Lots of good choices so far.
I’d like to throw in Ice Cold in Alex
They don’t come much more British than that.
I like gangster movies as much or more than the next guy, but I was not overly impressed with the Long Good Friday. I found it sufficiently ho-hum that I simply didn’t watch the last 30 minutes. Any chance you could tell me why you consider it such a good movie? It’s in our household on DVD, I might consider watching it again.
I’ve always thought Michael Caine helped a film’s “Britness.” Consider Alfie, Zulu, and The Ipcress File. All quintessentially British films.
I’ve seen mention of A Man For All Seasons and Beckett, but what of The Lion in Winter? For the cast alone:
Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, plus Katherine Hepburn for good measure.
And on the subject of British biopics, I’ve always enjoyed Richard Harris in Cromwell, if only so I could appreciate Dave Thomas’s impression of him in SCTV’s “The Man Who Wanted To Be King Of The Popes”. Ah ha ha ha ha.
For a better Richard Harris role, see The Field
I’ll have to echo Rodd Hill and say Local Hero, Gregory’s Girl and Comfort and Joy are all excellent and all directed by William Forsythe.
But no one (I think) as mentioned Four Weddings and a Funeral. I thought that one was rather british. I loved it.
Dave
If we’re including Lawrence of Arabia* then we also have to include the following:
Dr. Strangelove
Alien
A Christmas Carol (1951 version w/Alastair Sim)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang