Sweeney! (1977)

Cinematic spin-off from the popular TV series. Hard-bitten Flying Squad officer Jack Regan gets embroiled in a deadly political plot when an old friend asks him to investigate the death of ... See full summary »

Director:

David Wickes

Writers:

Ranald Graham (screenplay), Ian Kennedy Martin (based on "The Sweeney" created by)

Stars:

John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Barry Foster

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Thaw	...	D.I. Jack Regan
Dennis Waterman	...	D.S. George Carter
Barry Foster	...	Elliott McQueen
Ian Bannen	...	Charles Baker
Colin Welland	...	Frank Chadwick
Diane Keen	...	Bianca Hamilton
Michael Coles	...	Johnson
Joe Melia	...	Ronnie Brent
Brian Glover	...	Mac
Lynda Bellingham	...	Janice Wyatt
Morris Perry	...	Flying Squad Cdr. Maynon
Paul Angelis	...	Secret Serviceman
Nick Brimble	...	D.S. Burtonshaw
John Alkin	...	D.S. Tom Daniels
Bernard Kay	...	Matthews

Storyline

Cinematic spin-off from the popular TV series. Hard-bitten Flying Squad officer Jack Regan gets embroiled in a deadly political plot when an old friend asks him to investigate the death of his girlfriend. Framed on a drunk-drive charge and suspended from the force, with his partner and best mate George Carter unable to help, Jack must rely on his wits to evade deadly government hitmen and expose the real villain of the piece.

---

Plot Keywords:

police | based on tv series | england | london england | sergeant | 

---

Taglines:

The roughest, toughest men from London's greatest crime squad smash their way onto the big screen!

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Deckname Sweeny

Filming Locations:

New Scotland Yard, Broadway, Westminster, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£130,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euston Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 97 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Garfield Morgan was asked to play Haskins again as he had done in the TV series but rejected the project as he felt the role was too small. In the end, Haskins became Matthews and Bernard Kay was cast instead.

---

Quotes

Det. Insp. Jack Regan: Shut it!

---

Connections

Follows The Sweeney (1975)

---

Soundtracks

"Love of a Lifetime"
(uncredited)
Music by Keith Mansfield
KPM Music Ltd

User Reviews

Sweeney Todd-Flying Squad.

Detectives Regan & Carter investigate the suspected murder of a prostitute and find that there is major corruption, blackmail and murder bubbling under the surface.

Sweeney! is a TV spin-off that further pushes the grit and grime that had been established in the hugely popular series. Boasting call girls, blood, automatic weapon carnage, more blood and lots of shouting, it does in short have most things fans of the series could want. It also serves as a interesting snap-shot of mid to late 70s London as various sequences operate in and around the old smoke. Yet in spite of its guts and gusto and nicely woven plot {incorporating the oil slant}, it ultimately sags too often and criminally under uses Dennis Waterman's Carter. This is really about John Thaw's Reagan. Fine for fans of the always excellent Thaw, but this was a dynamite duo, and somewhere along the way somebody made a poor decision to focus on one part of the team.

The cast is filled out with notable British actors as the story unfolds. Barry Foster {Frenzy}, Ian Bannen {Too Late the Hero}, Colin Welland {Straw Dogs}, Brian Glover {Kes} and Diane Keen; who was a star of many a British TV production. It's pretty much one for fans only, because you get the feeling that newcomers, although sure to be impressed with its toughness, will wonder just what all the fuss was about back in the sweary Sweeney 70s. 6/10