Director David Wickes
Starring John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Barry Foster
Rated M
Score 6/6

Cinematic spin-off from the popular TV series. Hard-bitten Flying Squad officer Jack Regan gets embroiled in a deadly political plot when an old friend asks him to investigate the death of his girlfriend. Framed on a drunk-drive charge and suspended from the force, with his partner and best mate George Carter unable to help, Jack must rely on his wits to evade deadly government hitmen and expose the real villain of the piece

Alright you can file this one on the I get there in the end list because I have been meaning to review Sweeney ever since I watched the remake staring Ray Winstone back in 2013 when I posted its review. For those of you who might be interested Sweeney! follows fairly closely to the events of the Profumo Scandal which had rocked British politics more than a decade before, though with a much more violent premise.

I’m sure that I have said it before, but for those of you who might be a little new to The Movie Boards one of the reasons that I like watching older movies because I feel that it’s really interesting to see what filmmakers could get away with. Sweeney! Is certainly a product of its time particularly with the sexist attitudes towards women.
Now, granted Sweeney! Is forty years and could come across as being dated but trust me it isn’t. It’s a juicy movie that without giving any spoilers builds to a brilliant third act. John Thaw gave a great performance as D.I. Jack Regan and though I did not recently re-watch the remake there is a clear contrast between the different portrayals of Regan.