canndyman Reviews

Catweazle: The Heavenly Twins (1971) Season 2, Episode 3

The Twin Dilemma!

[8/10 · 21 November 2023]

In this third episode, Catweazle is settling into his new home at Duck Halt, while mindful of the need to locate the next sign of the zodiac he requires - the Heavenly Twins of Gemini.

Over at King's Farthing, preparations are under way for a big outdoor party to celebrate Cedric's birthday, with lots of local children invited - with Cedric not 100% as enthusiastic about it as he maybe should be!

Just by chance, Catweazle bumps into the children's magician (Vandanti) who has been invited to be the entertainment at Cedric's party - and it's not long before they both rock up at King's Farthing, with the magic show maybe not going entirely as planned...

This is another memorable and fun episode, and great to see Paul Eddington on good form as Vandanti.

You do wonder early on how Catweazle will actually find the sign he's looking for this time - but once again, fate works in his favour.

The actual magic show itself is funny and silly - I remember my young son really giggling loudly along with it when I first showed him this episode.

Catweazle also comes up with a little song near the start of the episode - the magic riddle set to the tune of his own theme music, which is another nice touch.

Catweazle: The Magic Riddle (1971) Season 2, Episode 1

Great start to season 2!

[8/10 · 10 November 2023]

It's good to see Catweazle back for a second season, & I remember loving this at the time.

At the beginning, he's back in Norman times (after dematerializing at the end of season 1), and it's time for new adventures.

This time, he lands in the present day at the estate of King's Farthing mansion, where he yet again befriends a boy - this time young bespectacled Cedric (in the shape of The Railway Children's Gary Warren).

He also strangely encounters a couple of familiar faces from his own time in the present day too...

This new season is based around the eponymous 'magic riddle' - a flying spell that requires Catweazle to gather all the signs of the zodiac in order to make his wish come true.

He collects one each week - the first sign 'the ram' is what he needs here to get started.

Elspet Gray, Moray Watson & Peter Butterworth are all great here in supporting roles - as they will be throughout this series.

I showed the whole of Catweazle to my son when he was little, and he was absolutely captivated by it - as I was too as a child. And we later got to meet Geoffrey and some of the cast, which was so lovely.

Classic children's TV doesn't get much better than this.

Catweazle: Duck Halt (1971) Season 2, Episode 2

Classic episode!

[8/10 · 10 November 2023]

I loved seeing this episode for the first time back in 1971, on the LWT re-run in the mid-80s - & now on DVD with my wife!

In this second story of season 2, Catweazle is determined to continue his quest for the signs of the zodiac, and hopes the reluctant Cedric will help with the next sign, the bull.

There's lots of memorable scenes in this, & a couple that definitely have stayed lodged in my mind since 1971!

We get yet another future member of the Last of the Summer Wine actors in the shape of Bill Owen as a rag & bone man.

Catweazle also needs a new den to call his home and, after casting the runes earlier for enlightenment, it all comes to a very memorable ending.

I loved the jaunty incidental music too (reused from an episode in season 1), which evokes the summer fun of the story.

Def one of my favourite episodes!

A Little Princess (1986–1987)

One of my all-time favourite TV series

[10/10 · 8 May 2023]

I absolutely loved this London Weekend Television series when it was first screened back in 1987, and hoped one day it would be repeated. It never was to my knowledge - not on ITV anyway, which seemed such a shame.

I would have loved to have shown it to my son when he was little!

This is such a beautifully crafted and well-made version of the classic story, and I would say the definitive version.

Amelia Shankley is perfect in the role of the ill-fated Sara Crewe, and lends the character just the right measure of gentleness, tenderness & humility.

Equally, Maureen Lipman excels here too as the cruel and nasty schoolmistress Miss Minchin, who seems to delight in her chance of humiliating Sara and making her life a complete misery.

There are some very bleak moments along the way - but as a viewer you are rooting for Sara all the way, as she accepts her situation and tries to stay positive and keep it together.

