrelevant posts (and I was the first malefactor) in the 'Classic Film Ports & Docks' thread.
Mar 20, 2021 21:57:35 GMT -4 manfromplanetx said:
Nor am I, but my policy is post first and think afterwards. Even so, the only one I can think of to rival it is Get Carter (1974) dir: Mike Hodges. Both deal with the redevelopment mania that gripped Britain in the 'sixties and organized crime's efforts to seize a large slice of the action. Both protagonists pursued their aims like a bull in a china shop and were destroyed because they did not realize they were grappling with forces much larger than they could conceive.
In that respect, maybe Get Carter was the more influential, coming first.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Mar 21, 2021 13:53:10 GMT
The Krays (1990) was pretty good.
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 14:11:04 GMT
I have started this thread as a home for irrelevant posts (and I was the first malefactor) in the 'Classic Film Ports & Docks' thread.Mar 20, 2021 21:57:35 GMT -4 manfromplanetx said: Nor am I, but my policy is post first and think afterwards. Even so, the only one I can think of to rival it is Get Carter (1974) dir: Mike Hodges. Both deal with the redevelopment mania that gripped Britain in the 'sixties and organized crime's efforts to seize a large slice of the action. Both protagonists pursued their aims like a bull in a china shop and were destroyed because they did not realize they were grappling with forces much larger than they could conceive. In that respect, maybe Get Carter was the more influential, coming first. Whilst I'm no fan of the film I think you may be right re GET CARTER - it is generally held in very high esteem. VILLAIN from same time has its admirers (again not me) but doesn't seem as loved or remembered, BRIGHTON ROCK would be my only serious alternate suggestion. MONA LISA might get a few votes. And if we allow artyfarty gangster Brits then Greenaway's THE COOK< THE THIEF< HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER must be a front runner  My starting offers, if not "better" than other suggestions are certainly earlier. Known this side of the pond, because folk knew what BRIGHTON was ... and some even where it was.. as BRIGHTON ROCK  This one is fun - not only gangsters but a sultry Mafia princess on the prowl  "Gangster" may be overstating the case with my final thought but I think the fact that the character was dating Joan Collins proves conclusively that he's a wrong'un  two more  
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Post by politicidal on Mar 21, 2021 14:16:59 GMT
Guy Ritchie’s made his career off these. He’s hit or miss for me. But The Gentlemen is my favorite 2020 movie so far.
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 14:39:40 GMT
Guy Ritchie’s made his career off these. He’s hit or miss for me. But The Gentlemen is my favorite 2020 movie so far. One of mine too - watched it 3 times so far. Plot passed me by initially but the banter is the thing here... Hugh Grant was a total joy and Farrell and Marsan were very good value. Even Lady Mary from DOWNTON nailed it. I have enjoyed most Ritchie to some degree - ROCK'N'ROLLA probably still my fave.
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Post by sostie on Mar 21, 2021 15:27:33 GMT
I have started this thread as a home for irrelevant posts (and I was the first malefactor) in the 'Classic Film Ports & Docks' thread.Mar 20, 2021 21:57:35 GMT -4 manfromplanetx said: Nor am I, but my policy is post first and think afterwards. Even so, the only one I can think of to rival it is Get Carter (1974) dir: Mike Hodges. Both deal with the redevelopment mania that gripped Britain in the 'sixties and organized crime's efforts to seize a large slice of the action. Both protagonists pursued their aims like a bull in a china shop and were destroyed because they did not realize they were grappling with forces much larger than they could conceive. In that respect, maybe Get Carter was the more influential, coming first. I'd probably say Long Good Friday is my favourite gangster film full-stop. Get Carter and Mona Lisa a close second fave Brit gangster films
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Post by sostie on Mar 21, 2021 15:36:52 GMT
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 15:50:06 GMT
KING LEAR as a modern dress gangster family drama. Recommended for those with strong stomachs - incredibly violent. Plus Lynn Redgrave fans note despite prominent billing her screen time minimal.  Ben Wheatley's first should not be missed if you take your gangsters low key with a dark vein of humour. A Brighton family run "firm" unravels when the son's choice of partner proves problematic  My last choice is set in Eire, therefore not strictly in scope - but it's an excellent gangster drama with a beautiful coastal rural setting.. It opened in UK the week of lockdown 1 to rave reviews and no audience... belated Amazon Prime I think and worth far more than the £3.99 that'll cost you. Yanks reading might find it under the title THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE, which sounds like something Liam Neeson would turn down... but watch it under any title:  |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 21, 2021 16:23:07 GMT
VILLAIN 1971 - Richard Burton has memorable lines like: "Stupid punters. Telly all the week, screw the wife Saturday."
There's two version of the movie--the US one dubs everyone but Burton so the UK version is the one with all the voices.
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Post by london777 on Mar 21, 2021 16:33:02 GMT
KING LEAR as a modern dress gangster family drama. Recommended for those with strong stomachs - incredibly violent. I had never heard of this. Funny how a Brit film with major actors could slip completely past me. I do not think I will bother, though. Interesting that you call it 'incredibly violent'. The only reviewer I read on IMDb was turned off because it was so unbloody compared with US gangster films. Not the first Brit gangsterized Shakespeare effort, though. Joe MacBeth (1955) had a decent director, Ken Hughes, but suffered from its mean budget. Flimsy sets and looks under-rehearsed. Good to see Ruth Roman as 'er indoors'. When I was young I thought she was a major Hollywood female lead. It is only recently I have realized how few big-budget films she appeared in. 
