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Lock, Stock...
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| Lock, Stock... | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Created by | Guy Ritchie |
| Based on | Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels by Guy Ritchie |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Composer | John Lunn |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producer | Tony Wood |
| Cinematography | Tim Palmer Katie Swain |
| Editors | Nick Arthurs St. John O'Rorke Sue Wyatt |
| Running time | 50 minutes (series) 90 minutes (pilot) |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 29 May – 11 July 2000 |
Lock, Stock... is a seven-part British television crime drama series, co-written and created by Guy Ritchie, as a spin-off from his 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.[1] The series first broadcast on Channel 4 on 29 May 2000 with a feature-length pilot, Lock, Stock and Four Stolen Hooves.
The series stars Daniel Caltagirone, Del Synnott, Scott Maslen and Shaun Parkes as close friends Moon, Jamie, Bacon and Lee,[2] who run The Lock, a public house in London. Each episode focuses on the four friends attempting a different business venture, and the comedy of errors that ensues. Ralph Brown also stars as local gangland boss Miami Vice.
Production
[edit]Lock, Stock... was Ginger Productions' first commission for television.[3] The series prominently featured the use of the rhyming slang of London's East End, making it harder for some viewers to comprehend. In Australia, the series first aired in 2001 on ABC. In Portugal, the series first aired in 2005 on cable channel SIC Radical. In Germany, the series first aired on cable channel RTL Crime in 2011, under the title Bube, Dame, König, grAS (which in turn, is the German title of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).
Release
[edit]A soundtrack album featuring music used in the series was issued on 9 June 2000 via Virgin Records.[4] The complete series was released on DVD Universal Studios for Region 2 on 4 December 2000.[5] The series was later released by Siren Visual Entertainment for Region 4 in Australia. The series is also available to purchase as a box-set on iTunes.[6]
Cast
[edit]Main cast
[edit]- Ralph Brown as Miami Vice, a local crime boss.
- Daniel Caltagirone as Moon, a chef and electronics expert.
- Scott Maslen as Jamie, a fast talker.
- Shaun Parkes as Bacon, who makes sure things run smoothly, or at least tries to.
- Del Synnott as Lee, a ladies man, who always has sex on his mind.
- Christopher Adamson as Three Feet, an enforcer working for Miami Vice.
- Lorraine Chase as Barbie
- Lisa Rogers as Tanya, a dancer at Lapland.
Recurring cast
[edit]- Mario Kalli as Kouros; proprietor of the Trojan Kebab House.
- George Antoni as Nefarious; a Cypriot who deals in anything shady from the back of the Trojan Kebab House.
- Martin Freeman as Jaap; a Dutch drug taker and general idiot.
- Chris Rowe as Johan
- Nicki Grosse as Laura
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jordi
- Nick Brimble as Uncle Derek
- Ian Brimble as Uncle Brian
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | UK viewers (millions) [7] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "...and Four Stolen Hooves" | Sheree Folkson | Chris Baker, Andrew Day & Guy Ritchie | 29 May 2000 | 3.57 | |
|
The four owners of The Lock, a pub in London's East End, buy a quantity of stolen porn videos and a priceless watch. They think they are in the money but unbeknown to them all the goods were stolen from East London's toughest, hardest gangster, Miami Vice. Not surprisingly he wants his watch back and doesn't care about how he goes about recovering it. The gang have to get the goods back to Miami Vice without him suspecting their involvement, but get caught up in a heap of trouble involving lap dancers, an arsonist, a family of gypsies, and a stolen thoroughbred racehorse. | ||||||
| 2 | "...and Two Hundred Smoking Kalashnikovs" | Rudolf Mestdagh | Bernard Dempsey & Kevin McNally | 6 June 2000 | 2.22 | |
|
A friend of the lads and a 'local businessman', Robbie Rossi, offers them a large sum of money to pick up a delivery of some dodgy designer clothes. Everything goes well until the lads discover that they have been conned and steal the van back for themselves. When they open the van they find it full of Kalashnikov rifles bought in by Miami Vice to help him out in a turf war. Once more they find themselves on the wrong side of Miami's anger. | ||||||
| 3 | "...and a Fistful of Jack and Jills" | Nick Jones | Chris Baker & Andrew Day | 13 June 2000 | 1.93 | |
|
The boys are offered a hoard of sex pills on the cheap in return for making a few dodgy deliveries. Everything goes wrong when the pills turn out to be a duff batch and people start dying, and they have just sold a large batch of them to gangland boss, Larry Harmless. To make things even more complicated there are a group of Spaniards, two Dutch druggies and a car full of money floating around. | ||||||