This story had a huge impact on me in 1987, and stayed very clearly in my mind all these years - hoping one day I could see it again.

I was so delighted to finally find a German DVD online (36 years later!) and to watch it again with my wife.

It was just a good as ever, and we were both crying by the end!

She also remembers one of the actresses from Sara's class being in her year at school, and her talking about the show at the time.

I believe it's now on Britbox, so hopefully more people now will check out this absolute gem of a programme.

Railway Children (2022)

It didn't 'transport' me...

[4/10 · 21 November 2022]

Oh dear - that's all I can say! I've loved the original Railway Children film since I was a child, and we often give it an airing around Christmas time.

It was magical, poignant, thoughtful and sometimes funny in places too - beautifully filmed and directed, and real treat to watch.

When I heard about this new film was a little concerned - but seeing that Jenny Agutter was 'on board' was something of a relief - surely she wouldn't involve herself in something below-par?

Well, the sad thing is that this film very much is. I guess it was well intentioned, but it completely misses the mark of what made the first film so special.

We have the inevitable 'woke' storyline - it's well-meaning, but feels very forced, as does this whole film.

No one really stands out in the cast - and a young American soldier central to the story sounds like an English boy trying to do an American accent (I assume he was English!).

The other children all feel like 21st century children dressed up in 1940s clothing - the sense of history just doesn't sparkle.

The poignancy and wonder of the railway that was so effective in the original is lost here - the railway almost becoming incidental to the main story, such as it is.

There's some quite unpleasant scenes too - this doesn't really feel like a family film you could watch at Christmas.

All this film will do is frustrate and confound lovers of the original film, and bore anyone else who might happen to find it.

A real missed opportunity to do something special.

I Spit on Your Grave: Vengeance Is Mine (2015)

7 out of 10... for the first hour only!

[7/10 · 3 August 2022]

This film acts as a direct sequel to the first film, and it was great to see Jennifer Hills back as Sarah Butler.

Still haunted by what happened, we find her now living in a cheap downtown apartment and attending a weekly rape counseling meeting with other victims.

At the meeting, she soon befriends the feisty Maria, and is inspired to find a new confidence in herself.

Maria encourages Sarah to be more feisty too - but Sarah is seemingly more restrained.

When Maria mentions that she believes that revenge is the best way to serve justice on the rape crimes that the police and courts fail to do, just how far will she go and will it stir up latent feelings in Sarah?

The first hour of this film was great, and I have to say I was surprised at how good it actually was.

I liked the idea of Sarah getting back on with her life with a new office job, and attending the meetings with other victims.

As it went on, I kind of had my own conclusion to the film mapped out in my head - but, unfortunately in the final half hour, that's where it all goes horribly wrong and the film goes off the rails.

Without wanting to give spoilers, let's just say that the central premise is total to overplayed and exploited to the point of stupidity. In the first film, Sarah was stealthy, clever and totally in control of her actions - but here she is totally out of character and out of control, and the silly ending will leave you feeling cheated.

7 out of 10 for the first hour - zero for the rest!

The Sweeney: Stoppo Driver (1975) Season 1, Episode 10

Driven by you...

[9/10 · 13 July 2022]

This is a cracking episode, and one of the highlights of an excellent first season.

It concerns squad driver Cooney (played by Billy Murray) who's standing in for Regan's regular driver Bill.

In the opening sequence, Regan urges Cooney to 'make a name for himself' as they go in hot pursuit of a Jag full of of blaggers, and the ensuing car chase is genuinely exciting, edge-of-the-seat stuff.

The driver of the Jag is fatally injured and his accomplices get away with the loot - but it seems Coomey's driving skills haven't gone unnoticed to a certain rather sinister third party...

This episode certainly delivers some thrills with the car chase sequences - many of which are what this show is often best remembered for.

There's some genuine shocks too, and some very gritty scenes that portray some real tragedy (without wanting to give too much of the plot away).

The gorgeous Nicola Paget is wonderful here as a bitchy and scheming gangster's daughter, and the whole set-up is clever and very watchable.

