Displaying items by tag: Denholm Elliot

SWEENEY 2

UK, 1978, 109 minutes, Colour.

John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Denholm Elliot, Ken Hutchison, Anna Gael, Barry Stanton, Nigel Hawthorne.

Directed by Tom Clegg.

The Sweeney was a popular television series in 1975 to 1978, 53 episodes. It starred John for and Dennis Waterman. It featured especially  police investigations in London and beyond. It was created by Ian Kennedy Martin and many of the screenplay is written by Troy Kennedy Martin, including this spin-off film.

The first spin-off film came in 1977, Sweeney, large cast including some from the series. The second spin-off, Sweeney 2, in 1978 with the key leads but, mostly, with a different cast. It featured a cameo by Denholm Elliot as a corrupt police officer sent to jail, interrogated by the lead investigator, John Regan (John Thaw) as well as featuring, before Yes, Minister, Nigel Hawthorne as a police superior.

There is a lot of action, daring robberies, car crashes and chases, a long sequence in the disconnecting of a bomb in a hotel, lots of camaraderie and jokes amongst the squad, scenes with the two central characters, and a visit in Malta where the International gang of thieves created a home and a commune with their wives and children.

As a film in itself, it seems fairly conventional. Dennis Waterman had been a child star and made his mark with The Sweeney as well as Mind and New Tricks. John Thaw had appeared in many films, 53 episodes of The Sweeney, 27 episodes of Kavanagh QC and, of course, 33 episodes of Morse. His character in Sweeney seems conventional and somewhat callow compared with the depths in the writing of the character of Morse, his partnership with Lewis, his police style and investigations as well as his personal life.

PACIFIC DESTINY

UK, 1956, 97 minutes, Colour.

Denholm Elliott, Susan Stephen, Felix Felton, Peter Bathurst, Clifford Buckton, Michael Hordern, Gordon Jackson.

Directed by Wolf Rilla.

Very much a film of the mid-1950s. It presupposes the British Empire and colonialism – though with some more benign perspectives. But it was released as a time when there was growing movement for independence, especially in African countries. At the same time, Simba, was released showing the impact of the Mau Mau and movements for independence in Kenya.

The film is based on a memoir by Arthur Grimble who was sent, rather young, to colonies in the Pacific, “wet behind the ears” as the authorities would have thought, making mistakes, growing to appreciate the local culture, becoming something of a mediator. His played by Denholm Elliot at the beginning of his career, not such a credible screen presence in this role as some of his contemporaries like Dirk Bogarde or Donnell Sinden or Peter Finch. (Denholm Elliot was far more successful in a long career roles, principal and support.)

Susan Stephen, popular at the time, plays his pregnant wife and support. Michael Hordern does his thing as the crusty retiring administrator there are some moments with Gordon Jackson. Some British actors combined with Pacific actors to play the leads and the members of the various tribal factions in the islands.

The setting is 1925. The presence of the British taken for granted. The indigenous people of the various islands shown with some of their culture, conflict with the British, some reconciliation with the British and a general perspective that there should be some respect and understanding by those in the position of overlords with those whom they are purporting to serve.