Hearts and Minds (23 Nov. 1978)

A burglar is found dead of the home of Professor Busby, though nothing appears to have been stolen. Government official Bellcourt tells Regan and Carter that Busby was working on pills to ... See full summary »

Director:

Mike Vardy

Writers:

Donald Churchill, Ted Childs

Stars:

John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Thaw	...	Det. Insp. Jack Regan
Dennis Waterman	...	Det. Sgt. George Carter
Garfield Morgan	...	Det. Chief Insp. Frank Haskins
Eric Morecambe	...	Eric Morecambe
Ernie Wise	...	Ernie Wise
Edward Hardwicke	...	Bellcourt
Edward de Souza	...	Prof. Frederick Busby
George Mikell	...	Danilov
Caroline Blakiston	...	Hildegarde
Jenny Quayle	...	Wendy
Miles Anderson	...	Hawkins
Jack Klaff	...	Al Krim
John Moreno	...	Doad
Joseph Charles	...	Ulysses
Nicholas McArdle	...	Tridgwell

Storyline

A burglar is found dead of the home of Professor Busby, though nothing appears to have been stolen. Government official Bellcourt tells Regan and Carter that Busby was working on pills to relieve heart disease and that the burglary was no doubt master-minded by Danilov, the opponent of a head of state friendly to Britain who would benefit from the pills. Busby goes on the run, entrusting his supply of pills to his girl-friend Wendy, who works with comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise. They in fact end up with the pills and are pursued by villains and Sweeney alike, ending in a very fishy climax.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1978 (UK)

Filming Locations:

22 Bute Gardens, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euston Films, Thames Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The edition points up Morecambe and Wise's recent return to ITV: the duo had just signed with Thames Television, who naturally showcased them in their Euston Films flagship. The two "Sweeney" leads had enjoyed working with the comedians on their BBC show, and both parties were keen to rekindle their working relationship.

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Goofs

When Morecambe and Wise are doing their ventriloquist routine, the camera tracks behind the audience. Despite the sound of uproarious laughter from them, not one of them moves a muscle: it looks as if the laughter may have been dubbed on afterwards.

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Quotes

[backstage at the club where Morecambe and Wise are performing, a troupe of scantily-clad dancing girls walk past Regan and Carter]
Det. Sgt. George Carter: [muttering lecherously, as each girl passes] I would. I would. I would.
[at the end of the line is a small, ugly, bandy-legged man]
Det. Insp. Jack Regan: [muttering] I wouldn't.

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Connections

Featured in Call the Cops: The Sweeney (2008)

User Reviews

"You're nicked, Sunshine!"

When John Thaw and Dennis Waterman guested on the 1976 Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show, Ernie quipped that he and Eric should both go on 'The Sweeney'. The actors enjoyed working with the duo so much they passed the suggestion back to Euston Films. A script - 'Hearts & Minds' - was written specially by Donald Churchill and Ted Childs to accommodate the comedians. Luckily they had recently defected to Thames following a spectacularly successful decade at the B.B.C.

'The Sweeney' had a reputation as a hard-as-nails police drama, so with Eric and Ernie around it was bound to turn silly, and alas did.

It starts out like any other episode; a burglar is shot dead attempting to steal the formula for a new miracle drug that can cure heart disease. Its creator, Professor Busby ( Edward de Souza, seen most recently in 'Coronation Street' ) and his psychiatrist wife Hildegarde ( Caroline Blakiston ) have an open marriage. He is having an affair with an actress currently appearing in Morecambe and Wise's latest stage show. So far, so good. The lads then appear, and the script gets infected with Morecambe-itis, taking on a lunatic air. Eric and Ernie essentially play a less successful version of themselves, who tour run-down provincial theatres rather than star in top-rated television shows.

The climax has Eric and Ernie fleeing from a gang of industrial spies, a sample of the drug in their possession. Stealing an old fish market lorry, they manage to outstrip a powerful Mercedes. Unlikely? It gets worse. Eric makes his way to the rear of the moving vehicle, and tosses fish crates onto the road. 'Hearts & Minds' plays more like an episode of Season 3 of 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' than 'The Sweeney'.

As it was one of the last ones made, I don't suppose we can begrudge Euston Films letting its hair down just this once. I just hope no-one bases their opinion of the show on it.