Amongst the many British sitcoms of the '70's to be turned into movies were a couple of dramas - 'Doomwatch', 'Man At The Top', 'Callan', and, of course, 'The Sweeney'. Ian Kennedy-Martin's hit I.T.V. show starred John Thaw as D.I. Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as Sergeant George Carter, and ran from 1975-78. It set new standards for television violence, language and nudity. It unsurprisingly made an effortless transition to the big screen in the decade of 'Get Carter' and 'Villain'.
Ranald Graham, one of the show's best writers, penned a gritty political conspiracy thriller, turning 'Sweeney!' almost into a British version of 'The Domino Principle' and 'The Parallax View'. An unknown multi-national corporation is out to wreck an oil conference in London; firstly, they murder a prostitute ( Lynda Bellingham ), leaving her nude body in the hotel room of Energy Secretary Charles Baker ( the brilliant Ian Bannen ) M.P. When her boyfriend, used car dealer Ronnie Brent ( Joe Melia ) calls on the Flying Squad to investigate, he and his staff are viciously slaughtered in a machine-gun attack. Then the villains turn their attentions to Regan himself. After being captured, he has whisky poured down his throat, and is put behind the wheel of a car. It crashes, and his superiors suspend him. But Regan is determined to go on.
As one might expect, the violence levels are higher than those of the series. The murder of the Bellingham character is executed with such cold, clinical precision as to be shocking ( as is the sight of a policeman shot in the head ), while the massacre in the used car lot evokes Peckinpah. The sight of Diane Keen ( then best known for her role in 'The Cuckoo Waltz' sitcom ) topless in bed must have raised eyebrows. Michael Coles is particularly menacing as the smiling assassin 'Johnson'. As 'Regan', Thaw is, as ever, marvellous. Another man would quietly let the matter drop, but he chips away until the conspiracy unravels. Waterman, likewise, is great, although, he is missing for long stretches, while Thaw teams up with Keen.
The reviewer who said the movie was good only for a few laughs because of the outdated fashions has missed the point. The notion that big business would sanction criminal acts to protect its interests strikes me as frighteningly believable. David Wickes does a good job in keeping the action moving, achieving some superb location filming in London.
A few quibbles - where was Haskins ( Garfield Morgan )? Why did they not use Harry South's smashing theme tune? And why was an American actor not hired to play the pivotal role of 'Elliot McQueen', Baker's crooked P.R. man? Barry Foster ( of 'Van Der Valk' fame ) struggles but sounds about as American as Fidel Castro.
'Sweeney!' opened to ecstatic reviews ( 'The best British crime thriller in years!' raved one ) and won a clutch of awards. A year later, 'Sweeney 2' appeared, but although written by Troy Kennedy-Martin ( brother of Ian ) it was not a patch on the first.
If you have never seen the series, this movie should serve as a useful introduction.
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