The Krays ***** (1990, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Billie Whitelaw) – Classic Movie Review 1992

Director Peter Medak and brilliant screenwriter Philip Ridley bring the shocking tale of the life and crimes of the notorious, horrendous and now legendary real-life London East End gangster twins Ronald and Reginald Kray to the screen in 1990 in great style and in an astonishingly surefooted manner. Born in London in 1934, they grew up became criminals selling protection.

The fact-based thriller follows the story of the twin crime lords in London’s 1960s underworld and has something vital and important to say about family, brother brother relationships, mother son relationships, twins, gangsters, love, fear, respect and trust, while telling a thrilling London gangland movie and avoiding romanticising the frightening violence on show. That’s quite a lot to chew off and Ridley does it with great brio.

It’s a casting triumph, too. You expect Billie Whitelaw to be stupendous as the Krays’ beloved mum Violet, and she certainly is, really quite chilling. But, surprisingly, the Kemp brothers from Spandau Ballet, Gary and Martin, rivet the attention throughout in ultra-confident, exceptionally powerful acting performances as the Krays and effortlessly suggest the twins’ driving force of demonic nastiness.

It’s a distinguished, mature, very grown-up British film that clicked with the public taste. It goes without saying that the movie is extremely violent, as that’s the story in hand. The late and much lamented home video company Parkfield backed this success just before being forced to go out of business.

The quality cast is a bit of a Who’s Who of British Equity of the day: Susan Fleetwood, Charlotte Cornwall, Jimmy Jewel, Avis Bunnage, Kate Hardie, Alfred Lynch, Tom Bell, Steven Berkoff, Victor Spinetti, Barbara Ferris, John McEnery, Sadie Frost, Gary Love, Philip Broomfield, Norman Rossington, Patti Love, Michael Balfour, Roger Monk, Jimmy Flint, Andrew Kitchen, Michael Carr, Ian Burfield, Bob Brimson, Russell Gold, David Arlen, Jon McKenna, Sean Blower, Murray Melvin, Stephen Lewis, Peter Turner, Mark Burdis, Vernon Dobtcheff and Michael Elphick.

There are three new films on the subject in 2015: The Rise of the Krays, The Fall of the Krays and Legend.

Billie Whitelaw died on December 21 2014, aged 82. This film is a fine tribute to her, along with The Omen.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1992

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