Albert Riddle
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Post by Albert Riddle on Oct 16, 2020 22:06:26 GMT
But I think it had a better feel to it in those days
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Oct 17, 2020 7:16:24 GMT
But I think it had a better feel to it in those days Definately. Without a doubt.
Lots of possible reasons why - aside from the Writing / Acting / Directing. My view is this...
Casting the right actors is obviously a major factor; but a lot of older school directors also consider "casting" the right crew as a major factor too. A crew in the right frame of mind can pay dividends.
The Sweeney kept pretty much the same Crew throughout all 4 series, they had a rotation of regular directors, had regular actors and a good balance of guest actors. Even those crew members who were drafted in as "dailies" (to cover an absence) seemed to be part of the 'family' too.
Many of them had worked on previous Euston Films projects too - "Special Branch" and a majority of the Armchair Cinema series - so by the time of Regan and Sweeney - they were well gelled. Many of them went on to "Out" and "Minder" too.
Euston Films- though watching the purse strings, gave Directors and Crew enough freedom to do what they wanted - just as long as they shot the required daily maximum of 4-5 minutes edited screen time. To keep to the shooting schedule. So - giving good Actors & Crew that kind of freedom - will have an effect over the entire morale of everyone involved; and it shows on screen.
Just about everyone who worked on the Crew for the Sweeney - Directors apart - would never in a million years have been to "Film School" - they would have learned their trade on the streets as apprentices - and not in TV studios. Pretty much as I did.
My customary interview to work for Central TV Film consisted of "Can you drive?", "Is your Licence Clean?" and "Are you a member of the Union?"......
Sadly, these days - a lot of those older school directors / crew - even actors have either retired, or are no longer with us.
We have a new breed of Producers, Directors and Crew (luckily I come from the older school bunch) - and their attitude is totally different - everything has to be 'by the book' and drawn from what they did on their Media Course.
They aren't daring enough to use creative freedom. There are more jobs these days where that comaradarie has gone.
It's the same with the Younger Actors too - they do their bit, and then hide in their Trailer. Many of the older school will hang around set and talk to people, sit and eat lunch and not want people running around after them.
In short attitudes in front and behind the camera has changed a lot.
But I am sure there is much more contributing to it all.
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Soldier
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Post by Soldier on Oct 17, 2020 19:11:31 GMT
Great post, Sparky. Some interesting points there, makes a lot of sense.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Oct 18, 2020 7:14:13 GMT
Thing is, even with something as early as "Regan" - you can tell they had a ball making it.
The creative freedom thing, I think is a major contributer - as I said; a group of good actors given that freedom - who have been given a chance to develop a character - will naturally build on it and throw in ad libs.
Initially, "Regan" and "Sweeney" were seen as a John Thaw vehicle. It wasn't too long before John Thaw pointed out that there were also two other excellent regular actors & a great chemistry between them all and they should be given more to do. As we know - all of them were known to throw things in and go off script - that made a massive difference.
I can't really think of any other actor who would insist on giving his lines or screen time to other actors. Just shows what a great and creative person Mr Thaw was.
Shame many others don't take a leaf from his book.
A similar thing happened with "Minder" - as that was seen as something for Dennis Waterman - but it wasn't long before the chemistry between George and Dennis was spotted. Must have been something in that water at Colet Court.
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Oct 18, 2020 11:17:57 GMT
Regarding the chemistry between the various actors and I guess the crew as well must be almost impossible to plan for. It obviously worked brilliantly on Regan and did on Porridge as well for example.
You bring all the people together, stand back and hope it works. Possibly easier to get it right if it happens before any of them are big stars and must be easier if any are big stars but don't act like that i.e. happy to help other people etc.
For instance, it didn't work when Chris Eccleston took on Dr Who in 2005 as I understand anyway. They just couldn't get along which led to him leaving at the end of the year.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 10:00:43 GMT
Just had a re look at this thread again about Regan! and what a good one it is. Out of the three films Regan is definitely the best one me thinks. It must be so frustrating like Del boy said how growing up in London, used to be similar to that time, until sudden redevelopment at the end of the 80s! this seems to happen a lot, where things seem to stay the same for so long then ya wake up one day and everything as changed. I think the story line and the music in Regan is much better than the other films, and also probably because it set the trend and style of their relationship, especially how Carter never likes Regan’s methods! a good example of this is emphisized, throughout and at the end of the episide Abduction. I think the Sweeney series would not have been as good as it was, if Carter had always been on the same wavelength as Regan in regards tact and methods.
GC
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Palmer
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Post by Palmer on Sept 14, 2021 14:51:31 GMT
I think that 'Regan' is indeed better than either of the feature films made...
In my mind the thing that sets 'Regan' apart is the fact that it was a 'made for television' film rather than a silver screen affair!!
A feature length production of a television show made for the cinema probably loses a bit of grounding as the writers, directors and producers will probably be feeling the need to produce an extravaganza (something the viewer will never see on television) whereas the feature length television show still has a few hurdles that just cannot be jumped over.
For me Regan will always be better than either Sweeney! or Sweeney 2...
They are all infinitely watchable though of course!!
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Post by Steve Austin on Sept 14, 2021 19:44:55 GMT
There is one thing that always make me cringe about "Regan". There is the scene early on when the squad are rounding up the suspects after the attack on Cowley. He goes to get John Minshaw:
Regan: "Detective Inspector Regan, Flying Squad. Where's John Minshaw?" Johno's Wife: "Johno!" Minshaw: "What." Johno's Wife: "The Old Bill's here." Minshaw: "What, the local nick?" Regan: "The Sweeney!" Minshaw: "Coming."
That scene just doesn't work for me, the rest of the film is superb though and I have watched it many, many times.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Sept 14, 2021 19:54:10 GMT
I think that 'Regan' is indeed better than either of the feature films made... In my mind the thing that sets 'Regan' apart is the fact that it was a 'made for television' film rather than a silver screen affair!! A feature length production of a television show made for the cinema probably loses a bit of grounding as the writers, directors and producers will probably be feeling the need to produce an extravaganza (something the viewer will never see on television) whereas the feature length television show still has a few hurdles that just cannot be jumped over. For me Regan will always be better than either Sweeney! or Sweeney 2... They are all infinitely watchable though of course!!
I think - "Regan" as is would stand up on the big screen - but wouldn't look as good as something like "Stoppo Driver" - the Car chase alone would look great. I'd love to see the episodes on a big screen - to see how they would look.
The film rushes from each days shooting, as well as a rough cut of each episode was viewed by producers on a large screen in a makeshift cinema at Colet Court - the viewing theatre can be seen in "Selected Target" and "Hearts and Minds" (Where Regan watches an episode of 'This Week').
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Sept 14, 2021 20:48:42 GMT
Agree, I like it too. It's easily better than the first of the two films.
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