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The Year London Blew Up: 1974

  • TV Movie
  • 20052005
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
33
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Michael Colgan, Jonjo O'Neill, Edward MacLiam, and Kevin Murphy in The Year London Blew Up: 1974 (2005)
  • Documentary
  • Drama
1974-1975 - a year of terrorism across London. Adapted for the screen from the book 'Timebomb.'1974-1975 - a year of terrorism across London. Adapted for the screen from the book 'Timebomb.'1974-1975 - a year of terrorism across London. Adapted for the screen from the book 'Timebomb.'
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
33
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edmund Coulthard
  • Writer
    • Mark Hayhurst
  • Stars
    • David Morrissey(voice)
    • Michael Colgan
    • Chris O'Dowd
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edmund Coulthard
  • Writer
    • Mark Hayhurst
  • Stars
    • David Morrissey(voice)
    • Michael Colgan
    • Chris O'Dowd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win total

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    David Morrissey
    David Morrissey
    • Self - Narratoras Self - Narrator
    • (voice)
    Michael Colgan
    • O'Connellas O'Connell
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Dowdas Dowd
    Jonjo O'Neill
    Jonjo O'Neill
    • Dugganas Duggan
    Edward MacLiam
    Edward MacLiam
    • Butleras Butler
    • (as Edward McLiam)
    Kevin Murphy
    • Dohertyas Doherty
    David Sibley
    • Detective Inspectoras Detective Inspector
    Jenny Howe
    • Mrs. Matthewsas Mrs. Matthews
    Tim Preece
    • Mr. Matthewsas Mr. Matthews
    Patricia Atkins
    • Self - Sister of Mrs. Matthewsas Self - Sister of Mrs. Matthews
    Ron Chapman
    • Self - Inspector, Bomb Squad, 1975as Self - Inspector, Bomb Squad, 1975
    Janet Cleaves
    • Self - Resident of Dorset Square, 1975as Self - Resident of Dorset Square, 1975
    John Gibb
    • Self - Scots Guards, 1974as Self - Scots Guards, 1974
    Bill Hucklesby
    • Self - Senior Bomb Squad Officer, 1974as Self - Senior Bomb Squad Officer, 1974
    Peter Imbert
    • Self - Senior Bomb Squad Officer, 1975as Self - Senior Bomb Squad Officer, 1975
    Carol James
    • Self - Women's Royal Army Corps, 1974as Self - Women's Royal Army Corps, 1974
    Roy Jenkins
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Alastair Logan
    • Self - Guildford Solicitoras Self - Guildford Solicitor
    • Director
      • Edmund Coulthard
    • Writer
      • Mark Hayhurst
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    1974-1975 - a year of terrorism across London. Adapted for the screen from the book 'Timebomb.'
    • siege
    • reenactment
    • terrorism
    • terrorist attack
    • place name in title
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    An impressively succinct and engaging documentary
    In 2005 terrorist attacks rocked London but this was not something that the city was unused to having been under attack from Sinn Fein/IRA for many years. The first attacks on the city came during 1974 when a small cell of the IRA set themselves up and began a campaign of pub bombings. While the population took on a wartime mentality, the police frantically search for any leads and the terrorists' confidence grows and their attacks become more daring and deadly.

    With terrorism now stuck in the minds of people as being associated with Muslims, it seems that many have forgotten that it is not a new problem within the UK. For decades Sinn Fein/IRA had bombed parts of Northern Ireland and the mainland, killing many and maiming many others and, although they now hide their violence behind a spin of peace and politics, it is important that we remember who they are. This documentary stays away from commenting on their modern incarnations or actions (robbing a bank, punishment murders, training terrorists in Columbia, punishment beatings etc) and focuses well on the start of the English campaign back in the 1970's. The manner of delivery is a mix of old footage, talking heads and dramatisation; the latter is the weakest of the three but fortunately is not used as much as the others. When it is used it is generally supported well by the other material and it is better for it.

    The end product is a documentary that captures the facts and the atmosphere of the time really well and provides a fascinating look back in enough detail to engage the totally unaware as easily as those who had been alive at the time. The narration is a bit too forceful and gruff; he does sound too much like the sort of person you'd find narrating on "When Dogs Attack" or some such programme but this is only a minor problem. The talking heads are all concise and interesting, while the use of news footage from the time make it that much more involving and real. Overall an impressive documentary that is engaging and detailed in its focus on part of the decades of Northern Irish terrorist violence; it does have minor weaknesses but the good vastly outweighs the not so good.
    helpful•6
    6
    • bob the moo
    • Sep 25, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1, 2005 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Blast! Films
      • Channel 4 Television
      • Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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