engl 4860: special topics in film studies the gangster film spring 2011 room: ph 322

ENGL 4860: Special Topics in Film Studies

The Gangster Film

Spring 2011Room: PH 322

Day/Time: Monday, 430-730 pm

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2/28/11 | Meeting 6 The Long Good Friday (John Mackenzie, 1981; 114)Reading: Williams (GFR, 237)

Spring Break, March 7-13

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Brighton Rock (John Boulting,

1947)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Performance (Donald Cammell &

Nicholas Roeg, 1970)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Get Carter (Mike Hodges, 1971)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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The Long Good Friday (John

Mackenzie, 1981)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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The Krays (Peter Medak, 1990)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (Guy Ritchie, 1998)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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The General (John Boorman, 1998)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Snatch (Guy Ritchie, 2000)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer,

2000)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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Layer Cake (Matthew Vaughan,

2004)

Important British Gangster Films

Important British Gangster Films

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The Film

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Long Good Friday

Cast

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Bob Hoskins—Harold Shand

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Helen Mirren—Victoria

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Eddie Constantine—Charlie

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Paul Freeman—Colin

Belloq in Raidersof the Last Ark

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Pierce Brosnan—IRA Hit Man

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

The music by Francis Monkman—a classical composer who did rock to cut loseOpening—was originally more mysterious, a tracking of the suitcaseThe original title was The Paddy FactorThe Troubles—always Mackenzie’s wish to include; wanted the film to be Terrorist vs. CapitalistNo Ireland reveal in the opening sequenceLong Good Friday—working title only, but it stuck

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

The Concorde

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD CommentaryWanting to avoid traditional London icons—no buses, cabs

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

How can you blow up a Rolls Royce?—he was repeatedly asked this questionHarold’s patriotism; his speech on the river, his kiss-off to the MafiaMackenzie estimates he has seen the film 400 times

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

On location or built sets, but not one scene in a studio.

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Long Good Friday

Locations

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Heathrow Airport—Sarah Lavery arrives (photo by David Lavery, Spring 2007)

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The New London—The London Eye on the Thames (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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Tower Bridge—from the Thames (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)[Harold Shand talks before this same image at 21:19.]

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The Thames from a Tour Boat (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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The New London—from a Thames Tour Boat (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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The Docklands Today (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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The Docklands Today (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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The Docklands Today (photo by David Lavery, Summer 2007)

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

The Humo[u]r of Harold Shand:

“You don’t go around crucifying someone outside a church on Good Friday.”

“Colin would never hurt a fly except when it was necessary.”

“Apart from his asshole being fifty feet away from his brains.”

“Helllo Parky. I’m afraid the dinner has got a little bit burned.”

“Shut up you long streak of paralyzed piss. What I am looking for is someone who can contribute to what England has given to the world. Culture. Sophistication. Genius. A little bit more than a hot dog, know what I mean?”

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Notes from the Mackenzie DVD Commentary

The boy Harold gives money to in Brixton—Dexter Fletcher—would later have a role in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.The pub that blew up, a built set, began attracting customers.The gang gathering—mostly actual gangsters.Illuminating St. Paul’s—Jeff and Victoria in the car.Difficulty of hanging people upside down in the abattoir.There was supposed to be a love scene after the abattoir.The distributors did not like that Harold lost to the IRA; they wanted to bury the film.Jeff was not originally killed on the boat. Mackenzie replaced anaction scene—a car chase—with real drama.The bottle was an afterthought. The fake bottles were madeovernight.Mackenzie hates blood and looks away when he watchesJeff’s killing.Sold to Handmade Films (George Harrison’s film company) for800,000 pounds (about a $1,000,000)