The Gangster movie has been a staple of British Cinema for over 50 years. Some of the Britain's most interesting and enigmatic and cinematic characters have come from the underworld, with Jack Carter, Harold Shand and Big Chris becoming internationally recognised symbols of British pop culture.
This book traces the history of the movie gangster from Michael Caine's Get Carter, via The Long Good Friday and The Krays, to the point where Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells turned Vinnie Jones into a Cool Britannia icon.
The new century saw a low-budget re-invention of the British crime film as the sharp-suited gangland entrepreneurs turned into teenage urban gangs and football hooligans, and honour amongst thieves became a thing of the past.
Great British Crime features a discussion of over 50 landmark films, and asks the question what next for The British screen gangster?
This book traces the history of the movie gangster from Michael Caine's Get Carter, via The Long Good Friday and The Krays, to the point where Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells turned Vinnie Jones into a Cool Britannia icon.
The new century saw a low-budget re-invention of the British crime film as the sharp-suited gangland entrepreneurs turned into teenage urban gangs and football hooligans, and honour amongst thieves became a thing of the past.
Great British Crime features a discussion of over 50 landmark films, and asks the question what next for The British screen gangster?
