The Krays (1990)

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

Director:

Peter Medak

Writer:

Philip Ridley

Stars:

Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Billie Whitelaw

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The life of a pair of twins (Ronald and Reginald Kray) who were born in London in 1934 and when they grew up became gangsters selling protection.

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Plot Keywords:

twin | gangster | real life siblings as fictional siblings | brother brother relationship | mother son relationship | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Krays - Zwei mörderische Leben

Filming Locations:

Bermondsey, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$2,060,847 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fugitive TV Productions, Fugitive Features, Parkfield Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was a gap in between the houses in Caradoc Street so they built a false front for the 1930s; put a load of rubble in the road to look as though it had been bombed for the 1940s; and then put up corrugated iron for the 1960s.

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Goofs

Reg Kray takes Frances into her parents' garden where a 'decorative' garden gnome can be seen between them. Garden gnomes of the early 1960s were cast in plaster and painted but this one is of moulded plastic, a method of manufacture that wasn't used for this purpose until later.

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Quotes

[Ronnie and Reggie hold down the Italian gangster on the snooker table after he has demanded protection money]
Ronald Kray: You go back and you tell Rutherman no-one fucks with us. This is nothing. Give me your hand. Do it!
[Ronnie sticks a sword through the gangster's hand and twists it. Blood drips from the snooker table]
Italian Gangster: [screams]
Reggie Kray: Just show him this and tell him we let you off lightly. Hear me? Say "thank you".
Ronald Kray: Say "thank you".
Reggie Kray: Say "thank you".
Italian Gangster: [screams] Thank you.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gorgo (1998)

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Soundtracks

Bittersweet
Written by Chris Rea
Published by Warner Chappels Music
By Arrangement with Chappell Music Ltd.

User Reviews

Not bad entertainment

Not bad entertainment but not good enough for a classic. Some people have mentioned that the Krays gave their approval to the script. This was a bad thing. Now they are both dead. The Kray story should be done again, probably on TV as a mini series of about 6 hours to give the whole thing justice. We could then include more details of their life of crime, their arrests and trial. The Kemp brothers do not look alike at all but the Krays also looked different as they got older. Martin Kemp would pass for Reggie if he was a bit stockier but Gary Kemp is nothing like Big Ronnie. The overall impression of the film was that they were the leaders of a gang of teddy boys rather than the biggest gangsters in London. If the story is retold we need better casting for the twins and they need not necessarily be brothers.