| 4 | "...and Spaghetti Sauce" | Rudolf Mestdagh | Chris Baker & Andrew Day | 20 June 2000 | Under 1.78 | |
|
The boys accidentally record over a consignment of porn tapes belonging to Deep Throat, a vicious and nasty criminal, while running off copies of a wedding video they made. With just three days to replace or pay for the missing films they use every idea they possibly can to make their own porn videos, so at least they will have something to give to Deep Throat when he comes calling on them. | ||||||
| 5 | "...and Two Sips" | Nick Jones | Bernard Dempsey & Kevin McNally | 27 June 2000 | 2.04 | |
|
Miami Vice is having accountant problems. Not only is someone skimming money from his operations, but Moira is holding out her 10% of Lapland. The boys unwittingly get involved and end up having to pay Miami £20,000 each. Jamie needs to borrow the money from his uncle and has to 'babysit' a friend of his uncle's called 'Two Sips' who is returning to England for a few days. | ||||||
| 6 | "...and One Big Bullock" | David Thacker | Chris Baker & Andrew Day | 4 July 2000 | Under 1.58 | |
|
Miami Vice goes into the meat business and employs the lads to pick up a consignment being delivered by three psychotic Russians. Moon's country cousins get involved with them and a fight over a prize bull. Meanwhile a drug-crazed duo want their revenge on Miami and intend to get their own hands on the beef to exact it. | ||||||
| 7 | "...and a Good Slopping Out" | David Thacker | Chris Baker & Andrew Day | 11 July 2000 | Under 1.74 | |
|
A criminal 'friend' has the key to Miami's safe and he wants it back, but said criminal has been caught by the police and is now in jail. Miami gets Barbie to file some trumped up charges, ensuring that Lee, Bacon and Jamie get sent to the same prison, and tells them that unless they get the key for him he will ensure that the charges will be made to stick. | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Vine, Richard (27 May 2000). "Oi! Mate! Wanna buy a spin-off?". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "Lock, Stock... And Four Stolen Hooves (2000)". Archived from the original on 29 May 2017.
- ^ "How Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels was remade as a TV drama for Channel 4".
- ^ "Lock Stock - TV Series Ost". Amazon UK.
- ^ "Lock, Stock... The Complete TV Series". Amazon UK. 4 December 2000.
- ^ "Lock, Stock..., the Complete TV Series". iTunes.
- ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018) | BARB".
External links
[edit]Lock, Stock...
View on GrokipediaOverview
Premise
Lock, Stock... is a British television crime comedy-drama series that centers on four close friends—Moon, Bacon, Jamie, and Lee—who jointly own and manage The Lock, a pub situated in the gritty East End of London.[1][2] The narrative revolves around their repeated entanglements in various criminal schemes, scams, and underworld dealings as they seek quick financial gains to sustain their livelihood and the pub.[1] These misadventures often place them at odds with the local crime boss known as Miami Vice, forcing them to navigate dangerous situations with wit and improvisation to avoid severe repercussions.[3] Set in a contemporary late 1990s to early 2000s London, the series captures the vibrant yet perilous atmosphere of the East End's criminal underbelly, emphasizing the pub as a central hub for their operations and encounters.[4] The show explores key themes such as the heavy use of East End rhyming slang in dialogue, which adds authenticity and humor to the characters' interactions.[4] Central to the premise is the chaotic nature of their crime capers, highlighting the absurdity of petty criminality and the constant risks involved in their get-rich-quick pursuits.[1] Loyalty among the friends serves as a cornerstone, as they band together through escalating complications, often turning disastrous plans into improbable successes or narrow escapes.[5] Overall, the series delivers a fast-paced blend of comedy and drama, portraying the friends' world as one of frenetic hustling amid a colorful array of lowlife villains and opportunistic deals.[4] Created by Guy Ritchie, it draws on his signature style of intricate plotting and cockney camaraderie without directly continuing the 1998 film's storyline.[4]Connection to the film
