Dial 999 (TV Series) The Killing Job (1958) User Reviews

A good first episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 20 January 2023]

Canadian Mounty Detective Inspector Maguire arrives on attachment to Scotland Yard, working alongside Detective Inspector Winter, the pair are tasked with dealing with two protection racket gangs that have clashed.

A very solid first episode, it's an intriguing story, with two gangs trying to run one another out of town, and such an interesting character with Maguire, a nice switch up having a Canadian in London.

Hard to believe that so much was packed into just thirty minutes, so much content was crammed in, it flew by.

Robert Beatty and Duncan Lamont are excellent as The Detectives. There are so many famous and well known faces to enjoy, first Doctor Who William Hartnell among them.

Best of all for me was seeing London in 1958, it looked absolutely tremendous, so different to the huge City we know now.

7/10.

Canadian Cop in London

[gordonl56 · 8/10 · 24 February 2013]

DIAL 999 – "The Killing Job" – 1958 This is the first episode of the U.K. Police series, Dial 999. This 1958-59 series ran for a total of 39 episodes and starred, Robert Beatty. Beatty, a real Canadian, played an R.C.M.P. detective on loan to Scotland Yard.

First day on the job and Beatty, with new partner, Duncan Lamont, get involved in an attempted murder case. Peter Reynolds, a low level thug in the London protection rackets has been stabbed. The Detectives pay a visit to Reynolds in the hospital. All they get out of him is the name of the new man on the street, Sydney Tafler.

Tafler is moving in and is taking over various streets ran by other "protectors". Lamont and Beatty now pay Tafler a less than friendly visit. After Beatty lays out Tafler's muscle with a few uppercuts, he explains to Tafler that he will be watched. He best behave himself or else.

This turns out to be the least of Tafler's problems. The head of the local rackets, William Hartnell, has called a meeting of said local "protectors". Tafler has become a real annoyance. A vote is taken and three of the "heavy mob" boys are sent to have a "word" with Tafler.

While all this is happening, the Detectives have been keeping close tabs on Tafler and rackets man, Hartnell. They know something is going to happen. Tafler manages to escape the attempted hit, and beats the feet down the street pursued by the three heavies. Following at a discreet distance, Lamont and Beatty watch the chase develop.

Soon the nasty types have Tafler cornered. As they advance on Tafler, out come various knives and sharp implements. Lamont, Beatty and several carloads of Police now pounce and grab up the whole bunch. Good job and now time for a beer.

A much grittier cop show than one would expect for a UK production of the era.

(b/w)

Welcome Back Mike

[TondaCoolwal · 8/10 · 23 October 2021]

Welcome return via TPTV for this classic 50s police procedural starring Robert Beatty as RCMP officer Mike McGuire who is seconded to Scotland Yard and teamed up with DI Winter (Duncan Lamont). This first episode deals with a familiar theme, gangs feuding over a protection racket. Reliably villainous Sydney Tafler is tough guy Micky Colletta trying to muscle in on another criminal's territory, having his rival carved up. But, he finds he's bitten off more than he can chew since this alerts the police. Worse, the established villains' "Association" meets and vote to "encourage" him to leave town. It's then up to the cops to prevent unnecessary bloodshed and bag the criminals.

For a half-hour episode, it boasts an impressive cast of well-known British character actors which include Ronald Adam, William Hartnell, Peter Bull, Patricia Laffan , foxy-faced Harold Berens, Arthur Mullard and Vera Day. Loads of old cars and period stuff and some great shots of post-war London.

The Killing Job

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 19 October 2021]

Dial 999 was created by Ted Willis who also created Dixon of Dock Green for the BBC.

The first episode has DI Mike Maguire (Robert Beatty) over in London from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police.

It is not long before Maguire is called into action with his new partner DI Winter.

A local thug is stabbed and it soon emerges that Mick Coletta is a villain who is hell bent on expanding his local protection racket empire.

The police see the potential to take down both Coletta and the other villains involved in the protection racket game in London.

Coletta's hostile activities upsets other villains. One of them, Crawford (William Hartnell) gives the order to take Coletta down.

This is more grittier and violent than Dixon of Dock Green. Although an accurate comparison cannot be made as so many early episodes of Dixon are missing.

It was notable that despite how thuggish Coletta was, he was soon brought down easily by his fellow villains.