Die Füchse

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.

Ian and Troy Kennedy-Martin were the brothers who revolutionised crime drama on British TV in the 1970s. While Troy was a far more political animal, Ian concentrated on commercial TV.

However, that doesn't make The Sweeney any less authentic. In fact, many ex-Flying Squad officers have commented on its authenticity, helped by the fact that the producers used to pay real policeman in used fivers as 'technical advisors'.

The Sweeney represents Scotland Yard's first proper attempt to stem the rise of violent robberies following the oil crisis and economic slump of the 1970s. It represents the time before the Police And Criminal Evidence Acts changed the face of policing for ever in Britain - a far more free-wheeling, corruption laden time.

Policing is shown as hard, tedious work where moral dilemmas must be confronted all the time and there are no sudden leaps in detection, just stress and danger.

Particularly impressive in the Sweeney are the number of times that firearms are used - this was really true in the Flying Squad - even back in the good old days...

After a hard day at work, I like nothing better than to pour myself a large Scotch, settle down on the sofa, switch on the DVD player and tell the bird to shut it as I watch those diamond geezers from the flying squad getting all tooled up for another blag. This series is without a doubt an absolute classic and if you remember the seventies - this was essential viewing. John Thaw's Regan and Dennis Waterman's Carter were no nonsense coppers who went up against a London full of well dodgy villains. Sawn-off shotguns, pick axe handles, car chases, fights, flared trousers and sideburns galore as our heros battle and bring to justice the various blaggers operating on their manor while at the same time drowning themselves in booze, smoking like chimneys and chatting up the birds. Gloriously politically incorrect this was a series which we will sadly never see the like again. In a word, magnificent!

I was amazed recently when watching a television programme on a debate about good TV and The Sweeney was completely slated!! The content in those episodes is as fresh today as it were then and the violent feel throughout most instalments has some how become more menacing as time as moved on. You see this series is about real Brut swilling Coppers who new exactly how to wear their bell bottoms. This series was about as good as it gets and I would go as far to say that after this and The Proffesionals latter police style programmes look plain. Dated maybe but like a fine rolls Royce...never out of fashion for those who are lucky enough to see one.

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.