The Krays main backdrop
The Krays main poster

The Krays

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6.0/10 • 104

1990-04-271h 55m

DramaCrimeHistory

When people are afraid of you... you can do anything. Remember that.

The Krays is a film based on the lives and crimes of the British gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray, twins who are often referred to as The Krays and were active in London in the 1960s.

Directors
Peter Medak
Writters
Philip Ridley
Editors
Philip Ridley, Martin Walsh

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Gary Kemp

    Gary Kemp

    Ronald Kray

  2. Martin Kemp

    Martin Kemp

    Reggie Kray

  3. Billie Whitelaw

    Billie Whitelaw

    Violet Kray

  4. Tom Bell

    Tom Bell

    Jack 'The Hat' McVitie

  5. Susan Fleetwood

    Susan Fleetwood

    Rose

  6. Charlotte Cornwell

    Charlotte Cornwell

    May

  7. Kate Hardie

    Kate Hardie

    Frances

  8. Avis Bunnage

    Avis Bunnage

    Helen

  9. Alfred Lynch

    Alfred Lynch

    Charlie Kray Snr

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

May 29, 2025

6/10

Despite the bests efforts of the usually reliable, if hardly versatile, Tom Bell to rescue this pedestrian story of London’s most infamous gangsters, this really doesn’t light any touch papers. Perhaps because neither Martin nor Gary Kemp are much good as actors, nor do either of them exude any sense of menace as this rather tepid biopic trundles along for two hours. “Reggie” (Martin) and gay brother “Ronnie” (Gary) are determined to impress their mother (the underused Billie Whitelaw) with a criminal enterprise that was able to thrive as the city and the country strove to recover from the Second World War. What does work here is the exposure of the sub-culture of criminality that prevailed in what was little better than a lawless East End of London; where protection rackets, prostitution and illicit trading was rampant and where, to some extent, these two men were seen as benevolent influences amongst a community that likened them a little to Robin Hood. Indeed, it’s it’s very clumsy attempts to glamorise the violence with which they ruled the streets that might be it’s redeeming feature. The general population did not recoil from their brutal activities in anything like the fashion we might expect nowadays - but there’s nowhere near enough action of any kind here. Steven Berkoff pops up now and again but somehow his more innate characteristic of odiousness only serves to further show up the lack of that from the pristine Kemps who just looked great in their suits, but little else. Forgettable stuff, sadly.

Media

  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster
  • The Krays poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
gangsterbased on true storytwins1960sgay theme