Special Branch 1969 - 1974

[Dirty Epic]

Didn’t notice a post about Thames/Euston Films Special Branch which in many ways was the prototype for The Sweeney. Special Branch had more of a national security angle in it’s scripts/storylines rather than the more up front cops and villains route of The Sweeney. There are also some differences between Series 1-2 and the later Series 3-4 more than different actors/characters and a greater use of on location filming The Sweeney would take forward more and develop extensively.

Anyway here’s to Series 1-2. It’s main characters Jordan (Derren Nesbitt), briefly Eden (Wensley Pithey), Inman (Fulton MacKay) and Moxon (Morris Perry) their superior who is cannily manipulative and plays off his team against the national security demands of MI5 and others and is one of the most engaging characters in this version of Special Branch. Perry, Nesbitt and MacKay are quite good in their roles. There was a good love triangle recurring storyline between Jordan and KGB spy Christine Morris (Sandra Bryant) and many of the issues tackled in Series 1-2 – illegal immigration, civil liberties and terrorism are still very relevant today. Having said this the dialogue and studio filming in these series feels more staged and some of the acting is quite wooden at times, although the later series is also guilty of that… Roger Rowland’s North character particularly. In my opinion it’s a decent effort but lacks the action and feel the later Series 3-4 has… but don’t be put off by that.

Special Branch returned three years later in 1973 and Series 3-4 is totally different. Produced by Thames subsidiary Euston Films and as said above the location filming is much more increased and overall it’s production values are much better than they were in Series 1-2. With DCI Alan Craven (George Sewell) filling the lead role Derren Nesbitt’s Jordan had he begins a somewhat prickly relationship with DCI previously DS Tom Haggerty (Patrick Mower) who moves to Special Branch from the Flying Squad. Haggerty has had a previous run-in with Craven for blowing a undercover operation he was involved with and pretty much takes over from DS Bill North (Roger Rowland) as Craven’s co-character – this was due to Euston not being impressed with earlier episodes only featuring Sewell and Rowland. Series 3-4 also features less of the ‘superior’ characters that Series 1-2 had but briefly we get Chief Supt Knight (Richard Knight) who’s similar to the Eden, Inman and Moxon characters we see in Series 1-2 but as things evolve we settle on Commander Fletcher (Frederick Jaeger) and Strand (Paul Eddington). Paul Eddington is excellent as Strand an extremely manipulative ‘spook’ type character who not only uses Craven and Haggerty - reluctantly sometimes, for his dirty work but is a law unto himself in regard of his influence upon Special Branch for ‘national security’ etc. This frequently see Craven and Haggerty at odds and clashing with Strand when his methods usually leave victims behind and I’m sure real life Strand’s existed within Special Branch, MI5 etc. during that period. The national security, terrorism and civil liberties themes are still evident but they’ve been added to with more of a villain and organised crime undercurrent which no doubt gave Euston the impetus to develop The Sweeney - even many of The Sweeney's Hammersmith and general West London locations are featured in Special Branch too. Series 3-4 also allowed many of The Sweeney’s actors, writers and directors to cut their teeth too and is much more action orientated and less cerebral than it’s previous incarnation. George Sewell, Patrick Mower, Frederick Jaeger and Paul Eddington are all very good here and it’s perhaps unsurprising that most of them and the support cast in Series 3-4 would reappear in The Sweeney.

After having Series 3-4 only for a while a couple of years ago I did get the complete DVD set in 2013 and overall do like all of the Special Branch series very much. I do prefer the 3rd and 4th series more than the first two and perhaps if the Craven/Haggerty series didn’t exist I’d probably not have been interested in Series 1-2. Having said that 1-2 do have some good episodes in them and the Jordan/Inman/Moxon relationship does have it’s moments. I’d recommend Special Branch to fans of The Sweeney, The Professionals and all in all it’s a great slice of British TV drama when the 60’s became the 70’s. Even puts some of today’s slicker spy/crime/thriller drama series to shame.

Any thoughts.

[Villain]

Good post Dirty Epic, it's nice to have a thread on Special Branch

I bought the complete box set earlier this year but have only watched a few episodes of Series 3 so far, I bypassed 1&2 as I'm more interested in the immediate 'pre-Sweeney' era at the moment, but will get round to the earlier ones at some point. Of the S3 episodes I have watched up to now I've enjoyed them all, the pace is quite slow compared to a lot of other shows but the casting, writing, photography and locations are bang on (and the cars of course!). I love the title sequence too, very much of its time I think. Sewell and Mower are right for the parts the play and I think over the years Mower has had a rum deal from the press who have sometimes made him out to be a talentless chancer. When given the opportunity though he can be a very convincing actor and deserves more credit than previously given to him. Initially I was going to make a point of watching the whole of S3 &4 in the same way I can sit through The Sweeney at the drop of a hat, but I've recently bought box sets of The Saint, The Avengers and The Champions which has sent me off on a different tangent! When all of these shows were made I doubt much thought was given to future viewings of them, like most TV shows of the period I suppose, but the joy of having all our favourites on DVD is being able to sit through an entire series whenever we feel like it - we're very lucky in that respect.

Villain

[Villain]

There is one particular episode of 'Special Branch' which I'm really looking forward to seeing, having already watched a short youtube clip of it, I forget the title but it's the one with John Bindon playing a hardman (surprise surprise) and I think there's a white Series 1 XJ6 in it, similar to Frank Kemble's in 'Ringer', the first episode of 'The Sweeney'.

Villain

[Villain]

Just found this pic lurking in my hard drive...



Villain

[Vienna]

Good idea for a thread, Dirty Epic

I also have the box set of the whole series, although I only really watch the later Euston Films' episodes with Craven and Haggerty, and also North. The later two series are better due to being on film instead of videotape and there is much more use of outdoor locations rather than being just generally studio-based, making them more gritty and realistic. The theme music is great for S3 and 4 too. 

Unfortunately, there aren't really any extras on the DVD sets, apart from an interview with Patrick Mower and George Sewell

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Great idea for a thread Dirty Epic, yes I too have all 4 series of SB on DVD and got the 2 Euston series first back in 2004. Don't forget of course Dennis Waterman guest starred in one episode playing an ex-army down on his luck self employed waste services, family man who pinched a potentially dangerous military gun to hold the government to ransom for better housing! He was good in that, too and Garfield Morgan even guested (along with "Charley Smith" from Big Spender - Sweeney ep) in a different episode as another disillusioned ex army man, albeit an officer, who also plans a similar attack with unnerving precision........ good to see Garfield in a quite evil role too!

I've also noticed bits of incidental music from the Sweeney episodes occasionally pop up in SB eps, as well as other guest stars and even the odd car. Villain noticed the white Jag used by John Bindon's character in one ep. It is the same car as Frank Kemble's too going by the number plate! London reg no too.

Looks like Ford supplied a few of the new squad motors in the episode too, and interesting that Tom Haggerty was a former flying squad man - was it possible he previously worked with Regan as his guv'nor?

Another prediction made in one 3rd series episode was that they talk about a woman future prime minister. To which Craven replies "Gawd help us!" and North answers "It'll happen!" (Could North look into the future??)

Yes interesting series to watch!