The television series Lock, Stock... originated as a direct spin-off from Guy Ritchie's 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, extending the cinematic universe centered on East London gangsters, elaborate heists, and interconnected criminal escapades. Produced for Channel 4 and airing in 2000, the show was created and co-written by Guy Ritchie, who wrote the pilot episode, with subsequent episodes written by Chris Baker, Andrew Day, and Bernard Dempsey, capitalizing on the film's breakthrough success to bring its gritty underworld to episodic television. Ritchie's involvement was executive production and partial scripting, though limited by his concurrent work on Snatch (2000), which shaped the series as an extension rather than a direct sequel.[6][7][8] Stylistically, the series mirrors the film's black comedy tone, characterized by rapid-fire cockney dialogue, ensemble casts of eccentric low-level criminals, and subtle nods to nonlinear narrative structures that weave multiple schemes together. Unlike the film's self-contained heist plot following four friends in a high-stakes card game debt, Lock, Stock... shifts to an anthology-like format with recurring protagonists—four mates running a pub—who become entangled in weekly cons and rivalries, preserving the chaotic energy of East End villainy without relying on the original movie's characters or plotlines. This adaptation maintains the film's "cool Britannia" aesthetic of stylish violence and wry humor amid 1990s British youth culture.[7][4][8] Conceptually, the series sought to replicate the cult appeal of Ritchie's debut by embodying the cockney criminal archetype—sharp, streetwise anti-heroes navigating moral ambiguity—while evolving the format for TV sustainability through ongoing character arcs anchored in the pub setting, rather than a one-off cinematic arc. This transition allowed for serialized exploration of the film's thematic world, blending humor with tension in interlocking stories of scams and retribution, though it diverged by emphasizing ensemble dynamics over the film's focused poker-game catalyst.[6][7]Cast and characters
Main cast
The main cast of Lock, Stock... features four close friends who co-own and operate The Lock, a rundown pub in London's East End that serves as the central hub for their criminal escapades and schemes. Their unbreakable bond, forged through years of shared mischief, propels the series' narrative, as attempts to save or profit from the pub repeatedly entangle them in escalating underworld conflicts with local gangsters. This dynamic highlights contrasting personalities—particularly Moon's cautious planning against Lee's reckless impulses—that both unite and test the group throughout the season, ultimately reinforcing their loyalty amid chaos.[1] Daniel Caltagirone plays Moon, the level-headed strategist and de facto leader of the quartet. As a cautious thinker, Moon devises intricate plans to navigate their predicaments, such as fencing stolen goods or outmaneuvering rivals, but he frequently grapples with the unintended consequences that threaten their pub and freedom. His role anchors the group's decision-making, providing a voice of reason that tempers the others' bolder ideas. Del Synnott portrays Lee, the hot-headed enforcer whose impulsiveness and fierce loyalty inject high-stakes action and humor into the ensemble. Lee's aggressive tendencies often lead to comic mishaps, like botched confrontations or hasty getaways, but his unwavering support for his friends ensures he dives headfirst into every scheme to protect The Lock. Over the season, his recklessness clashes with Moon's caution, driving key tensions that force the group to adapt and grow closer. Scott Maslen embodies Jamie, the charming yet naive ladies' man whose boundless optimism and flirtatious nature frequently drags the crew into unforeseen trouble. Jamie's smooth-talking optimism shines in social scenarios, where he leverages his charisma to broker deals or charm informants, but his lack of foresight—often rooted in romantic distractions—exacerbates the group's woes. His arc underscores how the pub's survival hinges on balancing his lighthearted risks with collective strategy. Shaun Parkes depicts Bacon, the tech-savvy and sarcastic intellectual who serves as the group's gadgeteer and quick-witted commentator. Bacon handles electronic hacks, surveillance tools, and escape routes during their heists, all while delivering dry sarcasm that punctuates the absurdity of their poor choices. His intellectual edge provides comic relief and practical solutions, tying into the season's theme of friendship as the antidote to their self-inflicted disasters. The core four's interactions occasionally pit them against recurring antagonist Miami Vice, a menacing crime boss whose threats amplify their internal contrasts.Recurring cast
Ralph Brown portrayed Miami Vice, the menacing local crime lord and primary antagonist who appears in all seven episodes of the series. As a ruthless gangland boss based in East London, Miami Vice frequently extorts the protagonists—four friends who run a pub in East London—into illicit schemes, escalating threats and forcing them into increasingly risky deals to repay debts or cover his operations. His demands serve as a central plot catalyst, providing ongoing tension by intertwining the group's small-time hustles with larger criminal enterprises, often involving stolen goods or fraudulent ventures that backfire spectacularly.[1][9][10] Supporting this antagonistic dynamic, Christopher Adamson played Three Feet, Miami Vice's loyal enforcer who appears in six episodes. Known for his intimidating physical presence and violent tendencies, Three Feet acts as a direct extension of Miami Vice's authority, carrying out collections and beatings that heighten the protagonists' peril and comic misadventures. His role amplifies the series' blend of menace and farce, often clashing with the main cast in chaotic confrontations that propel episode plots.