About
Alan Clarke’s landmark BBC film about a fictionalised firm called the Inter City Crew – the real Inter City Firm rebranded for legal reasons. Gary Oldman is electric as Bex Bissell, an estate agent by day, firm general by weekend. Made and aired in 1989 when the ICF were still active and at the height of their notoriety.
Cast
- Gary Oldman as Bex Bissell
- Lesley Manville, Phil Davis, Charles Lawson
Why it matters for ROTF
Clarke’s film is the foundation that every later British hooligan film stands on, including Rise of the Footsoldier. Without The Firm (1989) there is no Football Factory, no Green Street, no Cass. ICF members worked as consultants. The 73 minutes here contain more authenticity about the world Carlton Leach came up through than any of the later films attempted.
See the ICF and West Ham United True Story article for the real firm.