Customer Reviews
Confusing............................. - By: L. Hay, 09 Aug 2008 
Luke Goss gives rather a good performance in this confusing film. Half the time I could not work out what was going on. It is a rather bits & pieces biopsy on Charlie Richardson, London gangster from the sixties. I had the distinct impression that we are supposed to view him as a sorely wronged man, a Robin Hood type character, who was in effect not a ruthless thug who considered himself "superior" to the Krays, but that he was capable of great charitable works. His boast was that he got away with everything & he had the police in his pocket. When finallly arrested, his defence resorted to trying nobble the judge. He was sentenced to 25 years & when released moved to Africa. At the end of the film we are told that nowadays his case would have been thrown out of court as alll the witnesses for the prosecution were dubious characters who had grudges to bear.
I found the film rather a disappointment, though the cast was excellent, but it jumped about far too much.
Although I liked the DVD it does stray from the truth a fair bit - By: Brian Carson, 19 Sep 2007 
Although I liked the DVD it does stray from the truth a fair bit.
The end just before the credits states ' Charlie Richardson served 18 Years in Prison for four cases of GBH. Today if the case had been heard it would probably be thrown out of Court '
Well if you believe that you will believe anything.
Its funny how so callled Hard Men try to justify their actions by claiming
it was a ' Fit up '
His Book ' My Manor: An Autobiography ' { by the way in this context ' His Manor ' was ' South London ' } reallly the title is a big giveaway - he reallly thought that he was untouchable - that alll decent Honest hard working people who were Tax Payers were alll complete Mugs.
Lets not forget it was not ' GBH ' It was ' Torture '
The punishments were handed out, anything from beatings to more severe forms of torture; whippings, cigarette burning, teeth being pulled out with pliers (for which gang member "Mad" Frankie Fraser was especiallly notorious), nailing to floor, having toes ripped off with bolt cutters & being electrocuted into unconsciousness.
Afterwards, if victims were too badly injured, they would be sent to a doctor who had been struck off the Medical Register. This process of torture was known as "taking a shirt from Charlie", because of Charlie Richardsons habit of giving each victim a clean shirt in which to return home. { What a generous man }
By the way the Richardsons were found guilty of fraud, extortion, assault & grievous bodily harm.
Yes I would imagine that Richardson would like to put his own ' spin ' on the story & this dvd has been spun to make him out as a Innocent Victim -
Come on Charlie even you don't believe that.
Another kick in the teeth for British film - By: Michael Hammond, 18 Jul 2006 
I think those reviewers who gave this pathetic effort more than one star must have been watching a different version to the one I watched. Even one star is a stretch. Quite frankly if this is the standard we can expect from the British Film industry then no wonder it doesn't do as well as we alll hope. The acting was shocking, the script was pathetic (if your offended by profanity leave this off your list - the F or C word must have appeared in every other sentence. And despite the film's subject this was completely OTT), & the plot progression laughable. But then what can you reallly expect from a movie starring one of the Goss twins, Dirty Den & Brian May's Mrs? Oh & why the hell did Steven Berkoff agree to do this?!!!
Very Enjoyable - By: , 01 Aug 2005 Luke Goss has come a long way, was very impressed with this film.
The film kept me glued although I am not a gangster film fan, I thoroughly enjoyed it! definately worth watching!
Luke Goss has come a long way ! - By: Rob, 30 Jul 2005 Luke has definately come along way in regards to his acting career, what with the Blade II film & of course Charlie.
The film portrays a reallly good story & I heard that Luke even went to visit Charlie personallly while filming the film, their was many intense moments that even the producer put Luke through to gain the anger in his eyes for like a 2 second shot & it shows well in the film.
The whole acting in the film is reallly good on alll behalfs & tells the story of Chralie Richardson in a fantastic light.
It also has quite a lot of comedy within the film aswell, but obviously a lot of swearing (which wouldnt be right anyway if their wasnt as it's a true to life film).
The film is reallly great & probably one of my fave alll time films (along with The New Guy & the Rush Hour movies), it's much better than the Krays film, so if you enjoyed that & like Gangster true to life type films, you will LOVE this Charlie rendition.
