|
The Sweeney
''The Sweeney'' is a British police drama television series focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as his partner, Detective Sergeant George Carter. It was produced by the Thames Television subsidiary Euston Films for broadcast on the ITV network in the United Kingdom from 2 January 1975 to 28 December 1978. The programme's title comes from the Cockney rhyming slang term " Sweeney Todd", used to refer to the Flying Squad by London's criminal fraternity in the mid 20th century. The popularity of the series in the UK led to two feature films '' Sweeney!'' (1977) and '' Sweeney 2'' (1978) both starring Thaw and Waterman, and a later film, '' The Sweeney'' (2012), starring Ray Winstone as Regan and Ben Drew as Carter. Background ''The Sweeney'' was developed from a one-off TV drama ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Kennedy Martin
Ian Kennedy Martin (born 23 May 1936) is a British television scriptwriter who created the action drama series ''The Sweeney'' (1975–78). Career He began his television career in the 1960s, first as a script editor on the military police drama series ''Redcap'' (1964)''Troy Kennedy Martin'', Lez Cooke, Manchester University Press, 2007, p.12 and then later as a writer on series such as ''The Troubleshooters'' (1965). In 1971 he worked on the popular BBC drama series ''The Onedin Line'', which ran for nine years until 1980. He also wrote the 1974 drama series '' The Capone Investment''. He is best known for creating the popular police action drama series ''The Sweeney'',''Best of British: Cinema and Society from 1930 to Present'', by Anthony Aldgate, IB Tauris, 1999, p. 143 produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs. He is also known for writing the 1975 action film '' Mitchell''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Feature Film
A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment theatrical program. The term ''feature film'' originally referred to the main, full-length film in a cinema program that included a short film and often a newsreel. Matinee programs, especially in the United States and Canada, in general, also included cartoons, at least one weekly serial film, serial and, typically, a second feature-length film on weekends. The first narrative feature film was the 70-minute ''The Story of the Kelly Gang'' (1906). Other early feature films include ''Les Misérables (1909 film), Les Misérables'' (1909), ''L'Inferno'', ''Defence of Sevastopol, The Adventures of Pinocchio (1911 film), The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1911), ''Oliver Twist (1912 American film), Oliver Twist'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ranald Graham
Ranald Ian Mackenzie Graham (3 January 1941 – 29 August 2010) was a Scottish writer, director and producer, best known for his writing work on the British television series ''The Sweeney'', '' The Professionals'' and ''Dempsey and Makepeace''. Early life Graham was born in Sandakan, North Borneo (now Sabah) on 3 January 1941 to Scottish parents. Just over a year later, on 19 January 1942, the Japanese landed at Sandakan as part of the invasion of Borneo that had commenced on 16 December 1941 when the Japanese took Miri and Seria in Sarawak. For the first few months the European civilians were interned in various private houses in Sandakan; in May 1942 they were transferred to the prison camp on Berhala Island in Sandakan Harbour. Here Graham, his older sister Sheena and their mother were separated from their father. After eight months, the women and children were sent from Berhala Island to Batu Lintang camp in Kuching, Sarawak arriving at the camp after a nine-day difficult ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roger Marshall (screenwriter)
Roger Marshall (15 March 1934 – 1 April 2020) was an English television screenwriter known as co-creator of the series '' Public Eye''. Early life Marshall was born in March 1934 in Leicester, England and educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.Gilbert, Pat ''Shut It! The Inside Story of the Sweeney'' Aurum Press 2010 Roger Marshall, television dramatist who created the gritty crime series Public Eye – obituary ''Daily Telegraph''. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2021. Career After leaving university, Marshall embarked on a writing career that included ''[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Troy Kennedy Martin
Troy Kennedy Martin (15 February 1932 – 15 September 2009) was a Scottish-born film and television screenwriter. He created the long-running BBC TV police series ''Z-Cars'' (1962–1978), and the award-winning 1985 anti-nuclear drama '' Edge of Darkness''. He also wrote the screenplay for the original version of ''The Italian Job'' (1969). His last film was ''Ferrari'' (2023), which was posthumously released. Biography Early life He was born in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, and educated at Finchley Catholic Grammar School and Trinity College, Dublin. He had a younger brother Ian, who is also a television writer best known for creating '' The Sweeney''. 1960s He began writing for BBC Television in 1958, beginning with the play '' Incident at Echo Six'', and he wrote four further plays for the BBC over the following three years, before in 1961 creating his first series, ''Storyboard'', a six-part anthology series that consisted both of original scripts and adaptations. The same y ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The French Connection (film)
''The French Connection'' is a 1971 American neo-noirSilver & Ward 1992 action thriller film directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, and Fernando Rey. The screenplay, by Ernest Tidyman, is based on Robin Moore's 1969 book of the same name about narcotics detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso. It tells the story of their fictional counterparts, New York Police Department detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo, in pursuit of wealthy French heroin smuggler Alain Charnier (played by Rey). At the 44th Academy Awards, the film earned eight nominations and won five, for Best Picture, Best Actor (Hackman), Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Scheider), Best Cinematography and Best Sound Mixing. Tidyman also received a Golden Globe Award nomination, a Writers Guild of America Award, and an Edgar Award for his screenplay. A sequel, '' French Con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Get Carter
