Saturday 15 November 2008

Today we remember Ray Thaw


On 15th November 1944, Ray Thaw was born, today is the anniversary of Ray's birthday, and fans of John remember him with affection for all his help on the John Thaw site that he give. Rest in Peace Ray and today I'm also thinking of your family who will be remembering you today especially.

Friday 14 November 2008

New releases on DVD in FRANCE!!

My friend Theresa has told me that Martine who lives in France, says the following are now on DVD over there, so hope this is of some help to our French friends:
The Sweeney
Inspector Morse
Kavanagh QC
If anyone has any information on releases in your country let me know and I'll post it here for everyone else.

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 4

Hello Everyone, sorry i've not been around much, would prefer to have given you these top ten over ten days, but as my leg is rather sore for me to sit at a pc at the moment and also looking after a kitten who is rather frisky to say the least, i'm getting a little side-tracked. But normal service will resume shortly.


Thou Shalt Not Kill… (First screened on UK TV on 24th November 1975, writer Ranald Graham.) Can Regan ensure people's safety in a deadly hostage situation when a bank robbery goes wrong?
John is at his absolute best, and shows Regan's angry side for not allowing him to catch the villians before deaths happen, a great story, Ronald Lacey is brilliant as one of the robbers, his final scene is truly harrowing, but for his character understandable.

Monday 10 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 5 Regan




Regan… (First screened on UK TV on 4th June 1974, writer Ian Kennedy Martin.) Jack Regan is a good cooper, but his tough, intuitive style is becoming unfashionable in Scotland Yard seeking a new, technocratic image. When a policeman is mysteriously murdered, Regan breaks all the rules to find the killer but he finds there are men in the Flying Squad equally prepared to break him.

I've never forgot watching this for the first time when it was screened, I'd not long been out of hospital and to watch John for part of the evening really made my day. I said to my mum that I thought Regan would make a good series, so wasn’t surprised when it was.

I really love this story, about this loner policeman (Regan) who really wants to nick villains his way, and not always by the book, but realises that he also needs help even though he doesn't really want to ask Carter for it.


The music for this story was excellent and very moody to show how Regan felt and thought, seeing him with the old lady who had lost her grandson, was beautifully done, and so tender, only John could give Regan the roughness but also the gentle side of his character, and it shows in this story. Brilliant

Saturday 8 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 6 Messenger of the Gods


Ooops, what have you done?

Messenger of the Gods… (First screened on UK TV on 7th September 1978, writer Trevor Preston.) A huge consignment of mercury has been stolen and Regan and Carter believe 'Lukey Carter' was part of the gang. But Lukey has an alibi - on the night in question he was with a lady and it wasn't his wife-to-be.

This stars the lovely Diana Dors, and she steals this story from John and rightly so, I wouldn’t cross her, ha-ha!!

The scene where Regan helps carry her and puts her on the sofa and she’s sat on the cake, and gets up and slaps him, is so funny, but I bet that hurt, ouch!! Then poor Regan getting an ear full in the station from her, and doing a runner at the end from her with Carter when they see her coming to the station.
Sorry for delay in posting but kitty is rather a handful, and i'm getting seriously scratched and bitten, think i'll need new skin and blood transfusion by the time he's one, ha-ha!! Will try and post when i can, though also in a lot of pain with my leg too, never rains but pours oh well never mind, take care everyone.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 7 Nigh Out




Night Out… (First screened on UK TV on 6th February 1975, writer Troy Kennedy Martin.) The irresponsible, praise seeking Superintendent Grant, the head of a rival Crime Squad is aware that a team of villains is searching the contents of a bank vault.

For something special, but he won't act until he's traced the source of the radio signals that will lead him to their boss. Grant discovers that the woman who lives above the pub that is situated next door to the bank, and whose window the villains intend to use in their eventual rooftop getaway, is a face from Regan's past. Regan is drafted in against his will and forced to pay her an unexpected visit.
This is a very funny episode, especially as Regan doesn't want to be with his lady friend to start with, but then he gets into the swing of things and starts enjoying himself, even having her cook him a meal.
Great scene when Regan falls on the roof into the water, makes me laugh, and then when his lady friend puts his gun in the dishwasher, this is such a good episode love it!! Also love the outtakes for this episode that are on the boxset as a bonus, very funny.

Monday 3 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 8 Sweeney 2


I wouldn’t doze off if I were you!

Sweeney 2… (First released in UK cinemas 14th May 1977, writer Troy Kennedy Martin.) As his final instruction before being arrested and sent down for corruption, Chief Inspector Jupp (Denholm Elliott) tells Reagan to nail the gang responsible for some particularly violent bank robberies, one of whom uses a gold-plated sawn-off shotgun.

My two favourite ways of seeing John are in blue and wearing a leather jacket, and I get both in this film, ain’t I lucky!!

Also love the final scene where Regan and Carter are having a good time in the pub and Regan’s girlfriend arrives, and he’s so happy, great! It’s a real good feel type film this, especially the ending, as it was time for John to move onto other things and leave Regan behind.

Sunday 2 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 9 Faces




Faces… (First screened on UK TV on 8th September 1975, writer Murray Smith.) Three high profile robberies in the space of two days are the work of mercenaries hired by European political agitators. A covert government intelligence agency warns Regan off but he's determined to catch the villains.

I had to pick this because of the kitten that Colin Welland his holding and it curls up on his arm to go to sleep, so cute I love it! Also seeing John in those green overalls makes him look really sexy, and he really looks like a workman without trying.

Saturday 1 November 2008

My Top Ten The Sweeney Stories - No 10 I Want The Man

Well it looks like The Sweeney is what you have all voted to see, so here goes.
Hijack!
I Want The Man… (First screened on UK TV on 10th November 1975, writer Ray Jenkins.) Maynard a retired boxer is planning to do a job, using money from a jewellery hest to finance it, passed from villain Frankie Little to Maynard’s girlfriend in a restaurant. Regan is tipped off by Popeye, his informant, but when he gets there she has done a runner with the jewellery and Popeye has been abducted by Maynard’s men.

My ultimate favourite scene in this story is from the photo, where the squad are trying to guess what the villain’s plans are, Haskins says ‘Hijack’, to which Regan replies ‘Hello Guv’, with a straight face, wonderful!!


Another scene that gets to me is a tenderer but a horrible one for Regan because of his job, and that’s having to search underneath the baby and you can tell he hates himself for having to do it, but it’s his job.