There's still room for some humour, as Regan and Carter conspire to get Haskins tipsy at Cooney's wedding reception! We also get the obligatory bottle of scotch being retrieved from the desk drawer as Regan & Carter enjoy a drink on the job.

All in all, an action-packed, tense and memorable episode that showcases everything that The Sweeney did so well.

The Sweeney: Thin Ice (1975) Season 1, Episode 3

Gone to the dogs...

[6/10 · 6 July 2022]

This episode concerns flashy gangster Gerald Bishop (with a great performance from Alfred Marks) whom Regan has been trying to nail for years... just as he's about to get his man, Bishop sneaks out of the country on a boat to his French Riviera retreat.

But Bishop does have a weak spot - his love for his beloved dog Archimedes, who he's left behind in kennels with the hope of a flunkey covertly delivering him back to his master.

This story is probably my least favourite of all (even including the Morecambe & Wise episode), and stands out like a sore thumb in what was a very strong first season, packed with classic stories.

It's almost as if the scriptwriter hasn't fully grasped the concept of the show, and it's played mostly for laughs.

Brian Glover does well as Bishop's hapless flunkey, but it all feels a bit laboured and unbelievable.

The best part for me was the running gag concerning Haskins' expensive 'listening device' - the banter between he and Regan being genuinely funny and in keeping with the show.

There's quite an unpleasant event though towards the end (off-camera) that that would leave even the most hardcore Sweeney viewer feeling pretty disgusted - it certainly did for me.

All in all, a pretty tame episode that is in no way representative of what this great show could do.

The Sweeney: Contact Breaker (1975) Season 1, Episode 12

Another top-notch episode from season 1

[9/10 · 22 June 2022]

The Sweeney are staking out at bank that Haskins' snout has told them is about to be blagged - unfortunately, it's the wrong bank, and a neighboring bank is robbed instead to the tune of £200k in cash.

The blaggers are clever in how they broke in and disabled the alarm system, and Reagan suspects it could be an inside job. The only clue is that the elderly security man who was tied up heard the name of the man who fixed the alarm - 'Danny'.

One local 'wire man' fits the bill - Danny Keever (played by Warren Clarke). The only problem is that he's already in prison (sent down by Haskins), but is on weekend release, and also on day release to work at an electronics company. Could he have taken part in the blag - thus potentially jeopardizing his 'soft' sentence... or, as Reagan suspects, has he been fitted-up?

This is a cracking episode with all the elements that made this show so good. The pre-credits sequence of the stocking-masked robbers breaking into the vault gets things off to an explosive start, and we can see we're dealing with real pros.

It's another episode where Reagan has to trust his instincts, despite interference from Haskins who, as usual, wants to take the easy options and undermine him.

I loved the piano music that accompanied the gang leader's sedate drive to the newsagent's in his Jag - once again the incidental music is well-chosen & complements the action in a clever & unusual way.

The story has plenty of twists and turns, and keeps you entertained and intrigued right until the end.

Highly recommend!

Fear in the Night (1972)

One of the best 70s Hammer films

[8/10 · 19 June 2022]

I didn't get to see this film until 1983, when it was on TV - and it came as a very pleasant surprise, and has remained a firm favourite ever since.

The story is loosely based on the classic French film 'Les Diaboliques' - a theme earlier explored by Hammer in Taste of Fear.

In this film, newlyweds Peggy (Judy Geeson) & Robert (Ralph Bates) move into a lodge house in the grounds of a sprawling private school, where Robert has a new teaching post. The school is empty due to the school holidays, but headmaster Michael (a great turn by Peter Cushing) is in-situ.

The slightly mentally unstable Peggy is being stalked by an unknown attacker who has seemingly followed her to her new home, and this doesn't help her mental state.

When she finally cracks and takes action, what will the consequences be?

I love the atmosphere of this film, which is beautifully directed by Jimmy Sangster (who also wrote the screenplay). The empty school feels foreboding, and it's also great to see Joan Collins in full bitch mode!

