Barrie Keeffe on Writing The Long Good Friday: Harold Shand, IRA & Casting

Genesis of The Long Good Friday

• 💡 The film's concept originated from a desire for a Humphrey Bogart-style gangster film set in East London, featuring a Cockney protagonist.
• 🎯 The choice of the IRA as the antagonist was deliberate, aiming to create a force more powerful than a typical gangster rival, establishing a clash between capitalist gangsterism and idealist terrorism.
• ✍️ The initial draft of the screenplay was written remarkably quickly, over a single Easter weekend, which inspired the film's title.

Character of Harold Shand

• 🎭 Harold Shand was conceived as a man aspiring to be a respectable businessman, even dreaming of an OBE or knighthood.
• 💥 His character arc reveals that under intense pressure, he reverts to his violent gangster nature, unable to disguise his past.
• 💬 The speaker appreciated the idea that Shand had a history of violence before his attempt at respectability.

Casting Bob Hoskins

• 🌟 Bob Hoskins was considered an "absolute natural" for the role of Harold Shand, despite the part not being written specifically for him.
• 👏 Hoskins brought a unique blend of humanity, innocence, menace, and humor to the character, making audiences root for him despite his actions.
• 🎬 His acting career began late and by chance, when he stepped in for a friend at an audition, securing the part and launching his career.

Key Supporting Characters & Production Notes

• 👑 Helen Mirren's character, Victoria, was seen as more than a "gangster moll," playing a crucial role in holding situations together and representing a recurring British theme of "posh lady" attraction to working-class heroes.
• ⛵ Filming the yacht scene presented a challenge as yachts are uncommon in London in July, requiring creative solutions to secure a boat for production.
• 🤣 A specific detail about Princess Anne playing lacrosse at Beneden, not hockey, was incorporated into the film after a real-life correction, adding a touch of authentic humor.

Writing Style and Impact

• ✍️ The writer's style, honed in theater, emphasizes using humor to engage the audience before delivering serious or dangerous moments.
• 🎭 This blend of menace and humor is a hallmark of the writing, particularly evident in Harold Shand's dialogue and character.
• 📈 The film's enduring appeal, even to younger audiences, is attributed to this dynamic mix of danger and entertainment.