Sweeney!
| Industry | Film and television production |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970s |
| Products | Television series, films |
| Parent | EMI Films |
Sweeney! is a 1977 British action crime drama that serves as a continuation of the ITV television series The Sweeney (1975–1978). The film's commercial success prompted the release of a follow-up, Sweeney 2, in 1978.
Plot
Detective Inspector Jack Regan and Detective Sergeant George Carter become entangled in a political controversy involving Charles Baker, an emerging figure in the British government. Baker is on the verge of securing a significant agreement with OPEC intended to stabilize the oil market and bolster Britain's international influence. His affairs are managed by his American press aide, Elliot McQueen.
Following Regan's two-week suspension due to a drunk driving charge, he launches an investigation into the suspicious death of a sex worker connected to both Baker and McQueen. This inquiry triggers a sequence of murders, placing Regan in opposition not only to criminal elements but also to high-ranking officials within the Metropolitan Police and British intelligence agencies.
Despite sustaining a foot injury, Regan returns from suspension to reunite with Carter. At The Tower Hotel in London, as they prepare to apprehend McQueen and his associates, McQueen is assassinated by a sniper operating from a black taxi. DS Carter remarks, "They didn’t kill him; you did!"
Cast
- John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan
- Dennis Waterman as Detective Sergeant George Carter
- Barry Foster as Elliot Wainwright McQueen
- Ian Bannen as Charles Baker MP
- Colin Welland as Francis ("Frank") Chadwick
- Diane Keen as Bianca Hamilton
- Michael Coles as Johnson
- Joe Melia as Ronnie Brent
- Brian Glover as Mac
- Lynda Bellingham as Janice Wyatt
- Morris Perry as Flying Squad Commander
- Michael Latimer as P.P.S.
- Johnny Shannon as Scotland Yard Duty Sgt.
- Nadim Sawalha as Chairman of the Oil Producers' Conference
Production
Produced by Euston Films, the company responsible for the original TV series, Sweeney! was part of a £6 million package comprising six films announced in 1975 by Nat Cohen of EMI Films. Director David Wickes convinced Euston Films to move forward by presenting it as an "X rated" feature, thereby allowing content that exceeded television restrictions. Enthusiasm from Cohen led EMI to fully finance the project.
The production was conducted efficiently and economically, reusing many cast members and crew from the series. Although Ranald Graham received official screenplay credit, Wickes and Ted Childs undertook significant rewrites that incorporated themes related to OPEC and corporate power while enhancing Regan’s prominence. Released in 1977 after the third season of the TV show, the film sought to leverage the series’ popularity by delivering a commercially appealing cinematic experience. Unlike most TV-to-film adaptations of the period, which were predominantly comedic, Sweeney! aimed at an international market with its action-oriented approach.
While several supporting roles featured actors from the television series, Garfield Morgan—who portrayed Regan’s superior Haskins—was absent. True to Euston Films’ style, much of the filming took place on location. The movie included explicit violence and nudity, resulting in an X-certificate rating in the United Kingdom.
The narrative echoes political scandals such as the Profumo affair but intensifies them with a violent plot centered on global energy concerns and oil politics, reflecting significant international issues relevant to its business environment.
Reception
The movie received acclaim for effectively embodying the essence and environment of the original television series. Its commercial success led to the production of a follow-up, Sweeney 2, which featured sequences filmed in the Mediterranean region.
When announcing the sequel, Barry Spikings from EMI remarked that the initial film "performed well, so we are responding to audience demand by producing another installment."
David Wickes commented:
The film generated substantial revenue. EMI Films experienced a 1000% return—earning £10 for every pound invested. It became their most lucrative project in several years and provided the financial backing for The Deer Hunter (1978). I still possess a handwritten note from EMI documenting the first week's earnings at the ABC cinema on Shaftesbury Avenue, where Sweeney! debuted—approximately £120,000 from a single venue.