Lovers of 'Avengerland' (such as me) will love all the locations around Elstree, such as the Haberdashers' Aske's School, Tykes Water and Bhaktivedanta Manor (just before it was purchased by Beatle George Harrison as the UK branch of the Hare Krishna movement as their HQ).

The film almost seems like a prelude too to Hammer's 80s TV series - being set in the Home Counties in contemporary England, where sinister events often lurk behind seemingly normal people and events.

It's a pity Hammer didn't make more horror films in this vein in the troubled 70s - this film certainly shows a lot of promise, and is definitely among my favourites.

The Sweeney: Cover Story (1975) Season 1, Episode 8

Poignant & Memorable Episode

[8/10 · 1 June 2022]

This has always been one of my favourite episodes, and is another excellent entry in a very strong opening season.

The story concerns pretty journalist Sandy Williams (wonderfully played by the gorgeous Prunella Gee) who seems to somehow be involved in the proceeds of a blag that have gone missing. When an article of hers is published in a glossy mag concerning the aforesaid crime, she seems to know more than even the police - and gets a visit from The Sweeney.

Regan however falls for her charms very quickly, and is torn between his feelings for Sandy and his responsibility for locating the stolen loot. But just how involved is she?

The scenes involving Regan and Sandy are a joy to watch, and there's a real chemistry between them. She reels him in perfectly, and it seems he's very happy about it too - and wants to please her. The plot is intriguing as we want to think Sandy isn't involved - but all the evidence would seem to point otherwise.

Regan is desperate to clear her name - but can he put the love of a woman before his job as as a DI?

There's still room for fun as well with the flamenco dance in the restaurant - as well as a car chase towards the end involving the local fuzz, involving Regan with Carter in his own unmarked car.

This is an engaging and poignant episode that shows a new side to Regan & the show itself, and we get to really feel for him as a human being - with human frailties.

Doctor Who: Robot: Part One (1974) Season 12, Episode 1

Shaky start for the 'new' Doctor...

[6/10 · 31 May 2022]

Jon Pertwee was a very tough act to follow, and it's clear the producers didn't just want an actor who was a carbon copy of Jon.

Having said that, Tom Baker's highly eccentric and slightly arrogant take on the role certainly alienated me (excuse the pun!) at first in 1974 - although I did grow to accept him as the Doctor in time.

This could almost be a Jon Pertwee story, what with it being a 'Unit' based one. The robot itself looks good, and the creepy 'point of view' shots as it breaks into the secret base add a sense of mystery and unease.

The story falls down though later with some very poor CSO filming of the robot (which looked pretty bad even by 1975 standards), and it ends up making this feel a bit like a cheapjack production.

But, even though this was ultimately a rather weak opening story, the rest of the season is generally very good, and really won me over to the new Doctor after feeling a bit disappointed with Robot.

I guess it had to start somewhere - but much better was soon to come.

The Sweeney: Golden Boy (1975) Season 1, Episode 9

One of the best episodes!

[9/10 · 25 May 2022]

This is a another sure-fire classic from the first season which really delivers in every department.

The story concerns the slimy crook Max Deller (beautifully played by Dudley Sutton) who has cooked up an ingeneius scheme to steal a horde of gold ingots from a vault at a London securities firm - all the while evading the company's own security staff, who have no idea the blag is happening right under their noses.

The plot has some nice touches - the blackmail by Deller on his former Borstall cellmate-come-good - and the unfortunate grass he uses to get his man.

The running-joke here involving a straight-laced clerk who's inspecting the squad's paperwork is a real delight - Regan wants shot of him, and goes to humorous lengths to undermine the poor man's work & make him indisposed!

The blag itself is clever - you have to admire Deller's preparation and handiwork, and you almost want him to get away with it.

A great climax too where Regan (unusually) takes the wheel of the famous Ford Consul to chase down his man.

This is archetypal Sweeney, and has all the key elements that made the show so good.

