Gangster No. 1 (2000)

Chronicles the rise and fall of a prominent, and particularly ruthless English gangster.

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writers:

Johnny Ferguson (screenplay adaptation), Louis Mellis (original screenplay)

Stars:

Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Malcolm McDowell	...	Gangster 55
David Thewlis	...	Freddie Mays
Paul Bettany	...	Young Gangster
Saffron Burrows	...	Karen
Kenneth Cranham	...	Tommy (as Ken Cranham)
Jamie Foreman	...	Lennie Taylor
Eddie Marsan	...	Eddie Miller
Andrew Lincoln	...	Maxie King
Doug Allen	...	Mad John
Razaaq Adoti	...	Roland
Cavan Clerkin	...	Billy
David Kennedy	...	Fat Charlie
Johnny Harris	...	Derek
Anton Saunders	...	Trevor (as Anton Valensi)
Alex McSweeney	...	Bloke In Tailor's

Storyline

A middle-aged crime boss smugly reflects back from 1999, narrating the brutality which made him triumphant - and feared. As an unnamed young hood in Swinging 60's London, he aped his mod boss Freddie Mays, and seemed to do anything for him. But his narration exposes all-consuming envy: of Freddie's supremacy, and especially his tall bird. The baby shark develops his viciousness and backstabbing, scheming to be Gangster No. 1.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | rise and fall | male full frontal nudity | sociopath | torture | 

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Taglines:

The King is dead, Long live the King

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, and brief drug use and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

FilmFour MGM

Country:

UK Germany Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gangster Nr. 1

Filming Locations:

Corbridge Crescent, Bethnal Green, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,514, 16 June 2002

Gross USA:

$30,915

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmFour, Pagoda Film, Road Movies Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Loosely based on the life of real-life mobster Frankie Fraser.

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Goofs

The scene where a man is hanging from the balcony of a large block of flats was filmed on the Heygate estate in London. Work on this estate did not begin until around 1970 and the estate was not complete until 1974. Even then, it would have taken another year or two to populate the estate. There is a similar estate just down the road called the Aylesbury, but that wasn't completed until much later.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[song "The Good Life" begins as scene opens at boxing match; crowd noises]
Gangster 55: [laughing] What? With Scotland Yard breathing down me neck? Fuck off. Do me a favor!
[laughter]

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Connections

References King Kong (1933)

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Soundtracks

Lazy Sunday
Written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane
Performed by Small Faces (as The Small Faces)
Published by EMI United Partnership Ltd

User Reviews

COCKNEY CAGNEYS

GANGSTER NO.1 (2002) *** Malcolm McDowell, Paul Bettany, David Thewlis, Saffron Burrows. Bloody good Brit flick about English thugs recalled in flashback by McDowell and portrayed by Bettany (both equally excellent in a teeth-gnashing kind of way) recollecting their bumpy ride to the top and rocky relationship with head kingpin Thewlis getting in the way. Graphically violent yet smartly directed by Paul McGuigan eschewing stylistic violence for violence sake and encapsulating the Mod 60s effectively.