User Reviews

THE SWEENEY starts off with a bang with this forceful first episode that has all of the classic ingredients already in place. It really does hit the ground running by having the boys tackling a trio of criminals in the form of guest stars Alan Lake, Brian Blessed and Ian Hendry, and what an eclectic trio that is! Dennis Waterman barely gets a look in here, but that's because the screen is dominated by John Thaw's forceful turn. The gritty, on the street vibe must have wowed '70s audiences and the presence of the likes of June Brown in the cast give this a real kitchen sink vibe.

Following the successful "Armchair Cinema" television pilot Regan, Euston Films got the nod from Thames Television to go into production withThe Sweeney in 1974. Filmed on location around London (mainly Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush, Fulham and Chelsea/Kensington) on 16mm film. Office scenes were filmed from Euston Films production offices at Colet Court, Hammersmith Road, London.

Euston Films other successes were Van der Valk (1977), Minder (1979-1994), Quatermass (1979), Danger UXB (1979), and Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983).

The three main characters in the Ringer (and the subsequent four The Sweeney series) were Det. Chief Insp. Frank Haskins - Garfield Morgan,Det. Sgt. George Carter - Dennis Waterman and. Det. Insp. Jack Regan - John Thaw. These were original characters from the pilot episode Regan,working in the Fying Squad, a police unit specifically investigating robberies in the capital. The Sweeney had a fearsome reputation among criminals as a no-nonsense, tough group of armed coppers, which was unusual for British police at the time to be armed. Later eisodes showed the main characters had a keen interest sexual liasions with any female who offered an interest. Macho stuff but the women didnt complain and it quite realistic how a single guy might pull a single woman in a public environment.

The first episode Ringer was a corker, using well known established actors usually as the baddies to get the series off to a good start. Brian Blessed is the king pin criminal, as Frank Kemble, Ian Hendry henchman, as Dave Brooker and Alan Lake as. John Merrick. Many British actors got some screen time in The Sweeney in the start of their careers and went on to be household names, like June Brown (Eastenders), aka Mrs Martin in Ringer.

In this episode, without spoling the plot, Kemble is planning a robbery, although he is aware he is being monitored by the Sweeney. But he is smart and clever and always evades the police. Fatefully, a small time crook in the shadow of his famoius elder brother, steals Regans car which contains surveilance evidence on Kemble. It later comes to Kembles attention that the Sweeney are really on to him but the plan is in full swing and no time to back out. There's chases and fights around this plot line, which pretty much defines the format for all 4 series. The Sweeney became well known for its car chases and stunts, usually culminating in a right royal punch up where Regan and Carter got just as battered and bruised as the criminals...

Even in this first episode, you feel the team were established colleagues. A testimonial to the quality of the acting of Garfield, Thaw and Waterman. It could have been the 100th episode, you wouldnt have known.

The filming in this episode was around Dulwich and East Dulwich in london and shows the area quite well and locals would recognise many of the landmarks, though Kembles garage in now a block of flats. The great thing about the filimng is it shows the heart of working London as it really was, warts and all in the 1970's. Many areas were still derelict after war damage, even in the 1970's. It reminds us of how London and the UK in general really was before the developers took over, Londoners ejected for the overseas property owners and mass EU immigration.

Ringer was the very first episode and by Series 4 in 1978 very little about London had changed. A great visual time capsule for the period.

Hard hitting classic Brit tv. Whats not to like. 10/10.

RINGER – 1975 –

This is the pilot episode from the 1975-78 UK Police series, "The Sweeney". This series stars John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as members of London's elite, Flying Squad Police unit. The squad was used for the pursuit of the more violent and nasty of the villain crowd.

Detective Inspector Thaw is on surveillance of some local criminal types, Brian Blessed and his number one, Ian Hendry. He is taking long-range photos of their meetings etc. Word on the street is they are up to something big.

Thaw stops on the way back to the station to make a quick phone call to his girl, Jill Townsend. While on the phone, two local lowlifes, Steve Gardner and Colin Prockter steal his car. In the back is all the paperwork and photos on the surveillance job on Blessed.

This turn of events does not go over at all well with Thaw's boss, Garfield Morgan. He sends Thaw and Detective Sgt. Waterman to beat the bushes and find the car and photos etc.

The two crooks, Gardner and Prockter make a living stealing cars and then selling off the parts. Gardner finds the photos of Blessed and quickly runs then over to Blessed's place. Blessed gives the man a couple of fives and calls his man, Hendry, in for a chat. "Why are the cops watching us?" "Do they know about the upcoming job? The two talk the matter over and decide it is just John Law keeping normal tabs on them.

Thaw and Waterman have tracked down the car thieves and raided their chop shop. Gardner tells the Police that he sold the photos to Blessed, but not the cameras or other papers. He also tells Thaw and company there will be a big job pulled the next day. But he has no idea what it is.

Thaw and the boys now put their heads together to try and figure out what the crooks upcoming job is. Then it hits them, and the light bulbs go off. The next day there is a big time crook being transported to court. The job must be to hit the transfer truck and free the heavy mob man.

Sure enough, the next day the transfer vehicle is stopped and several shotgun armed men break open the back. The van is however filled with Flying Squad men who quickly pile out and stick pistols in the gunmen's faces. Blessed and Hendry do not come quietly and rounds are exchanged, with Blessed being killed.

Good Show! (colour)