''Get Carter'' is a 1971 British gangster film, gangster thriller film, written and directed by Mike Hodges in his directorial debut and starring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, John Osborne, Britt Ekland and Bryan Mosley. Based on Ted Lewis (writer), Ted Lewis's 1970 novel ''Jack's Return Home'', the film follows the eponymous Jack Carter (Caine), a London gangster who returns to his hometown in North East England after his brother's death. Suspecting foul play, and with vengeance on his mind, he investigates and interrogates, regaining a feel for the city and its hardened-criminal element. Producer Michael Klinger (producer), Michael Klinger optioned Lewis's novel shortly after its publication and made a deal with the ailing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to finance and release the film, making ''Get Carter'' the last project to be approved by the studio's MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood division before its closure. The production went from novel to finished film in 10 months, with pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Special Branch (TV Series)
''Special Branch'' is a British television series made by Thames Television for ITV and shown between 1969-1970 and 1973-1974. A police drama series, the action was centred on members of the Special Branch counterintelligence and counterterrorism department of the London Metropolitan Police. The first two series starred Derren Nesbitt, before the programme went through an overhaul, with George Sewell taking over as the new lead. Production The first two series were shot mainly in a studio on videotape with filmed location inserts; a standard method of the time but one which suffered from jarring differences in picture quality between interior and exterior scenes. The location scenes of some episodes were shot on outside broadcast cameras, leading to smoother transitions between location and studio work for those episodes. Series 1 and 2 starred Derren Nesbitt as Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Jordan, working for Detective Superintendent Eden ( Wensley Pithey) and subs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Redcap (TV Series)
''Redcap'' is a British television series produced by ABC Weekend TV and broadcast on the ITV network. It starred John Thaw as Sergeant John Mann, a member of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police and ran for two series and 26 episodes between 1964 and 1966. Other actors appearing in the series included Kenneth Colley, Keith Barron, Windsor Davies, David Battley, Allan Cuthbertson and Barry Letts. The series was created by Jack Bell and was written by Roger Marshall, Troy Kennedy-Martin, Jeremy Paul, Robert Holles and Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he rose to prominence as an icon of the British New Wave. He received numerous a ..., among others. Of the run, 23 of the 26 episodes still exist in their complete form (the missing/incomplete episodes are indicated below). Episodes Series 1 Seri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armchair Cinema
''Armchair Cinema'' is a British television drama anthology series of one-off plays that ran on the ITV network 1974–1975. It was produced by Euston Films in conjunction with Thames Television. The series was a spin-off from the long running anthology series ''Armchair Theatre''. A total of six episodes were produced over the course of one series. Background In 1971, Euston Films was established as a production company by three Thames executives Lloyd Shirley, George Taylor and Brian Tesler. It operated as a subsidiary of Thames Television until is dissolution in 1994. At the time, television drama was primarily a mix of studio based videotape and exteriors shot on 16mm film or outside broadcast videotape. They acknowledged that productions could be shot quicker and more economically by filming them entirely on 16mm film stock. The inspiration for Euston Films came from writer Trevor Preston, along with directors Jim Goddard and Tim Green whom were working at ABC Television, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plan B (musician)
Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew (born 22 October 1983), better known by his stage name Plan B, is an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and filmmaker. He first emerged as a rapper, releasing his debut album, ''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words'', in 2006. His second studio album, ''The Defamation of Strickland Banks'' (2010), was a Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B album, and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. He has also collaborated with other artists such as Chase & Status, most notably on the 2009 top ten single "End Credits". Drew has also had a successful film career as an actor, with roles in ''Adulthood (2008 film), Adulthood'' (2008), ''Harry Brown (film), Harry Brown'' (2009), ''4.3.2.1.'' (2010) and ''The Sweeney (2012 film), The Sweeney'' (2012). In 2012, he released the film ''Ill Manors'', which he wrote and directed. He also made the music, and released a Plan B Ill Manors (album), soundtrack album, which became his second number-one album. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage, and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is known for his "hard man" roles, usually delivered in his distinctive London accent. Besides playing gangster roles, Winstone has also worked in comedy ('' Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence'') and as the romantic lead (''Fanny and Elvis''). He starred as Henry VIII in the 2003 TV serial of the same name. He has appeared in many TV shows, including '' Robin of Sherwood'' (1984 to 1986), ''The Bill'', '' Boon'', '' Ever Decreasing Circles'', ''One Foot in the Grave'', '' Home To Roost'', '' Birds of a Feather'', '' Kavanagh QC'', and ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''. Winstone received a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination for his performance in '' Nil by Mouth'' (1997). He also starred in the British independent films '' Scum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