The Stud (1978)

Laughably dated

[5/10 · 23 May 2022]

I'd managed to avoid this film for decades but, in the end, my curiosity got the better of me and I thought I'd take a look.

My expectations were set pretty low, which was just as well as it's laughably naff, cheesy and low budget.

I won't go into the plot (such as it is), but it's really a vehicle for Joan Collins to hone her bitchy cougar persona to the hilt - while getting caught up in a predictably doomed love and lust tangle.

Oliver Tobias is suitably sullen as her love-interest, and the sex and orgy scenes (which presumably at the time were very racy and made the film so popular for cinema goers) are now very tame and even a bit silly.

There is of course the late 70s disco soundtrack which adds to the cheese - as well as providing lengthy scenes of disco dancing in a nightclub that just feel like padding in a film that was pretty thin on the ground to start with!

Some of the locations are good (villages in Berks & Bucks, and the indoor swimming pool), but as whole this film is extremely tedious, risible, and very much a bi-product of its time.

The Sweeney: The Placer (1975) Season 1, Episode 7

Superb episode!

[9/10 · 4 May 2022]

'The Placer' has always been one of my favourite episodes, and makes for a memorable entry in season 1.

Regan goes undercover as a lorry driver, hoping to attract the attentions of a racketeering gang who arrange to hijack lorries - after doing deals with drivers to 'lose' their loads.

We see him in the pre-credits sequence sat in his cab with a tarty hitchhiker (brilliantly played by Susan Tracy), as she sizes him up as a potential next 'victim' for the gang - just what Regan wants.

He is soon hired, but comes a cropper at the hands of the gang's brutal leader (great performance here too from John Forgeham). But who is really running the racket - and can Regan find out in time before an increasingly nervous Haskins takes him off the case?

This is just an excellent episode from start to finish, packed with intrigue, suspense, violence and a dash of humour along the way.

We have Regan undercover on the 'inside', whilst Carter does his best on the 'outside' - putting himself in danger too in one very tense scene.

Regan's 'Boston Strangler' quip about Haskins is a classic line that shows in no uncertain terms just exactly what he thinks of him!

The first season is on the whole very strong, and this excellent episode is certainly among the very best.

The Haunting of Margam Castle (2020)

Looks like a film student's project!

[5/10 · 10 February 2022]

I was aware of the poor reviews of this film when I settled down to watch it - but decided I'd view it with an open mind, particularly as some veteran big-name actors were among the cast.

The opening credits seemed fine, but then the action began in New York... clearly filmed in the UK with actors employing very unconvincing American accents!

This didn't bode well for what was to come and, with footage of their motorway journey to Wales filmed from their car's window, it was starting to look a bit amateurish.

The wonderful Caroline Munro is wasted in a scene where the aforementioned American ghostbusters stop off for lunch - and from there we follow them to the castle.

The film then employs (or plagiarizes) every horror cliche in the book as the group set up for the night at the haunted castle. The castle itself looks impressive - it's probably one of the best things about the film.

From here onwards though, the scares are pretty mild and predictable, and terminal boredom starts to set in.

The best thing about their stay is seeing Darren Nesbit as their castle guide - and he does his best.

I'm sorry to say though that this film falls very flat, and seems like a wasted opportunity considering some of the acting talents involved.

If like me you're a fan of Caroline Munro, you'll probably enjoy her single scene - otherwise I'd say stay away from this particular horror show!

Thriller: Where the Action Is (1975) Season 4, Episode 6

It's all in the game...

[7/10 · 6 February 2022]

This was never one of my favourite episodes of Thriller - but I have to say it's grown on me over the years, and I really enjoy it now.

The plot concerns American Eddie Vallance (Edd Byrnes) who is drugged at a casino - only to wake up in the mansion of billionaire 'Daddy Burns', played by James Berwick.

Burns is an obsessive gambler who has to win at all costs - and has devised his own ultra-gambling duel where losing spells death for his opponent.

