10 Criminally underrated British Crime Films you probably haven't seen yet - Guest Contributor Feature
It is no secret that there are two sub-genres of film I am particularly not fond of: football hooligan films and nasty gangster films that glamorises meaningless violence. I haven't seen the soon to be released Hooligan Legacy but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt as it's recommended by the guys who curated this rather good list of, less well known British Crime Thrillers.Although it, as well as all others lists of a similar nature, it could benefit from the inclusion of Nicolas Roeg's brilliant Performance starring James Fox, Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg, Michael Tuchner's Battersea set Villain starring Richard Burton and Ian McShane well as Stephen Frears' The Hit starring Terence Stamp, Tim Roth and John Hurt. and a theme song from Roger Waters and Eric Clapton.
Amongst the ten highlighted films there are a number that resonate with me including: a film I just recently re-watched - the Oliver Reed, Jill St. John, Ian McShane, Edward Woodward starrer - Sitting Target. Set in part around Clapham Junction and directed by Douglas Hickox, the man behind Zulu Dawn, Brannigan, Sky Riders and Theatre of Blood, it's interesting to watch Oliver Reed's Harry Lomat a man split between a brash and violent revenge driven convict and a man with a cracked softer side playing off Ian McShane's devilish Birdy.
The always good Mike Hodges' Croupier, set in the glitzy world of casinos but is more about the world under it. The intense Gangster No. 1 from Paul McGuigan who amongst his films will be directing a couple of episodes of Marvel and Netflix's eagerly anticipated Luke Cage series.
Paul Andrew Williams' outstanding London to Brighton, easily transcends its station and is possibly the most meaningful and engaging low budget crime film to come out of Britain in a good while. I also recommend his surreal horror comedy The Cottage starring Andy Serkis, Reece Shearsmith and Jennifer Ellison it's American Werewolf in London good. And of course it's brilliant to see Ben Wheatley's darkly humorous and low key crime family tale - Down Terrace with Robert Hill, Robin Hill, Michael Smiley and Tony Way on the list.
Also good to be introduced to both Hell is a City and He Who Rides a Tiger which have been added to my watchlist.
We all know about Get Carter, Snatch and Kidulthood as classic commonwealth crime capers, but what if you’ve seen all the popular titles and have an appetite for more?
To celebrate the release of violent new thriller Hooligan Legacy, here are some forgotten gangster gems for fans of ‘geezers and guns’ that fell under the radar or got lost in time …
Hell is a City (1960)
Kicking off the list we follow committed police inspector, Harry Martineau. He rightly guesses a recently escaped local criminal will head home to Manchester to pick up the spoils from his last job. Martineau soon after investigates a murder during a street robbery which seems to lead back to the same villain. Martineau discovers the criminal wasn’t working alone and becomes obsessed with tracking down the escaped killer and his gang.
