In the 1976 episode of The Sweeney titled "Selected Target", Lee Montague's role is that of Colly Kibber, the same name as the murdered journalist and central character in the 1947 classic prototype British gangster film "Brighton Rock". In Graham Green's original novel this character was named Colley Cibber, after the 18th Century English actor/playwright. Some inexperienced script assistants on the '47 film mis-spelled the name with Ks instead of Cs. Now that The Sweeney is out on DVD it would seem that the spelling error has been perpetuated, at least in part, for almost 60 years to a whole new generation of viewers. It seems a nice compromise between putting the spelling back to what it should have been, while paying tribute to one of the great British thrillers.
In the same episode, Ronald Fraser's character and "Colly Kibber's" partner in crime, is called "Titus Oates", named for the 17th Century perjurer, traitor and sodomite and the man voted "The worst Briton of the 17th Century" and "The third worst Briton of all time" behind Jack The Ripper and British Nazi leader Oswald Moseley.
"Selected Target" is a highly enjoyable and very cleverly plotted episode from The Sweeney's 3rd season.
In the same episode, Ronald Fraser's character and "Colly Kibber's" partner in crime, is called "Titus Oates", named for the 17th Century perjurer, traitor and sodomite and the man voted "The worst Briton of the 17th Century" and "The third worst Briton of all time" behind Jack The Ripper and British Nazi leader Oswald Moseley.
"Selected Target" is a highly enjoyable and very cleverly plotted episode from The Sweeney's 3rd season.