A Comedy of Eras

Rating: 6/10 (3 October 2016)

Legend (2015)
The photography was very good and had that sepia-but-in-color-tone that seemed to capture the look of the period well. Some real care went into finding effective locations for many of the exterior shots – in particular, there was a very nicely framed image of the Albert Hall.
It was also nice to see a large helping of Martin Scorcese direction in a film he didn't direct. Of course, if you call it 'homage' it is simultaneously flattering and creative, not plagiaristic – which can be very convenient.
Emily Browning is an exceptionally beautiful woman and an interesting actress, and provided an appropriately stubborn yet fragile characterization. Unfortunately, in the manner of Demosthenes' declamations, her narration sounded like she was trying to speak clearly around a mouth full of pebbles. This made the voice of John Cleese hosting Ethel the Frog on the topic of the notorious Piranha Brothers that much more pronounced:
Doug and Dinsdale Piranha were born, on probationthe eldest sons in a family of sixteenDoug was born in February, 1929, and Dinsdale two weeks later. And again, a week after that.
When the Piranhas left school, they were called up but were found to be too mentally unstable even for National Service. Denied the opportunity to use their talents in the service of their country, they began what they called, 'The Operation': they would select a victim, and then threaten to beat him up, if he paid them the so-called 'protection money.'
Four months later they started another operation which they called 'The Other Operation.' In this racket, they selected another victim and threatened not to beat him up if he didn't pay them. One month later they hit upon 'The Other, Other Operation.' In this, the victim was threatened that if he didn't pay them, they would beat him up.
This, for the Piranha Brothers, was the turning point.
By a combination of violence and sarcasm, the Piranha Brothers, by February, 1966, controlled London
(Please see Monty Python's Flying Circus, Season 2, Episode 1 for complete details.)
Someone once remarked that the characters in Robert Altman's film M*A*S*H (1970) would have eaten alive their counterparts from the feeble television series that the movie spawned. And the Piranha Brothers would have gobbled up the Krays as portrayed in Legend in a quick, inter-meal snack.
One other thing: maybe it was a trick of the light and the way he pursed his mouth and stuff, but the Kray brother with the glasses looked just like a young Henry Kissinger much of the time, which was truly surreal and almost as hilarious as Ethel the Frog.
Your mileage may vary.
XYZ