Peaky Blinders

If the name Peaky Blinders is a little baffling, it’s the name of a gang in Birmingham in 1919.

Like our very own razor gangs, the Peaky Blinders are cutters, hiding razor blades into the ‘peaks’ of their caps. With a quick flourish of the hand they can “cut you a smile” before you even know it, and blood will hit the streets.

Peaky Blinders is also the pick of the bunch on the new BBC First channel.

It centres around the Shelby clan, who rule this industrial town with plenty of swagger. Against a backdrop of economic strife, poverty, speak-easys and pubs, the Shelbys have accumulated power -if not necessarily by operating within the law.

The boyish Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is the second-eldest son of this parentless-family. He has returned from WWI a hero and although it still haunts him, it has strengthened his resolve to have the upper hand by fixing races and running bookmaker business. But when he stumbles onto a huge cache of guns and ammunition, new opportunities and opponents will appear.

At the head of the family is Aunt Polly (Helen McRory), who strives to keep the family together, steering the predominantly-male clan on a path that is bent but self-serving. Eldest son Arthur (Paul Anderson) never sees eye to eye with Thomas’ methods.

But it is the arrival of Chief Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill) from Belfast who plots against the family. Campbell is ready to stamp out the lawlessness that ripples through Birmingham, and uncover the missing weapons before they make their way back to the IRA. Campbell is resolute in his determination to rid the city of crooked cops and thug crims, but emerges as the villain of the piece.

The other significant character is the pretty Irish girl Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis), who arrives in town seeking work as a barmaid. When she catches the eye of Thomas, it suggests a romantic storyline is not far off, but there is also more going on here…

With its period setting and underbelly themes, Peaky Blinders resembles a kind of British Boardwalk Empire. Writer Steven Knight unwinds his menacing tale with great confidence, peppered with action, romance and moral dilemmas for its central characters.

What’s impossible to ignore are the outstanding production values. The sets and costumes bring the shadowy era to life and the photography makes the most of the production design. It’s dark and moody, but it ripples with sparks -literally- from heaving industrial factories.

Director Otto Bathurst has also opted for a raw, contemporary soundtrack which includes the White Stripes, the Black Keys and Nick Cave. It works a treat. Sparing use of hand-held cameras also help to bring a contemporary feel, and Bathurst astutely zeroes in on key dramatic performances by holding off the music for intimate scenes.

Sam Neill is clearly having a blast as the fire and brimstone Inspector. His opening sermon to his rank and file makes for an enigmatic entrance. Cillian Murphy is sullen and brooding as Thomas for much of the opening chapter, but will get to let rip when it matters most.

I was hooked from the first of these 6 episodes. There’s money on the screen, and a cast to match it.

Peaky Blinders is a great yarn.

Sneak Peak (full episode) 7:30pm Sunday August 3. Premieres 8:30pm Thursday August 7 on BBC First.