The Long Good Friday (1980)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

John Mackenzie

Writer:

Barrie Keeffe (writer)

Release Date:

2 April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Who lit the fuse that tore Harold's world apart?

Plot:

Harold, a prosperous English gangster, is about to close a lucrative new deal when bombs start showing up in very inconvenient places...

Plot Keywords:

Bomb | Gangster | Irish Republican Army | Cult Favorite | Broken Bottle

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins

Cast

Paul Freeman	...	Colin
Leo Dolan	...	Phil
Kevin McNally	...	Irish Youth
Patti Love	...	Carol Benson
P.H. Moriarty	...	Razors
Derek Thompson	...	Jeff
Bryan Marshall	...	Harris
Bob Hoskins	...	Harold Shand
Helen Mirren	...	Victoria
Ruby Head	...	Harold's Mother
Charles Cork	...	Eric
Olivier Pierre	...	Chef
Pierce Brosnan	...	1st Irishman
Daragh O'Malley	...	2nd Irishman
Dave King	...	Parky
Karl Howman	...	David
Brian Hall	...	Alan
Alan Ford	...	Jack
Dave Ould	...	Don
Paul Kember	...	Ginger
Bill Moody	...	Boston
Alan Devlin	...	Priest
Eddie Constantine	...	Charlie
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)

Directed by
John Mackenzie

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Barrie Keeffe		writer

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
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 Forestal	....	stunts
Frank Henson	....	stunts
Terence Plummer	....	stunts
Bill Weston	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Billy Brooks	....	chief electrician
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

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)

Production Companies

• British Lion Film Corporation
• Calendar Productions
• HandMade Films

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1980) (UK) (theatrical)
• Embassy Pictures Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Equator Films (1999) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Film AB Corona (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Valio-Filmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Cannon Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1992) (Finland) (TV) (MTV1)
• Nordic Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Paragon Video Productions (VHS)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) (VHS) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1981) (theatrical release) | 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

Filming Locations:

Brixton, London, England, UK

Company:

British Lion Film Corporation

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.

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.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Colin: Two large Bushmills, please, darlin'.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Coogan's Run: Thursday Night Fever (#1.4)" (1995)

Bob Hoskins makes this...

Very much in the tradition of the American gangster films of the 30s and 40s, this movie centres around a bravura performance by the central gangster (Edward G Robinson/James Cagney then; Bob Hoskins now). Bob Hoskins raves and fights against a world that is rapidly moving beyond his control and, although he is an unpleasant, violent and vicious character, you end up caring for him.

Interesting also as a historical snapshot of a period in London's history (the redevelopment of the Docklands) now gone.