Gangster No.1 [DVD] [2000]

Gangster No. 1 is without doubt the most stylish British violent crime thriller from the many produced at the end of the 20th century. For all the pop-video glamour of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, neither have anywhere near as much a sense of danger as is shown here. Paul Bettany ignites the screen with a fury that explodes far more than it smoulders beneath his tautly kept temper. The tale concerns his ascent to the titular position of primacy in 1960s London, told in flashback by his present-day self (an equally riveting Malcolm McDowell). A lust for power won't allow anything to stand in either incarnation's way, especially the foppish posturing of established crime boss Freddie Mays (David Thewlis). What distinguishes this from many other tales of greed is that the never-named Gangster actually wants to be Freddie, not simply replace him. Saffron Burrows plays the suffering trophy moll in the middle of this personality clash and provides about the only level head and gentle tongue in what is otherwise a super-violent and super-profane script. This is what The Krays should have been, and therefore not for the squeamish. --Paul Tonks

16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Directors Commentary
Isolated Music Score
Deleted Scenes
Cast And Crew Interviews
Behind The Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
Audio Description For The Visually Impaired

It's 1968. Gangster has come to work for Freddie Mays, the Butcher of Mayfair, and he's enjoying his job. He likes the money, the girls, the suits, the power, the violence. And Gangster is good at what he does, very good. He frightens people and he's going to frighten Freddie Mays.
When rival gang boss Lennie Taylor hatches a plot to kill Freddie and take over his territory, Gangster finds out about it and puts together a plan which will take out Lennie and Freddie at the same time. With Lennie dead and Freddie inside, Gangster finds himself alone at the top with only one way to go.

DVD Special Features:

Director's Commentary

Deleted Scenes

Cast & Crew Interviews

Behind the Scenes

Theatrical Trailer

Audio Description for the Visually Impaired

Isolated Music Score

Featurette

TV spot

Teaser Trailer

Dolby Digital 5.1

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic