IMDb > The Long Good Friday (1980)
The Long Good Friday
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The Long Good Friday (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3)
The Long Good Friday -- Trailer for this thriller about a British crime boss who has a very bad day
The Long Good Friday -- Open-ended Trailer from Paramount Pictures

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   9,935 votes »
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Director:
Writer:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Long Good Friday on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 April 1982 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
Who lit the fuse that tore Harold's world apart? See more »
Plot:
Harold, a prosperous English gangster, is about to close a lucrative new deal when bombs start showing up in very inconvenient places... See more » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins See more »
User Reviews:
A long, damn good film. See more (114 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Bob Hoskins ... Harold Shand

Helen Mirren ... Victoria
Dave King ... Parky
Bryan Marshall ... Harris
Derek Thompson ... Jeff
Eddie Constantine ... Charlie

Paul Freeman ... Colin
Leo Dolan ... Phil

Kevin McNally ... Irish Youth
Patti Love ... Carol Benson

P.H. Moriarty ... Razors
Ruby Head ... Harold's Mother
Charles Cork ... Eric
Olivier Pierre ... Chef

Pierce Brosnan ... 1st Irishman
Daragh O'Malley ... 2nd Irishman
Karl Howman ... David
Brian Hall ... Alan

Alan Ford ... Jack
Dave Ould ... Don
Paul Kember ... Ginger

Bill Moody ... Boston
Alan Devlin ... Priest
Stephen Davies ... Tony
Bruce Alexander ... Mac
Nigel Humphreys ... Dave
Brian Hayes ... Pool Attendant
Georgie Phillips ... Eugene
Mary Sheen ... Lil
Pauline Melville ... Dora
Trevor Laird ... Boy Under Car

Paul Barber ... Erroll

Dexter Fletcher ... Kid
Billy Cornelius ... Pete (as Bill Cornelius)
Ryan Michael ... Waiter Ricardo
Robert Walker ... Jimmy
Nick Stringer ... Billy
Gillian Taylforth ... Sherry
Robert Hamilton ... Flynn
James Ottaway ... Commissionaire (as James Ottoway)

Roy Alon ... Captain Death

Tony Rohr ... O'Flaherty
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Fielder ... Policeman (uncredited)
Ralph Morse ... Congregationalist (uncredited)
Alan Talbot ... Sniper (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Mackenzie 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Barrie Keeffe 

Produced by
Chris Griffin .... associate producer
Barry Hanson .... producer
George Harrison .... executive producer (uncredited)
Denis O'Brien .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Francis Monkman 
 
Cinematography by
Phil Meheux 
 
Film Editing by
Mike Taylor 
 
Casting by
Simone Reynolds 
 
Art Direction by
Vic Symonds 
 
Costume Design by
Tudor George 
 
Makeup Department
Colin Jamison .... hair stylist
Freddie Williamson .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Brian Burgess .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Binns .... third assistant director
Simon Hinkly .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Carlotta Barrow .... assistant art director
Ron Coleman .... construction manager
Glynn Kelly .... assistant art director
Peter Palmer .... property master
 
Sound Department
Russ Hill .... sound editor
David John .... sound recordist
Hugh Strain .... dubbing mixer
 
Special Effects by
Graham Aikman .... special effects
Steve Hamilton .... special effects technician
David Harris .... special effects technician
Ian Wingrove .... special effects
 
Stunts
Roy Alon .... stunt coordinator
Vic Armstrong .... stunts
Marc Boyle .... stunts
Tim Condren .... stunts
Jack Cooper .... stunts
Jim Dowdall .... stunts
Terry Forrestal .... stunts
Frank Henson .... stunts
Terence Plummer .... stunts
Bill Weston .... stunts
Roy Alon .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Billy Brooks .... chief electrician
Paul Jordan .... clapper loader
Mike Proudfoot .... camera operator
David Shillingford .... camera focus (as Dave Shillingford)
Ken Wainman .... still photographer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mike Jarvis .... wardrobe master
 
Editorial Department
Michael Feinberg .... assistant editor (as Mike Feinberg)
Peter Spenceley .... assistant editor
Frederick Wilson .... post-production
 
Music Department
Graham Walker .... music coordinator
 
Transportation Department
Howard Pugh .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Richard Booz .... unit car
Mary Comberbach .... assistant to producer
Peter Elford .... location manager
Penny Eyles .... continuity
Sally Shewring .... production assistant
Sue Wall .... production accountant
Martin Denning .... consultant (uncredited)
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:R | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1981) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1981) (theatrical release) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) (VHS) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA (cable TV rating)

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In her 2008 autobiography "In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures", Helen Mirren claims that it was at her insistence that her character "Victoria" was made into a more complex character than just the stereotypical mob moll.See more »
Goofs:
Errors in geography: Savoy Court is the only street in the UK where vehicles must drive on the right. However, towards the end of the film, we see they are driving on the left.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Colin:Two large Bushmills, please, darlin'.
See more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
28 out of 30 people found the following review useful.
A long, damn good film., 20 September 2006
Author: johnnyboyz (j_l_h_m@yahoo.co.uk) from Hampshire, England

When thinking back over the decades of British gangtser films, The Long Good Friday stands out in memory. This is due to the way the story is executed and the way a certain degree of suspense is held throughout.

Everything starts off well in this film. We're shown a rather perplexing, confusing but well shot sequence involving several people and a couple of deaths over what seems to be a case of money. We hear nothing of these events until much later in the film, keeping it at the back of our minds and creating a certain shock element when we eventually realise everything that's come together.

After the dramatic introduction, everything is toned down slightly as Harold Shand (Hoskins), the man of the film, is introduced to a rather catchy theme tune. His world is also introduced to us through very good use of London iconography as we realise he's rich, got plenty of friends and also has a good looking girl; with his biggest problem seeming to be what nationality to make the chef for his next get-together. With so many faces being introduced and so much pleasurable interaction, the events that follow fuelled by great hate for Harold are rather shocking as they are surprising and that's what really kicks this film off on a good path.

What's also good about the film as well as fascinating is that it takes a certain detective route. So many crime and gangster films often use a revenge plot or a hierarchy technique whereas this one, the enemy is unknown and the hierarchy has already been climbed. He's on his own with two or three of his most trusted accomplices attempting to discover what the hell's going on and this is very interesting as we find out what they find out, and at the same time as they do creating a nice, steady, plodding feeling of consistency.

As the battles and discoveries occur whilst the film wears on, numerous desperate situations are dragged out in a gritty and entertaining way such as Harold's relationship with his girl that is starting to fall apart amongst the terror and confusion, the personal battle with the American businessmen who foil Harold on several occasions and the question marks that arise over loyalties within his own organisation, as well as disagreements with his crooked policeman colleague and rival gangs. Not only are these scenes and plot points gripping; amusing dialogue and good one-liners from Harold himself help move them along.

As the film reaches its final third and Harold gets closer to the truth, the film reminded me of the original 'Get Carter' when Jack realises who's behind it all. Our anti-hero gets more and more angry and each scene gets more and more intense, culminating in pure chaos at a race car track and a monologue of insults at the American's who, up to this point, have had Harold and his outfit rolling over for them.

With strong acting performances all round and an impressive, well paced plot; The Long Good Friday has managed to sneak into my personal favourites list and definitely withstands the test of time.

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See more (114 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Long Good Friday (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Person I felt sorry for was...(spoilers) bowmanblue
Was there really any way for Harold to get out of it?.... Mr_Harold_Shand
The Music milesphenn
re: Is this Ganster film as Good as Goodfella's? carl170
The really, really Long Good Friday garp-26
Should have gone with Peter Brayham Grayseph
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