Director: John Mackenzie
Writers: Barrie Keeffe
Stars: Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Paul Freeman
This review is part of the feature:
The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse
Gangster Harold Shand is having a very bad day. An unknown competitor nearly blows up his mom at church on Good Friday, and an associate of his is whacked at a swimming pool. Harold must uncover who is behind these attacks – and fast – because two American mafiosi are in town to finalize the deal of his lifetime, and he can’t afford to scare them off.
Produced by HandMade Films – George Harrison’s production company – and directed by John Mackenzie (known for the Scottish crime film A Sense of Freedom, based on the autobiography of Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle), The Long Good Friday is the quintessential British gangster film.
Bob Hoskins delivers one of the most iconic gangster performances of all time. From his minimalistic yet powerful first scene – Harold striding through the airport to the film’s blasting original score – to the unforgettable final moments, there’s never any doubt about who this character is. Harold Shand sees himself first and foremost as a businessman with a grand vision: to transform London into the glorious capital of Europe. He hosts guests and conducts shady business dealings aboard his luxurious yacht in the London Docklands.
His girlfriend, Victoria – a splendid early role for Helen Mirren – is effectively his co-manager in their criminal enterprise, known as ‘the corporation’. While Harold brings bravura and bold ambition, Victoria provides the keen psychological insight and patience needed to achieve their shared dream: legitimizing their empire.
What makes this movie work so well is how the events affect the lead characters. There is a whirlwind of emotions running through nearly every scene. Harold for example – when learning of the loss of his close associate Colin – can seem genuinely sad one moment and enraged in the next that somebody has done this to him.
The movie is packed with unforgettable scenes, from men dangling from meat hooks during interrogations to Harold’s defiant and hilarious final speech to the Americans (“The Mafia? I’ve shit ‘em!”).
The ending ranks among the most powerful in gangster cinema. Though The Long Good Friday may not be as widely remembered today, it absolutely deserves a reappraisal; this is one of the finest contributions the Brits have made to the genre. And as Harold might say, that takes more than a hotdog, know what I mean?