Vallance soon finds he has no choice but to indulge Burns in his games. He also finds there is no escape from the mansion - whose grounds are kept secure round the clock, and is therefore trapped in an 'open prison' not unlike Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner.

Ingrid Pitt really shines here too as Burns' moll, and steals every scene she's in.

Vallance is smarter though than Burns has anticipated - leading to a tense conclusion where there can be only one winner. But who will play their trump card?

This is an unusual and engaging story - nearly all set in the mansion, but spurred on by good acting and the real hope that Vallance can finally overcome his captors and win the day.

The Professionals: Man Without a Past (1978) Season 2, Episode 4

One of the best episodes!

[9/10 · 6 February 2022]

This has always been one of my favourite episodes - and I'm sure it's the same for many other fans of the show.

After an explosive pre-credits sequence, Bodie is determined to find the terrorists responsible for nearly killing him and his girlfriend while out dining.

Cowley warns him off, saying he's too 'emotionally' involved - leaving Doyle to conduct a parallel enquiry while Bodie continues his own, against The Cow's wishes.

This one works so well in lots of ways - the tension between Bodie and Doyle as they 'go it alone', the intriguing plot where we're not quite sure who the terrorists' target was and why, and some excellent car chases and gritty action.

The ever-reliable John Carson is perfect as the mysterious Forrest - clearly a man with plenty to hide, despite his respectable image.

For me, I love the scenes at the restaurant - filmed at a real restaurant where I live in Maidenhead, and one I've frequented many times! Bodie's scene too where he leaps from his car, gun in hand brandished at thin air as a crowd of people watch at a bus stop across the road is a great moment of spontaneous comedy.

This is a top-notch episode of this classic series, and definitely one not to be misssed.

Fox Mystery Theater: The Late Nancy Irving (1984) Season 1, Episode 5

It's your funeral...

[8/10 · 30 January 2022]

This is a good, solid entry in this enjoyable series, and definitely one of my favorites.

It concerns famous American golfer Nancy Irving, who's on tour in England. When her British boyfriend collects her from the airport, the couple are unaware they are being tailed by a mysterious man in a car behind them - and he continues to follow Nancy when her boyfriend is called abroad for a business trip.

Without giving too much away for anyone who's yet to see this episode, Nancy is diabetic, and also has an extremely rare blood type - so much so that she could come to harm from desperate people for desperate measures...

This one is quite slow starting, but becomes very tense once we realize the danger Nancy is in - and wonder how she's ever going to escape from it.

As ever, it makes good use of locations - I believe this was also the first episode of Hammer House of Mystery & Suspense to be completed, being filmed in early December 1983.

Space 1999 fans (such as me!) will be intrigued to see Tony Anholt and Zienia Merton reunited here as a doctor and nurse respectively - and there's also an appearance from Mick Ford of 'Scum' fame.

Marius Goring also makes a Hammer return, having previously been seen in an episode of Hammer House of Horror.

As I say, it's quite a slow-burner, although the story builds really well as we get into the final third and head towards the climax. It's certainly a highly-original and intriguing story - with the viewer hoping that the beleaguered Nancy will somehow get rescued from her ghastly fate...

Doctor Who: The Time Warrior: Part One (1973) Season 11, Episode 1

The Ultimate Warrior...

[8/10 · 27 November 2021]

I can remember really looking forward to this story at the time (and the new series as a whole) having bought the Radio Times 10th Anniversary Dr Who special - featuring an interview with new assistant Lis Sladen, and a publicity photo of her and Linx on the shoot for this story.

The story itself revolves around the aforementioned Linx - an alien Sontaran 'Time Warrior' (as opposed to a Time Lord), and how he rocks up with his damaged space ship near a castle in medieval England.

After he 'befriends' the castle's war-hungry inhabitants, he uses a time-transference system to bring scientists from 1973 back in time to help him repair his ship - and at the same time arms them for battle with the rival castle up the road.

The doctor is soon on the case - though he appears to have brought a stowaway along in the Tardis...

