Crime - Flesh And Blood: the Story of the Krays

A profile of twin brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray, two of the most notorious East End gangsters of the early 60s, as told by their family, friends and enemies. The brothers reign of terror, which included extortion rackets, fraud and murder, was brought to an end when they were imprisoned for life, and later inspired the film The Krays.The story of criminal gang leaders Ronald and Reginal Kray told by their family, friends, associates, journalists and the police. Archival newspapers, photographs and films serve to illustrate the Kray twins and their milieu, including extracts from their family home movies, Pathe and Movietone newsreels and BBC television news. Extracts from the feature films Sparrows Cant Sing (1962) and The Krays (1990) are used to provide a graphic portrayal of the more lurid scenes from the brothers criminal careers. The video begins by setting the story of the Krays within a longer history of nefarious and illegal activity in Londons east end and docklands before focusing in on the 1960s period with the assistance of the criminal historian Professor Laurie Taylor. Comment on the brothers and their criminal reign of terror comes from family members Charlie Kray (their brother) and cousins Joe Lee and Rita Smith who try and put human faces on the monsters. Former gang member Bill Ackerman tells the Krays story from within the firm. Metropolitan Police officer Leonard Nipper Read describes the process of bringing them to justice. Peter Medak, the director of Sparrows Cant Sing talks about his experience of being protected by the Kray gang whilst filming in East London. The criminal psychologist Tony Black describes what goes on in the minds of criminals like the Krays. Much of the comment comes from journalists and crime reporters with John McVicar, Lynn Lewis and Lewis Chester all describing the processes and dangers of reporting on the Kray brothers before they were brought to justice.