Nice effects though.

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

During the 1970s Police Series were the trend and Phenomena with mystery drama's such as Kojak and Columbo that were sober and in their own right classics. But The Sweeney is far the best Police series ever done at its height and certainly more so then the overrated and juvenile Starsky and Hutch that was targeted specifically for image and not quality and heres the Sweeney is better: - 1. The action and scripts are based more on harsh reality and the challenges facing law enforcement. 2. The scripts on which the scenario of crime is based is realistic and packed with action and within the genre of thriller making it entertaining and enjoyable. The stories also go beyond conventional crime exploring other subjects without loosing its original purpose 3. The series is not cheesy or corny and begins refreshed with new episode that does not drag. 4. The car a 1970s Ford Granada is attractive with sport appeal and mature. the chemistry between the main characters also works with exciting music. in conclusion the Sweeney is the best Police Drama / Thriller as it is genuine and does not drag and is focused on trend and quality

Considering it's age and the prevailing temperament of police 'liberties' at the time it presents a fairly balanced view of both the rewards and the frustrations of being police. Sadly, like many other shows, the 4th season shows it's ragged edges in scripts that are little more than re-hashes of earlier stories and the 'action' scenes become more and more unrealistic with 5 or 6 officers equipped with guns being incapable of subduing 2 suspects they surprised in the act. All this so the episode could end with the bad guy escaping for re-use in the next episode. The first 3 seasons however, were quite entertaining with Dennis Waterman constantly and consistently outshining Mr Thaw.....no surprise there as the venom-filled dialogue of the latter rings inconsistent with him, far too often, ending up with the young bird.......AS IF! Reality aside the show has 3 good seasons in it and as long as you are prepared to re-hear old plot-lines you will be able to gag down the fourth.

The rough, tough and downright dirty world of New Scotland Yard's heavy mob - The Sweeney. So-called because the Cockney rhyming slang for Flying Squad is The Sweeney (Sweeney Todd -- famous murderous London barber -- Flying Squad). The term "flying" because they came on the scene quickly after bank robberies or other "serious" crimes.It doesn't get much better than this. It really doesn't. Around 1975 we didn't have video recorders so you made sure that you were sat down with your coffee for the ITV 9pm showing! The show's genus is in the acting and script -- as well as the real locations of South London. Tatty high rises, breakers yards (ideal for fighting!), smoky clubs/pubs and "the factory" the office that they worked from with its grey walls, round dial phones and worn out office equipment.(This was actually modelled on the real Flying Squad office!)Occasionally this would contrast with the middle class splendour of the super villain or mastermind who planned the central crime like a chess game.John Thaw (as Jack Regan) was a genius of an actor, but always a tough guy at heart. Even when he put on a posh accent. In his younger days he was a bit of a bully and a tearaway, being a kind of "king of the teds" character. How he ever got in to acting is a long and unlikely story.(I won't bore you with it.) Dennis Waterman (as George Carter) was originally going to be only an occasional character and the whole show was going to focus on Regan - but the writers noticed that they made a team and the script was changed. The final line in the triangle was the (mostly) office bound Garfield Morgan (as Chief Insp. Frank Haskins) ) who was the voice of the reason that generally wanted "to go by the book."(Regan never wanted to go by the book -- he "wanted results" any way he could get them!)As the series progressed it got more adventurous and sometimes things went badly wrong. There was sometimes odd-ball comedy episodes. Unlike any other cop show before or since it was suggested that some of the criminals were behind bars for things they didn't do -- and the methods of Regan himself were bound to get him in to serious trouble (with the "brass") sooner rather than later.Naturally The Sweeney did have its limits. Regan rarely was on the wrong track (even when evidence pointed another way - he always "had a hunch") and rarely did the cons lay down their weapons readily. Which I am sure they would in real life -- especially when the police had attack dogs and guns. It wasn't a show that was in full flight from a cheap thrill.This show went all around Europe (I saw one episode in Spanish) but I doubt it would do well in America. Too sour and not enough happy endings.Happy memories which were not bountiful in the 1970's.

When it first hit the screens in the mid 70s, "The Sweeney" was the first in a line of gritty, violent British cop shows which also included such series as "The Professionals" and "Dempsey and Makepeace". "The Sweeney" was a radical departure from the comparative coziness and tranquility of long-established shows like "Z Cars" and "Dixon of Dock Green" and portrayed a London full of violent villains brandishing sawn-off shotguns, pick axe handles, sideburns and flared trousers being pursued and often violently brought to justice by John Thaw's no-nonsense Detective Inspector Jack Regan and his sidekick Detective Sergeant George Carter, played by Dennis Waterman. Punch-ups, gunfights and car wrecks abounded, Thaw and Waterman frequently getting blood and grime on their enormous, tasteless ties and winged shirt collars as they strove to uphold law and order on the funky streets of Seventies London. Sometimes they'd introduce themselves to their quarry with lines like "we're The Sweeney, son - and we haven't had our dinner yet" before piling in, fists flying, to make the arrest. Violent, politically incorrect and still great entertainment, even after all these years.