The Krays (film)

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The Krays is a 1990 film based on the lives and crimes of the British gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray, twins who are often referred to as The Krays. It was directed by Peter Medak. The film was reasonably well-received by critics although, like the real-life gangsters on which it is based, it is not all that well known outside of the UK.

The Kray twins were notorious figures in the London underworld of the 1960s. They were subsequently convicted of murder and were incarcerated for the rest of their lives. They were played by real-life brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, who at the time of the film were more famous for their pop group Spandau Ballet.

The film charts the lives of the Krays from childhood, paying particular attention to how they were very close to their doting mother (played by Billie Whitelaw) and also the relationship between the twins, with Ronald (Gary Kemp) the more dominant and violent twin and Reginald (Martin Kemp) carrying out acts of violence primarily at the behest of his brother. The real-life Ronald was diagnosed as a psychopath.

The film contains a notoriously gruesome scene whereby Ronald gives someone a "Chelsea Smile", which involves holding a knife horizontally over the victim's mouth and applying pressure, the blade carving through the victim's cheeks and the resulting injuries giving the impression they are, quite literally, smiling "from ear to ear". On a lighter note the film also contains a memorable scene whereby the Krays hold a meeting at their parent's house. Halfway through the meeting the Krays' mother cheerfully brings up cups of tea for everyone and fusses over all the heavily built men who are crammed into one tiny room. The other gangsters know how devoted the Krays are to their mother and they treat her with fawning respect.

The film also has a small role for Dave Courtney, a real-life London gangster.