[11][12] Lorraine Chase appeared as Barbie in five episodes, serving as an eccentric associate linked to the criminal underbelly. Her character injects comic relief through flamboyant antics and unreliable alliances, occasionally aiding or complicating the protagonists' escapes from Miami Vice's grip.[11] Nick Brimble portrayed Uncle Derek, a family member to one of the protagonists, in two episodes, offering brief ties to their personal lives amid the chaos. As a gruff but supportive figure, Uncle Derek provides occasional counsel or resources, contrasting the external threats and underscoring the characters' roots in a rough community.[13][14]Episodes
Format and style
The Lock, Stock... television series comprises seven episodes in total, beginning with a feature-length pilot of approximately 90 minutes followed by six installments each around 50 minutes in duration. Each episode centers on self-contained criminal capers involving the core group of protagonists, while loose serialization emerges through ongoing character relationships and recurring antagonists, such as the local crime boss known as Miami Vice.[1] This structure allows for standalone adventures that build a broader narrative arc across the season without rigid continuity.[5] Stylistically, the series employs fast-cutting editing techniques that create a frenetic pace, with scenes frequently slowing or speeding up to heighten tension and energy, echoing director Guy Ritchie's signature approach to action sequences.[4] Freeze-frames are used intermittently for narrative emphasis, often accompanying voice-over explanations to clarify complex schemes, adding a layer of wry commentary to the proceedings.[15] The soundtrack features an upbeat blend of rock and electronic tracks, including contributions from artists like Ocean Colour Scene and Ike Turner, which underscore the chaotic humor and drive the rhythm of the heists.[16] Heavy incorporation of Cockney rhyming slang permeates the dialogue, lending authenticity to the East End setting while injecting humor through its playful obfuscation, as in phrases like "dog and bone" for telephone.[4] Visually and tonally, the series is shot in gritty East End locations to evoke a raw, urban underbelly, with stylized depictions of violence that blend brutality and comedy without graphic excess.[4] Nonlinear flashbacks frequently interrupt the main action to reveal the intricacies of cons and betrayals, enhancing the sense of unpredictability.[17] Ritchie's ensemble storytelling style dominates, weaving multiple subplots involving a diverse cast of low-level criminals that chaotically intersect, culminating in explosive convergences typical of his work.[18] These elements draw brief influence from the 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, adapting its kinetic vibe to episodic television.[4]List of episodes
"Lock, Stock..." is a seven-episode British television series that aired on Channel 4 from May to July 2000. The pilot episode served as a feature-length special of approximately 90 minutes, while the remaining episodes were approximately 50-minute installments. No additional seasons were produced. The following table lists all episodes in order of broadcast, including titles, directors, writers, original air dates, and brief synopses.[19]| No. | Title | Director | Writer | Original air date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ...and Four Stolen Hooves | Sheree Folkson | Chris Baker, Andrew Day, Guy Ritchie | 29 May 2000 | The friends buy stolen goods including porn videos, an erotic antique, and a racehorse, leading to trouble with gangster Miami Vice.[19] |
| 2 | ...and Two Hundred Smoking Kalashnikovs | Rudolf Mestdagh | Bernard Dempsey, Kevin McNally | 6 June 2000 | The group is conned into stealing a van loaded with Kalashnikovs intended for Miami Vice's turf war.[19] |
| 3 | ...and a Fistful of Jack and Jills | Nick Jones | Chris Baker, Andrew Day | 13 June 2000 | The friends sell faulty sex pills, resulting in complications and conflict with a gangland boss.[19] |
| 4 | ...and Spaghetti Sauce | Rudolf Mestdagh | Chris Baker, Andrew Day | 20 June 2000 | The group accidentally ruins a pornographer's tapes and scrambles to replace them with homemade films.[19] |
| 5 | ...and Two Sips | Nick Jones | Bernard Dempsey, Kevin McNally | 27 June 2000 | To repay a debt to Miami Vice, the protagonists get involved in his financial troubles and babysit a key associate.[19] |
| 6 | ...and One Big Bullock | David Thacker | Chris Baker, Andrew Day | 4 July 2000 | The friends handle a meat delivery for Miami Vice, clashing with psychotic Russians and a drug-crazed duo.[19] |
| 7 | ...and a Good Slopping Out | David Thacker | Chris Baker, Andrew Day | 11 July 2000 | The group is sent to prison to retrieve a key to Miami Vice's safe, framed by his secretary.[19] |
