BBCANNERICA

February 25, 2005

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

9

Gay Gangster Shock!

London of the 1960s shines four views of a crime kingpins

by Anthony Glassman

What happens when one mixes a gay Jewish gangster, a simillatly-oriented member of Parliament, an our of-work-actress, an ex-boxer, a speed dealer, a crooked cop and a sociologist in the Swinging Sixties in London, England?

The Long Firma BBC America miniseries based ou Jake Arnott's novel, will answer that question when it debuts on March 6 at 10 pm. BBC America can be seen on many satellite and digital cable systems.

The four weekly episodes each present Harry Starks (Mark Strong), a kingpin in the London underworld, from the perspective of the very diverse characters who move into and out of his orbit during his time at the top. and at the bottom.

The Long Firm: Teddy's Story, the first episodes shows Harry through the eyes of Lord Teddy Thursby ((Sir Derek Jacobi), a former member of Parliament with an overdrawn bank account and a penchant for, " believe the term currently used is mutual masturba tion," in public restrooms.

Harry lures him in with money and boys, making use of Teddy's respectability.

The following week, Ruby's Story sees Ruby Ryder (Lena Headey), an also-ran actress whose career pinn mets when her husband is arrested for robbery.coming into Harry's world.

She starts helping Harry with his club and his boys friend, but when she and Tommy (Joe Absolom) getion close, the consequences are tragic-for everyone

Jimmy's Story catches Harry as his star is in decline. when a second-rate amphetamine dealer who served time with him gets sucked into a mystery involving the murder of a young male prostitute.

Incensed by the lack of interest on the part of the police in the murder, Harry takes Jimmy (Phil Daniele) on a quest to find the boy's killer, leading the two criminals in circles until their world comes crashing dizzily down.

The final episode, Lenny's Story, catches up with 2 Harry in prison, as a sociologist studying criminality as a form of social protest. Harry wants to use Lenny (Shaun Dingwall) to start a new life for himself once he gets out of prison, but all the king's horses might not be able to put Harry's life back together agam

Through it all, there is Detective Sergeant Mooney (George Costigan), the corrupt cop whose grasp ex ceeds his reach, and the singers who defined the era in Britain, Judy Garland and Johnnie Ray. Both are, of course, portrayed by contemporary actors, but the Johnnie Ray reference is interesting since it pays much attention to his homosexuality.

Overall, an excellent effort by the BBC, whose devotion to literary adaptation is legendary. For those who don't get BBC America, as the saying goes. "Calls your satellite or cable operator today." This is one miniseries well worth the effort.

Harry Starks (Mark Strong) is everything a gangster should be, and a few things he should not, in BBC America The Long Firm.

Curbside

NEVER LOOKED BACK RE

KIRBY

AL AND I HAD OUR AMTRAK RES -ERVATIONS AND WERE DUE TO SNEAK AWAY OUT TO THE WEST COAST AT THE END OF THE WEEK. I WAS FINISHING UP MY LAST APARTMENT JOB AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRAND NEW LIFE.

AND THEN

WE'LL.... AND WE CAN

AND PLUS, IT'LL BE Soooo...

THE OLD LIFE WOULDN'T BE TOO HARD TO LEAVE BEHIND... I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THE GANG GUYS LIKE I THOUGHT I HAD.. I KEPT SEEING THEM PUMMELING THAT GUY ON THE STREET INTO HAMBURGER.

by Robert Kirby

STILL, THEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR ME, IN A WAY. THEY'D SORT OF LOOKED UP TO ME, WHICH MADE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF (SOMETIMES). I DECIDED I NEEDED TO SPEND ONE LAST TIME WITH THEM, MY OLD COMRADES.. YO, CHECK IT OUT! NATHAN CAN DRINK ANY O' Y'ALL UNDER THE TABLE!

Woo

CHEST SWELLING

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT I SAID GOODBYE ALL CASUALLY. ALONSO SAID SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. BYE NATHAN YEAH, NIGHT MAN.... YOU WATCH YOUR BACK OUT THERE, HEAR?

?

WALKED HOME, MY HEAD FULL OF OTHER, MORE IMPORTANT THINGS

I NEVER LOOKED BACK.

DELD

evenin

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