Open Fire (TV 1994)

An authentic story from 1983: The young police officer Finn is awarded a medal for the courage he showed in arresting a dangerous criminal. Meanwhile transvestite David Martin is released ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Greengrass

Writer:

Paul Greengrass

Stars:

Rupert Graves, Douglas Hodge, Kate Hardie

Cast

Credited cast:
Rupert Graves	...	David Martin
Douglas Hodge	...	Det Con Peter Finch
Kate Hardie	...	Sue Stephens
Eddie Izzard	...	Rich
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Keith Bartlett	...	CIB Man
Aran Bell	...	PC Nicholas Carr
James Bowers	...	Policeman (Carr Shooting)
Jim Carter	...	Det Chief Supt Young
Sam Halpenny	...	DC Peter Van Dee
Martin Herdman	...	Surveillance Officer
Steve Knowles	...	Train Driver
Gooey Law	...	Waldorf's Friend
Chris Lawson	...	Prison Guard
Colin McCormack	...	Det Chief Supt Haylor
Paul McNeilly	...	Policeman (hospital)

Storyline

An authentic story from 1983: The young police officer Finn is awarded a medal for the courage he showed in arresting a dangerous criminal. Meanwhile transvestite David Martin is released once again from prison - he's provocative and aggressive, escaped from prison twice. When he's caught again during a burglary, he shoots one of the police officers. Until 1983 he advances to the most wanted criminal in UK. After a chase through half of London, a suspect is shot by police officer Finn - an innocent, as it turns out, so Finn is suspended. The case becomes a police scandal, when he's even accused of murder.

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Plot Keywords:

police | burglary | transvestite | london england

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Genres:

Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1994 (UK)

Also Known As:

Unter Beschuß

Filming Locations:

Belsize Park, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

One of the best TV films.

This film is about David Martin, who apparently was the most wanted man in Britain back in 1982. I can't help thinking though, that if he really was the most wanted man, then we didn't have much to worry about back then, if all we had to worry about was David Martin. He robbed a bank, whilst dressed as a woman. But the reason he was wanted so much, was probably because of the mistaken identity when a policeman shot the wrong man, Stephen Waldorf, whilst he was waiting in his yellow mini, at the traffic lights. We learn quite a bit about David Martin, not just about his crimes as a banker robber, but about the person, and why he did what he did, how he felt. Rupert Graves portrays him with feeling and sensitivity.