St George’s Day Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two London gangsters lose a Russian cocaine shipment in the English Channel, then must pull off a diamond heist in Europe while everyone from the police to very angry Russians is chasing them, all while trying to go ‘legit’… eventually.

🍿 St George’s Day: Detailed Plot Synopsis

London’s Underworld Elite

St George’s Day introduces Mickey Mannock and Ray Collishaw, notorious cousins at the pinnacle of London’s criminal hierarchy. Their lives are characterized by high-stakes operations and a firm grip on their illicit empire. Ray, however, contemplates a more legitimate future, seeking to distance himself from the constant dangers of the underworld.

The Catastrophic Cocaine Loss

The cousins’ reign is abruptly jeopardized when a valuable shipment of cocaine, belonging to the ruthless Russian Mafia, is lost at sea in rough conditions. This catastrophic event throws their world into disarray, leaving them indebted and under immense pressure from a highly dangerous organization. The loss ignites a frantic race against time to avoid lethal consequences.

A Desperate Dash Across Europe

With the Russian Mafia breathing down their necks, Mickey and Ray embark on a high-speed chase across Europe, venturing through London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Their journey is a perilous attempt to evade both the police and the vengeful Russians. They must stay one step ahead, improvising and navigating dangerous alliances to survive.

The Diamond Heist Solution

To settle their debt and secure their future, the cousins devise a daring plan: a diamond heist. They aim to exploit the chaos of an England vs. Germany football match in Berlin as cover for their audacious robbery. This last-ditch effort represents their only chance to clear their names, escape the criminal life, and transition into a ‘legitimate’ existence.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Micky Mannock (Frank Harper): A prominent London gangster cousin who orchestrates a diamond heist to repay the Russian Mafia after losing their cocaine shipment.
• Ray Collishaw (Craig Fairbrass): A London gangster cousin seeking to go legitimate, forced back into high-stakes crime after a lost cocaine shipment puts him and Micky at odds with the Russian Mafia.
• Trenchard (Charles Dance): An experienced and well-connected gangster figure who provides guidance and leverage within the criminal underworld.
• Albert Ball (Vincent Regan): A key associate of Mannock and Collishaw who devises the plan for a diamond heist to resolve their critical debt.
• William Bishop (Luke Treadaway): An undercover informer within the gangster crew whose betrayal threatens to dismantle the entire operation.
• Nixon (Jamie Foreman): A determined police detective relentlessly pursuing the London gangster cousins, Micky Mannock and Ray Collishaw.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• William Bishop: “How lucky am I?” – Said to Micky Mannock, expressing a sense of fortune or perhaps false confidence.
• Micky Mannock: “Not as lucky as you think.” – Micky Mannock’s grim reply to William Bishop, hinting at impending danger or a turn of events.
• Ray Collishaw: “I got 25 good summers left.” – A philosophical line from Ray, reflecting on his desire to escape the criminal life and live out his remaining good years.
• Micky Mannock: “Two words: Angry Russians.” – Micky succinctly sums up the grave threat they face after losing the Russian Mafia’s cocaine shipment.
• Micky Mannock: “All my days!” – A common exclamation used by Micky throughout the film, conveying surprise, frustration, or exasperation.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: $45,075

💥 St George’s Day Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched St George’s Day, and honestly, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a British gangster flick, and maybe even a bit more. It’s got all the hallmarks: tough blokes, heavy accents, and a plot that involves a missing cocaine shipment leading to a desperate diamond heist. While some bits felt a bit clunky, and yeah, the swearing was pretty constant, I found myself genuinely entertained. There’s a raw energy to it, especially as Micky and Ray try to outrun both the Russians and the police across Europe. It’s not a masterpiece, but if you’re into that specific niche of Brit crime, you’ll probably get a kick out of it like I did.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of British gangster films”
  • “Viewers who enjoy crime thrillers with international settings”
  • “Audiences familiar with actors like Craig Fairbrass and Frank Harper”
  • “Those who appreciate a gritty, action-oriented plot over deep character study”
  • “Fans of football hooliganism subplots”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language (frequent and explicit profanity)”
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Drug use and trafficking”
  • “Some misogynistic portrayals of female characters”
  • “Mild nudity/sex scenes”

Professional Reviews

• The Brit Flick Gazette: “Frank Harper’s directorial debut struggles to rise above its heavily clichéd foundations. While featuring a familiar cast of British gangster stalwarts, the film’s predictable plot, disjointed narrative, and overreliance on ‘Cockney charm’ ultimately fall flat. It attempts to blend football hooliganism with high-stakes crime, but the execution feels more like a collaboration between mates than a polished thriller, offering little new to the well-worn genre. A forgettable entry.
• The Cinephile Chronicle: “St. George’s Day is a bewildering kaleidoscope of British gangster film clichés, often taking itself so seriously it circles back around to being unintentionally hilarious. Frank Harper’s ambitious multi-hyphenate effort delivers ample swearing, questionable patriotism, and a plot cobbled together from every ‘geezer’ flick before it. While technically flawed and narratively messy, its sheer earnestness might just provide a guilty pleasure for those seeking an ‘so bad it’s good’ experience.

