Rise of the Footsoldier
Encyclopedia
Rise of the Footsoldier is a 2007 English
crime
film released on 7 September, 2007. It is the third film from BAFTA award winning director Julian Gilbey
. It is a gangster film based on the true story of the Rettendon murders
and the biography of Carlton Leach
, a former football hooligan
of the infamous Inter City Firm
(ICF) who became a powerful figure of the English underworld.
and Essex
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film focuses on three decades of his life, following him from football hooliganism
through his burgeoning career as a nightclub bouncer
and his involvement in the criminal aspects of the early 'rave
' scene, until finally becoming one of the most feared criminals in the country. The story concludes with three members of his gang - Tony Tucker `38', Craig Rolfe `26' and Pat Tate `37' - being brutally murdered in the infamous Triple Rettendon Murders
, down a farm track in a Range Rover
, on 6 December 1995. This scene and other details of the 1990s Essex and London criminal milieu are also featured in the film Essex Boys
(2000).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
film released on 7 September, 2007. It is the third film from BAFTA award winning director Julian Gilbey
Julian Gilbey
-Biography:Gilbey began his movie career with the low-budget 2002 horror film Reckoning Day, working on the project as director, screenwriter, actor, cinematographer, editor, actor, make-up artist and costume designer. In 2006 he wrote, directed and edited the crime drama Rollin' With The Nines. In...
. It is a gangster film based on the true story of the Rettendon murders
Rettendon
Rettendon is a small village in the Borough of Chelmsford in Essex, England about south east of the county town Chelmsford. Situated near the River Crouch the village was once owned by the Bishop of Ely. The A130 formerly passed through the village...
and the biography of Carlton Leach
Carlton Leach
-Early Life:He was born in Canning Town in East London. Leach was catapulted into a criminal career by his love of West Ham. Before long, he was a member of the notorious Inter City Firm, a gang of hooligans who followed the East London club.-Criminal Career:...
, a former football hooligan
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
of the infamous Inter City Firm
Inter City Firm
The Inter City Firm is an English football hooligan firm mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, associated with West Ham United. The name came from the use of InterCity trains used to travel to away games...
(ICF) who became a powerful figure of the English underworld.
Plot
The film follows Carlton Leach from his younger days as a 'footsoldier' among the ranks of the ICF to membership of a notorious gang who rampaged their way through LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film focuses on three decades of his life, following him from football hooliganism
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
through his burgeoning career as a nightclub bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
and his involvement in the criminal aspects of the early 'rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
' scene, until finally becoming one of the most feared criminals in the country. The story concludes with three members of his gang - Tony Tucker `38', Craig Rolfe `26' and Pat Tate `37' - being brutally murdered in the infamous Triple Rettendon Murders
Rettendon
Rettendon is a small village in the Borough of Chelmsford in Essex, England about south east of the county town Chelmsford. Situated near the River Crouch the village was once owned by the Bishop of Ely. The A130 formerly passed through the village...
, down a farm track in a Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
, on 6 December 1995. This scene and other details of the 1990s Essex and London criminal milieu are also featured in the film Essex Boys
Essex Boys
Essex Boys is a 2000 British crime film. It was directed by Terry Winsor and stars Sean Bean, Alex Kingston, Tom Wilkinson, Charlie Creed-Miles and Holly Davidson.-Cast:* Charlie Creed-Miles: Billy Reynolds/narrator* Sean Bean: Jason Locke...
(2000).
Carlton's Crew
- Ricci HarnettRicci HarnettRicci Harnett is an English actor, best known for his role as Carlton Leach in the film Rise of the Footsoldier. He debuted in 1991 in The Object of Beauty alongside John Malkovich. He has also appeared in the film 28 Days Later as Corporal Mitchell...
... Carlton LeachCarlton Leach-Early Life:He was born in Canning Town in East London. Leach was catapulted into a criminal career by his love of West Ham. Before long, he was a member of the notorious Inter City Firm, a gang of hooligans who followed the East London club.-Criminal Career:... - Craig FairbrassCraig FairbrassCraig Fairbrass is an English actor. He is known for his distinctive Cockney accent.-Life and career:Fairbrass was born in Stepney, London. He made his acting debut in an episode of the television series Shelley in 1980. This was followed by appearances in series such as Emmerdale, Three Up Two...
... Pat Tate - Terry StoneTerry StoneTerry Stone , also known as Terry Turbo, is a British actor and film producer. Before a career in film, Stone was a rave promoter, and is co-founder of Garage Nation and Rave Nation with Jason Kaye. He is most notable for his role as Tony Tucker, in the 2007 film Rise of the Footsoldier...
... Tony Tucker - Roland ManookianRoland ManookianRoland Manookian is an English actor of Armenian descent, who is most notable for his role as Zebedee, in the 2004 film The Football Factory, and as Craig Rolfe in Rise of the Footsoldier in 2007. He has also appeared in Guy Richie's Rocknrolla and Nick Love's Goodbye Charlie Bright and The Business...
... Craig Rolfe - Patrick Regis ... Eddie
Mickey's Boys
- Billy MurrayBilly Murray (actor)Billy Murray is an English actor, best known for playing Don Beech in The Bill from 1995 to 2004, Johnny Allen in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2005 to 2006, Captain John Price in the video games Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare...
... Mickey Steel - Frank HarperFrank HarperFrank Harper is a British actor and film producer. He is best known for his "Hard Man" roles, such as Billy Bright in The Football Factory , Dog in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels .-Career:...
... Jack Whomes - Neil MaskellNeil MaskellNeil Maskell is an English actor who generally appears in British gangster and football hooligan films alongside actors promoted by Nick Love, Matthew Vaughn and Guy Ritchie. He is probably best remembered for playing Rod in the hit film, Football Factory, alongside Danny Dyer and Frank...
... Darren "Supergrass" Nicholls - Dave LegenoDave LegenoDavid "Dave" Legeno is an English actor, boxer and mixed martial artist.-Life and career:Legeno was born in Marylebone, London, England. He has been quoted as saying that he wanted to act since he read Shakespeare's Richard III...
... Big John - Kieran BewKieran Bew| website = http://vimeo.com/16285721Kieran Bew is an English actor, known for portraying Avi Gellman in Personal Affairs, and Gary Parr in BBC1's BAFTA award winning The Street.-Background:...
... Ricky - Jason MazaJason Maza- Early life :Born and brought up in London, he played semi-professional football before turning to an acting career. At 18 Maza gained a place at Central School of Speech and Drama; however, he turned down his place in order to continue working as an actor....
... Rob
Women
- Coralie Rose ... Denny (Carlton's wife)
- Kierston WareingKierston WareingKierston Wareing is an English actress. She starred in Ken Loach's film It's a Free World... as Angie. She has also played in Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank and Martina Cole's The Take. She has been nominated for one BAFTA award and two British Independent Film Awards...
... Kate Carter (Pat's wife) - Emily BeechamEmily BeechamEmily Beecham is an English film, television and stage actress who, since the start of her career in 2006, has amassed over thirty credits, including the leading role of a postulant nun entering an unconventional convent depicted in The Calling, a film which, following its premiere in June 2009 at...
... Kelly (Eddie's wife} - Lara BelmontLara BelmontLara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor...
... Karen