History Trivia / TheLongGoodFriday

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/BobHoskins.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: Harold Shand was meant to embody Thatcher attitudes about business. In real life, Creator/BobHoskins was fanatically anti-Thatcher.

* ChannelHop: The film was originally produced by Lew Grade and was to be an ITC production, but he pulled the plug due when he realised that the plot involved the IRA. It was then bought by Music/GeorgeHarrison and released through Creator/HandMadeFilms.

* UsefulNotes/BFITop100BritishFilms: #20.

* DeletedScene[=/=]MissingEpisode: In the scene where Harold Shand & Razors enter the town hall building to confront councillor Harris, an additional scene was filmed when both characters enter Harris' office. In the deleted scene, Razors pins Harris against the wall, brandishing a previously concealed shotgun whilst Harold looks on. This deleted scene is included in the published script, but the filmed footage has never been included in any authorised released version of the film and is believed lost. In the foreword to the published script, scriptwriter Barrie Keeffe bitterly regrets this scene being deleted by the producers for length reasons as he claimed it was his favourite scene of the entire movie.

* InspirationForTheWork: Living in a Greenwich flat at the time, Barrif Keeffe could see the derelict Docklands from his window, and his ideas entwined following a chance meeting with an Irish Republican in a pub. Gangsters against terrorism soon became a going concern.

* WagTheDirector: A positive example. Victoria was originally a stereotypical gangster's moll, but Creator/HelenMirren didn't want to play that sort of role, and insisted on her being made into a more complex character. She credits Bob Hoskins' full support on making sure her changes were kept in.

* DevelopmentHell: A variation; the movie was filmed and completed in 1979, but due to various issues did not see theatrical release until 1982. It very nearly didn't get a theatrical release at all. The original plan was to re-cut it for television, which at the time would have meant cutting out all the violence and swearing. Thankfully, a campaign by various critics and film-lovers eventually got it the recognition it deserved.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: The film was completed in 1979, but its release was delayed for a year due to a change in distributors.

* WagTheDirector: A positive example. Victoria was originally a stereotypical gangster's moll, but Creator/HelenMirren didn't want to play that sort of role, and insisted on her being made into a more complex character.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: The film was completed in 1979, but its release was delayed for a year due to a change in distributors. The film was originally produced by Lew Grade and was to be an ITC production, but he pulled the plug due when he realised that the plot involved the IRA. It was then bought by Music/GeorgeHarrison and released through Creator/HandMadeFilms.

* StillbornFranchise: Barrie Keeffe wrote a sequel, ''Black Easter Monday'', set twenty years after the events of the first film. It opened with Shand escaping from the IRA after the car was pulled over by police. Hoskins would retire to Jamaica, then return to stop the East End being taken over by the Yardies. However, the film was never made.

* DeletedScene / MissingEpisode: In the scene where Harold Shand & Razors enter the town hall building to confront councillor Harris, an additional scene was filmed when both characters enter Harris' office. In the deleted scene, Razors pins Harris against the wall, brandishing a previously concealed shotgun whilst Harold looks on. This deleted scene is included in the published script, but the filmed footage has never been included in any authorised released version of the film and is believed lost. In the foreword to the published script, scriptwriter Barrie Keeffe bitterly regrets this scene being deleted by the producers for length reasons as he claimed it was his favourite scene of the entire movie.

* SameLanguageDub: Averted. Creator/BobHoskins voice was dubbed over by a Wolverhampton actor, for fear Americans wouldn't understand his London accent. After Hoskins threatened to sue Jack Gill and British Lion (the original producers before HandMadeFilms bought the rights) the dubbing was removed. He was supported by Creator/RichardBurton, Creator/AlecGuinness and Creator/WarrenBeatty.

* BFILists/BFITop100BritishFilms: #20.

* BFITop100BritishFilms: #20.

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: The film was completed in 1979, but its release was delayed for a year due to a change in distributors. The film was originally produced by Lew Grade and was to be an ITC production, but he pulled the plug due when he realised that the plot involved the IRA. It was then bought by Music/GeorgeHarrison and released through HandMadeFilms.

* SameLanguageDub: Averted. Creator/BobHoskins voice was dubbed over by a Wolverhampton actor, for fear Americans wouldn't understand his London accent. After Hoskins threatened to sue Jack Gill and British Lion (the original producers before HandMade bought the rights) the dubbing was removed. He was supported by Creator/RichardBurton, Creator/AlecGuinness and Creator/WarrenBeatty.
* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: The film was completed in 1979, but its release was delayed for a year due to a change in distributors. The film was originally produced by Lew Grade and was to be an ITC production, but he pulled the plug due when he realised that the plot involved the IRA. It was then bought by Music/GeorgeHarrison and released through HandMade Films.

* HeyItsThatGuy: You've probably seen half the cast in something or other, particularly if it was made in Britain, but some notable examples include:
** The film was Creator/BobHoskins' [[StarMakingRole break-out performance]].
** It was also Creator/PierceBrosnan's very first film role.
** Creator/HelenMirren as Harold's girlfriend Victoria.
** [[{{Casualty}} Charlie Fairhead]] is Harold's [[TheDragon right-hand man]].
** [[{{Sharpe}} Patrick Harper]] is Pierce Brosnan's accomplice.
** [[Film/{{Snatch}} Brick Top]] is seen in the slaughterhouse scene as one of Harold's mooks.

** The film was Bob Hoskins' break-out performance.

** [[{{Snatch}} Brick Top]] is seen in the slaughterhouse scene as one of Harold's mooks.

** It was also Pierce Brosnan's very first film role.
** Helen Mirren as Harold's girlfriend Victoria.

* DevelopmentHell: A variation; the movie was filmed and completed in 1979, but due to various issues did not see theatrical release until 1982.
** It very nearly didn't get a theatrical release at all. The original plan was to re-cut it for television, which at the time would have meant cutting out all the violence and swearing. Thankfully, a campaign by various critics and film-lovers eventually got it the recognition it deserved.