The Long Good Friday on PAL Laserdisc

• Cat. No: PLFEC 35531
• Cert: 18
• Running time: 110 minutes
• Year: 1979
• Pressing: UK, 1997
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Chaptered: YES
• Sound: Mono
• Widescreen: 1.85:1
• Price: £19.99
  

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  Director:

  John MacKenzie

  Starring:

  Bob Hoskins
  Helen Mirren
  Dave King
  Bryan Marshall
  Derek Thompson
  Eddie Constantine

This title embodies several slices of British movie history: a key film in the now sadly defunct Handmade Films production slate; the movie which shot Hoskins to international stardom; and views of London Docklands before the eighties when the yuppies moved in and Canary Wharf Tower went up. With its car and pub bombings it also prefigures even less savoury developments that decade in the capital.

The tagline “Who Lit The Fuse That Tore Harold’s World Apart” is, for once, spot on. Former BBC director Mackenzie (whose movies include The Honorary Consul, Blue Heat and Ruby) perfectly casts Hoskins as a London gangland boss, Harold Shand. Life is sweet and looking sweeter, with contacts including a London councillor prepared to persuade visiting American financier Constantine (Lemmy Caution from Alphaville) to invest in his lavish Docklands development.

When the financier turns up with his lawyer advisor in tow, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. A trusted associate goes for a swim and is stabbed to death attempting an innocent gay pickup in the shower. The chauffeur set to drive Harold’s mum back from Good Friday worship is blown up in his car waiting outside the church. And an unexploded suitcase bomb turns up in Harold’s casino.

Astute girlfriend Mirren attempts to stop the bullish Harold spiralling out of control, but the latter has simply no idea who’s trying to set him up and ruin the deal. Harold’s favourite pub blows up as the party and the American drive towards it. He rounds up local villains and strings them up on refrigerated warehouse meathooks to no avail. The climactic ending is at once a surprise and expected, with Hoskins’ screen charisma matched by a silent Pierce Brosnan (one of the rare pre-Goldeneye scenes that suggest he might just be the perfect Bond). Brosnan spotters are also directed to the earlier swimming pool murder sequence.

On disc, various night scenes, cars, details in restaurants and swimming pool tiled walls look especially good – and it’s a must in terms of well-picked, down-at-heel London locations rarely seen in the movies.

It was made in Mono, so no mouthwatering Dolby Surround effects. The disc has plenty of chapters, too, although those seeing the film for the first time beware – some of the titles (notably for chapters 2 and 36) spoil the plot, so we recommend you watch the film before looking at the sleeve too closely.