Audience Reactions

Many enjoyed spotting familiar faces from other British gangster films, appreciating the strong ensemble cast for the genre.: Viewers who are fans of British crime thrillers often found it to be a solid, action-packed entry that delivers on genre expectations.

Some found unintentional humor in the film’s clichés and overly serious tone, making it a ‘guilty pleasure’ watch.: The European locations and fast pace were often cited as keeping the narrative engaging despite its flaws.

Overall Consensus: St George’s Day is a polarizing British gangster film; while genre enthusiasts might appreciate its familiar tropes and cast, many others found it overly clichéd, narratively messy, and, at times, unintentionally comical.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Many character names, including Mannock, Collishaw, Ball, Bishop, and McCudden, were named after famous British WWI fighter aces, while Trenchard was named after Hugh Montague Trenchard, considered the ‘father of the Royal Air Force’.”
• “The German actor Ludger Pistor played Werner Voss, who was also named after a WWI German fighter ace.”
• “During a scene with Trenchard, Big Ben is shown chiming the hour, but the clock face visibly displays 5:55 PM, indicating a continuity error.”
• “A recut version of the film, titled ‘Berlin Job’, exists with a shorter runtime (97:24) compared to the uncut ‘St George’s Day’ (104:23 PAL), removing scenes like football-fight organizing and ferry sequences.”
• “Many of the cast members were personal friends of Frank Harper, who directed, co-wrote, and starred in the film, agreeing to be involved due to their relationship with him.”

🖥️ How to Watch St George’s Day?

St George’s Day was released in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2012. While its theatrical run was limited, the film is typically available for digital purchase or rental on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube. Check your preferred digital storefront for availability and pricing options to watch this British crime thriller.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed St George’s Day, you might like these similar films:

• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998): Often cited as a modern classic of the British gangster genre, sharing the same gritty London underworld setting and ensemble cast approach.
• The Long Good Friday (1980): Considered a benchmark for British gangster films, offering a more serious and critically acclaimed look at the criminal underworld, providing a contrast to ‘St George’s Day’s’ more modern ‘geezer’ flick style.
• The Football Factory (2004): Also starring Frank Harper, this film blends football hooliganism and crime, themes ‘St George’s Day’ attempts to combine, making it appealing to fans of that sub-genre.
• Layer Cake (2004): A more polished and critically successful British crime thriller dealing with drug dealing, betrayal, and a protagonist trying to exit the criminal life, often compared to ‘St George’s Day’ in reviews.
• The Italian Job (1969): While a different tone, this iconic British heist film shares the theme of a daring robbery conducted by British criminals in a European setting, a core plot element in ‘St George’s Day’.

🛒 St George’s Day Related Products

• St George’s Day (DVD/Blu-ray Collector’s Edition): Relive the chaotic underworld saga with this special collector’s edition, featuring deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary on Frank Harper’s directorial journey, and cast interviews. Perfect for genre aficionados.
• British Gangster Film Collection: The Business, Football Factory, Rise of the Footsoldier: A curated collection of quintessential British crime films, featuring many of the same cast members and themes as St George’s Day. Dive into the gritty world of London’s underworld with these genre-defining movies.
• St George’s Day – ‘London Legends’ T-Shirt: Show your allegiance to the London underworld with this exclusive T-shirt featuring stylized graphics inspired by the film’s gritty aesthetic and iconic characters. Made from premium cotton for comfort.
• Underworld Heist: London to Berlin – A Crime Strategy Game: An immersive strategy game where players plan and execute complex heists across European cities, managing crews, evading law enforcement, and dealing with rival gangs, inspired by the thrilling narrative of St George’s Day.

🎧 Soundtrack

St George’s Day features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “London Calling (Main Theme)” – performed by Tim Attack
• “Diamond Run” – performed by Tim Attack

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Keeley Hazell Interview – St George’s Day World Premiere

Ever wondered what the cast thought about ‘St George’s Day’ right at its big premiere? This interview with Keeley Hazell is a fantastic little gem, giving you a direct look into the excitement and her personal take on the film – it’s always great to hear from the actors themselves!

✨ Rate