The Krays (DVD)

Synopsis *********** Raised by their over-bearing mother and aunts, Ronnie and Reggie Kray were soon inducted into a world just on the wrong side of law as they became childhood bullies. With their father being a layabout gambler and their grandfather a former prize boxer, short of a couple of marbles, their only parental guidance came from their mother who taught them to be strong, crafty and conceited. Having progressed from childhood bullies into small time thugs, they intimidated the local neighbourhood with their violence and protection rackets. Soon they gained control of several local clubs and as their legal and illegal dealings grew bigger they ...

The Kray Twins, Ronnie and Reggie, were, as I'm sure we all know, a couple of violent thugs who ran a badly organised criminal empire in London's East End in the 1960s. For some reason they became well known, getting to hang out with celebrities like Judy Garland, and having their photo taken by David Bailey. After a few years they were arrested and spent the rest of their lives in prison. In spite of various campaigns, neither was released. Ronnie died in 1995, and Reggie just last year. Somehow, the Krays have achieved legendary status in Britain. The whole of Sixties Gangland London exerts a powerful fascination over people today (as witness Mad ...

The Brits don't have the money like the Americans do when it comes to making gangster flicks -but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Krays prefers to concentrate on the domestic lives of the two London-based, organised crime leaders Ronnie and Reggie Kray, rather than making a statement of what is real and what is false in a glamorised manner. Yes, you could argue that making a film about the two notorious East-end criminals is already a form of glamorisation, but the story actually provides very little insight into their involvement with various crime syndicates. Instead of just elaborating on the celebrity status of the twins, it explores ...