British Gangster Film, The Long Good Friday at the BFI Southbank
The Restoration Premier-
Part of Gentlemans Butler’s iconic Gentlemans Film
A balmy summer’s evening at the BFI on London’s Southbank saw the restoration premier of classic 1970’s British gangster film The Long Good Friday.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, it’s the story of east-end gangster Harold Shand, played by the brilliant Bob Hoskins, and how on one fateful Good Friday, his empire begins to unravel, with increasingly violent events. Harold is a man with vision who foresaw the re-generation of London’s docklands, integration with the European Union and even the Olympics ending up in his manor. However, he didn’t bargain on the IRA spoiling the party just when he had the Mafia visiting to check out his business plan. Events rapidly spiral out of his control, culminating in his own capture by the provisional IRA and after that we know not, but assume it can’t be good.
Visually the film looked superb, a testament to hours spent tweaking and re-balancing any imperfections, all over-seen by Phil Meheux the film’s cinematographer. He was present, for a post- film discussion, along with the film’s writer, Barrie Keeffe, cast member Paul Barber, who played the unfortunate snitch Erroll, and the broadcaster and critic Danny Lee. This insight into the background and making of the film proved a fascinating end to a most enjoyable evening.
Leaving the BFI I couldn’t help feeling it was all most appropriate with Thames-side cinema, being just down river from where Harold’s fictitious boat was moored at St Catherine’s Dock. He was certainly a man of astute vision, as where were once rusting docks, now stands the gleaming new London he foresaw. If the film had ended differently, and he’d made his escape, I think he’d probably be laughing, with a whiskey in his hand, sitting on the deck of his super-yacht somewhere thinking I was right. Cheers Harold.