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Post by Kenny Dalglish 1979 on Feb 28, 2018 13:49:02 GMT
Underrated police action series taking its cue from The Sweeney starring Patrick Mower as the uncompromising Det. Supt. Steve Hackett fighting crime for the 13th Regional Crime Squad.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Feb 28, 2018 16:38:31 GMT
I remember this at the time and, tbh, didn’t really rate it. Seemed to me like an attempt by the BBC to copy the Sweeney, but it was no where near as good. It lacked the humour and quality writing that made the Sweeney stand out
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Post by Dirty Epic on Feb 28, 2018 21:57:14 GMT
Never really seen this one but would like to again one of those weird ones were an objection from an actor/writer/director etc is blocking its repeat or DVD release. I'll have to scan YouTube to see if the Eps are on there.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Mar 2, 2018 10:43:12 GMT
I remember watching this at the time but not being a great fan of it. Unlike so many programs of the time where I have revisited and rewatched episodes, this I've never sought to find DVDs or scoured the TV listings / youtube etc to retrace.
But then again, I find that Patrick Mower gets on my thrupennies anyway as he seems he can only play one character.
Sam.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Mar 2, 2018 10:58:43 GMT
Have to agree with Sam there. I'm not a huge fan of Pat Mower. The only thing I can put up with him being in is The Sweeney or Special Branch.
Gene.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 2, 2018 12:48:22 GMT
Yeah have to agree about Patrick Mower alright in Special Branch not too fussed about him beyond that. Seen better/seen worse.
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Mar 2, 2018 14:32:10 GMT
I wonder if this series will ever get a DVD release as the complete series is in the BBC archive. There was some talk about it on another forum back in 2007, but it appears there was resistance to it from some of the cast members at the time.
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Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 2, 2018 18:04:14 GMT
Been wrong with other things but like Spender and The Paradise Club don't think Target will get a DVD release somehow. The objection issue seems too much of a problem here and whoever releases it may not make a profit so if it could be released a media company may not be bothered to do so. Also it's interesting it hasn't had a repeat on television either as I'm sure with the multi channel age we have it would have been if there's an issue why they can't - particularly given the Sweeney style it has.
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Vienna
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Post by Vienna on Mar 2, 2018 19:09:48 GMT
Good point there DE. I read somewhere that the 1978 series has not been shown on TV anywhere since its original transmission 40 odd years ago.
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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Mar 2, 2018 20:41:30 GMT
The entire series was put up on Youtube very recently but I'm not sure if it's still there now. They looked like video recordings in about 1990 and that included the 2nd series even. So it must have been repeated a few times for a few years.
I quite liked the action/clobbering blaggers/car action in the first series and grittiness but Pat Mower just seems to have portrayed Hackett as an over the top American inspired character, (even drives a US motor in the first series, as his private car), slamming doors, shouting and being aggressive a lot of the time, not much in the way of humour. Squeeling tyres in the squad car every time he pulls away and doing an emergency stop when he pulls up somewhere (not unlike the driving behaviour in The Professionals mind!).
Although I still find it interesting as its from the 70's and many well known faces can be spotted.
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