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Post by london777 on Mar 21, 2021 16:46:13 GMT
My last choice is set in Eire, therefore not strictly in scope ... Why not? The criterion was "British". Eire is in the British Isles. More to the point, the British and Irish theatrical and cinematic cultures are intertwined. Many of the leading British playwrights are Irish (Sheridan, Wilde, Shaw, etc). |
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 16:47:50 GMT
Joe MacBeth (1955) had a decent director, Ken Hughes, but suffered from its mean budget. Flimsy sets and looks under-rehearsed. Good to see Ruth Roman as 'er indoors'. When I was young I thought she was a major Hollywood female lead. It is only recently I have realized how few big-budget films she appeared in. . The only reviewer I read on IMDb was turned off because it was so unbloody compared with US gangster films. I guess it does depend on your starting point. COSH BOY was an X film in 1953 but now you get worse behaviour on the 253 bus on a daily basis. I suspect my first gangster film was BALL OF FIRE or SOME LIKE IT HOT . Yes I thought JOE MACBETH was pretty ropey but some will find the idea of Sid James as Banquo too alluring a pull... and I can't blame them. I like Ruth Too - My Dad always referred to her as being a "big strong girl" I have seen all her movies aside from the gangster free 
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 16:51:25 GMT
My last choice is set in Eire, therefore not strictly in scope ... Why not? The criterion was "British". Eire is in the British Isles. More to the point, the British and Irish theatrical and cinematic cultures are intertwined. Many of the leading British playwrights are Irish (Sheridan, Wilde, Shaw, etc). Politically Eire self governed.
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Post by london777 on Mar 21, 2021 17:04:36 GMT
Politically Eire self governed. Of course. But 'British Isles' is a geographical term, not political. And the Irish have geneologically more right to be called British than the largely Anglo-Saxon English. And the Irish and UK theatrical cultures are inseparable. A few Irish wannabees go direct to the US, but the great majority find their career via the English stage and film studios. The Irish theatre is insufficiently well-funded to flourish on its own, and the UK theatre is insufficiently talented to do without Irish input. I am a quarter Irish myself. Not the best quarter, but not the worst either. Anyway, it will soon be all irrelevant. Both countries will either be part of the United States of Europe or provinces of the Peoples Republic of China.
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 17:53:25 GMT
Politically Eire self governed. Of course. But 'British Isles' is a geographical term, not political. And the Irish have geneologically more right to be called British than the largely Anglo-Saxon English. And the Irish and UK theatrical cultures are inseparable. A few Irish wannabees go direct to the US, but the great majority find their way to the top through the English stage and film studios. The Irish theatre is insufficiently well-funded to flourish on its own, and the UK theatre is insufficiently talented to do without Irish input. I am a quarter Irish myself. Not the best quarter, but not the worse either. Anyway, it will soon be all irrelevant. Both countries will either be part of the United States of Europe or provinces of the Peoples Republic of China. I was hoping for Kardashiana myself - the national flag will be a selfie image of Biden in a thong
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Post by london777 on Mar 21, 2021 18:40:48 GMT
.... The Gentlemen is my favorite 2020 movie so far. One of mine too - watched it 3 times so far. Thanks for the recommendation, gentlemen. I have added it to my shopping list.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Mar 21, 2021 22:51:31 GMT
Great thread london777 ! already of great interest to many of us here... The Criminal (1960) Joseph Losey. Divided fairly equally between prison life and the outside worlld. Stanley Baker plays Johnny Bannion, an underworld kingpin, who brings the hard boiled character to life with a searing magnificent performance. Baker is said to have based his characterization on his friend, real-life Soho criminal Albert Dimes, who Director Losey described as "a huge, staggeringly handsome man, who drove around in a smashing, big, white convertible with black leather upholstery"...   |
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Post by manfromplanetx on Mar 21, 2021 23:00:33 GMT
Appointment with Crime (1946) Directed & written by John Harlow A terrific dark drama tells the sordid tale of Leo Martin (William Hartnell) who finds himself inside, the fall guy, after his gangs latest job a jewel robbery does not go to plan.... 
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 21, 2021 23:16:02 GMT
Stop the press! Not sure how British this one is (wicki suggests mongrel Mid Atlantic status) but if eligible I'd rate it second to the Greenaway of all films thus far mentioned. ie serious contender . as consolation my dad says GET CARTER is probably correct.  Amazing score (Carter Birdwell) , resurrected Colin Farrell, and after watching this you;ll never think of Ralph Fiennes carrying some posh bird into a desert cave again... |
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Post by manfromplanetx on Mar 21, 2021 23:22:25 GMT
"Gangster" may be overstating the case with my final thought but I think the fact that the character was dating Joan Collins proves conclusively that he's a wrong'un Some great films mentioned, another a fan of Sidney Tafler and Wide Boy the British term used to describe ... a wheeler and dealer a petty criminal who works by guile rather than force. I made mention of this back on the Re-branding the title thread... Cosh Boy (1953) UK Dir. Lewis Gilbert Juvenile delinquent in the backstreets of London Roy (James Kenny) becomes The Slasher in the USA... In the UK Cosh is a kind of truncheon used to hit someone with the sensationalist American poster even has a razor which is not seen in the film !  
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