He Kills Coppers (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Jake Arnott (novel)
Ed Whitmore (writer)

Release Date:

23 March 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Three policemen are brutally murdered during the 1966 World Cup celebrations. "He Kills Coppers" follows...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mel Raido	...	Billy Porter
Liam Garrigan	...	Jonathan Young
Rafe Spall	...	Frank Taylor
Steven Robertson	...	Tony Meehan
Tim Woodward	...	Nipper Reed
Kelly Reilly	...	Jeannie
Kemal Sylvester	...	Maltese
Glyn Grimstead	...	Alf Isaacs
Paul Ritter	...	Sid Franks
Robert Demeger	...	Bookie
Cameron Jack	...	Jimmy
Cavan Clerkin	...	Stan
Lucy Holt	...	Sandra
James Dreyfus	...	Julian
Paul Clayton	...	Tweed Suit

Runtime:

139 min (3 episodes)

Country:

UK

Company:

Ecosse Films

Trivia:

Jake Arnott's novel and this TV adaptation are based on the real-life murder of three police officers in Braybrook Street, Shepherd's Bush, London on 12 August 1966 by Harry Roberts, John Duddy and Jack Witney. Roberts is still in prison, Duddy died in prison and Witney was found beaten to death after his release from prison. The character of Billy Porter is based on Roberts.

Quotes:

Peter: Billy Porter is our friend, is our friend,is our friend,Billy Porter is our friend,he kills coppers!

Movie Connections:

Follows The Long Firm (2004) (TV)

Perfunctory

For a mainstream drama on ITV, 'He Kills Coppers' is remarkably harsh, complex and realistic; a long way from conventional serial-killer cliché. An enigmatic villain, and the under-Britain he inhabits, is set against a story of corrupt policeman: there's certainly promise in the premise. Unfortunately, the acting isn't brilliant (Steven Robinson as the journalist is particularly poor) and the direction relies too much on the soundtrack to insert some otherwise missing emotion. The real problem is that the story seems abbreviated; a succession of events enticingly set out but never fully elaborated; what's left is perfunctory, a barely illustrated outline. It's a shame, as I can believe there was potential here.