Hearts and Minds

I love 'The Sweeney' and I love Eric & Ernie but this is pretty dire stuff I'm sad to say, I think it is fair to suggest that by series 4 the show was running out of steam and on a couple of occasions the decision to shoehorn comedy into the plots (see Diana Dors and 'Jack Regal' also!) didn't really work...the chase at the end of this episode is particularly painful to watch when you compare to some of the genuinely gritty stuff that preceded it

The series also suffered from missing Garfield Morgan as Haskins far too often...

The Sweeney was outstanding more often than not but this is an episode that really wouldn't have seen the light of day 2-3 years earlier...

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are the greatest comedy duo that Britain has ever produced and I'm at a slight loss to understand why . Certainly they were infinitely better than comedy double acts with two straight men such as Cannon and Ball and Little and Large who consciously tried to emulate the public affection held for Eric and Ernie by the British public . One perhaps can speculate that the good natured humour of the duo made for safe family entertainment in the 1970s , a decade that with hindsight was very much a cynical and violent era where television was concerned . THE SWEENEY personified this era perfectly where it became an instant classic

TV stars would clamber to get on the Morecambe And Wise Christmas specials and that included John Thaw and Dennis Waterman who appeared in the 1976 Christmas show . Returning the favour and highlighting that Morecambe and Wise had defected from the BBC to Thames TV this episode of THE SWEENEY has the duo appearing as themselves which makes for a very strange episode that doesn't really feel like an episode of the show . It's not meta-fictional send up but the episode starts with a brutal attempted burglary that sees a policeman seriously injured and a robber dead emulating the tough gritty aspect the show was famous for . The episode introduces a rather unconvincing plot involving international commie criminals trying to get their hands on a new super-drug and the episode climaxes on a tongue in cheek chase sequence with Eric and Ernie . Not to be taken seriously Hearts And Minds makes for one of the more memorable of the show while paradoxically isn't really a classic episode

When The Sweeney was at its brilliant best, the humour was a natural by-product of great writing and acting, but a few episodes like this one were played mainly for laughs and the results could be dire. 'Hearts And Minds' is really just a rather feeble vehicle for Morecambe & Wise (complete with fake audience laughter) who'd just joined ITV, and whoever wrote their lines for this one was certainly no Eddie Braben.

Many Sweeney fans agree that series 4 was the weakest, with too much emphasis on comedy, and the long absence of Frank Haskins; they even spoiled the classic opening & closing credits. Fortunately, John Thaw and Dennis Waterman could see the writing on the wall by now, and at least went out on a high with 'Jack Or Knave'.

The one with Morecambe and Wise and it all ends a little bit fishy.

If the final series of The Sweeney had a bit more emphasis on comedy. This wanted to bring sunshine.

Professor Frederick Busby has created an innovative heart drug and the British government does not seem to be too interested in funding his research.

A burglar has broken into his home and has died. Busby has disappeared and apparently the Americans were wooing him for his research.

Regan and Carter are on the case with the British Secret Service not so far behind. Regan is surprised to find that the Busby's had an open marriage.

Mrs Busby lives with her black lover. Regan discovers that Professor Busby is having an affair with an assistant to Morecambe and Wise.

I did wonder why Professor Busby needed to have a cryptic photo of the showgirl if they had an open marriage.

The main plot with Busby, his pills and some Arabs was humdrum and incongruous. Mainly as it took a back seat to Morecambe and Wise.

In those days it would be easy to believe that the comedy legends were just like their screen persona behind the scenes. Anyone who met comedian Frank Carson would attest to that.

The end scenes were farcical. With Morecambe and Wise involved in a car chase. It seems like an end of term party episode where everyone wanted to let their hair down.

Even Haskins turns up for a few minutes. The boys a fool!

Sure this steers very close to becoming a parody. BUT it was designed to give the audience that watched the Sweeney a chance to relax and enjoy their show.

Eric and Ern never were actors - their own films were pretty dire, weren't they? But here is a chance to shine in a one off (despite the clamour for violence) TV episode.

Not tongue-in-cheek but hardly believable in the macho world of Regan and Carter.

The script IS tight as per most Sweeneys. The acting is top-notch (excluding Eric and Little Ern!)

It isn't full of gags and I reckon (having been a cop myself) this actually portrays celebrities egging and over acting within their own celebrity egos when they meet real coppers.

So it's actually NOT that bad. I am glad it was made. Fun over gravitas? You decide.

Regan, Carter, Haskins and a cameo from the delightful actor Edward Hardwicke that get to meet Morecombe and Wise, so honestly what is NOT to like?