This is a bright and memorable episode to get the new season underway, and new companion Sarah-Jane Smith is likeable and feisty.

The location of a real castle is good too, and used very effectively.

I liked spotting lab equipment (last seen in the previous story The Green Death) - left over of course from the Moonbase set in Gerry Anderson's UFO series, and hired out to the Beeb.

But the best thing about the story (at the time anyhow) was the big 'reveal' at the end - as Linx finally removes his helmet to present an ugly and dome-shaped head, exactly the same shape as the helmet that encased it!

I remember feeling quite shocked seeing Linx's appearance (as a child), and it's played really well (though not such a surprise I guess nowadays - what with Linx depicted on the DVD cover, and further Sontaran stories made through the years).

All in all, a good strong start to what would sadly be the final Jon Pertwee season - still my favourite era of Dr Who to this day.

The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)

Painful & dated all-star comedy compendium

[5/10 · 24 November 2021]

I first saw this film as a child, and it's stayed with me all these years - with its certain familiarity and a hankering for times gone by, when comedy was a lot more unsophisticated and didn't always require a great deal of intellectual engagement.

Viewing it now, all these decades later, its many flaws are apparent - and it must take a fair bit of dedication for anyone to want to sit through it!

As the title suggests, the film revolves around each of the seven deadly sins, with an individual segment for each one of around 15 mins. These are written and directed by different people, and have a different cast each time.

One bonus of this is the huge and familIar cast of the great and good of British comedy from this period in the early 70s - though perhaps not many would be recognizable outside these shores.

The comedy, such as it is though, is laboured, cheesy and sadly nearly always misses the mark.

The first two segments (starring Bruce Forsyth and Harry Secombe) are strangely compelling - despite their absurdities and daft endings.

Things take a dip though with a muddled third segment - starring the reliable Leslie Phillips in a role typically suited to his caddish and lecherous on-screen image, and surely written with him in mind.

Harry H Corbett stars in the fourth segment - it's one of the better stories here (set mostly on a tube train and tube station), but suffers from a decidedly corny ending - one that's also a bit sad too.

The fifth segment, starring Ian Carmichael and Alfie Bass is probably the best of this weak bunch. It studies class differences, and how this is tackled when a wealthy man in a Rolls-Royce meets a more humble man in a battered old jalopy head-on in a narrow country lane, with neither party willing to swallow their pride and back up to let the other car go.

After this highlight though, things fall apart with the final two segments. The first is a silent comedy starring Spike Milligan (among others) and feels very forced. It fails to raise any laughs, or even anything in the way of entertainment - and the bar hadn't exactly been set very high.

The final segment is a ludicrous story of two men who want to murder the oppressive local park keeper (played by 'On the Buses' Stephen Lewis), and this sorry and laughter-free story can't end soon enough...

All in all then, a real hotch-potch of poor comedy, and one that does its many stars a great disservice.

I guess it's worth watching these days just for its oddity value - like 'it's so bad it's good' kind of thing.

My favorite part was spotting the locations in and around Pinewood Studios, and also spotting all the many famous faces, some in quite minor or supporting roles too.

View at your peril, but be warned - 'Carry On' this is not!

The Professionals: Mixed Doubles (1980) Season 4, Episode 12

Twice Two

[8/10 · 13 November 2021]

Bodie and Doyle are assigned to protect a middle-eastern leader who's in England to sign a vital treaty at a country mansion - unaware that the leader's enemies also have two agents of their own in situ, assigned to kill him.

This is an intriguing idea for a story as we get to see Bodie and Doyle's counterparts as real people with hopes and dreams of their own - whilst obeying orders for the opposite reasons as CI5.

There's some amusing scenes at the start of the episode as Cowley sends his deadly duo on a CI5 crash-course class in combat - they get taken to task by a couple of musclebound trainers who enjoy putting them through their paces in some torturous routines!

At the same time, their counterpart agents are also being briefed likewise nearby.

Thr night before the big hit, unbeknownst to each to other, both sets of agents are quietly holed-up in the mansion venue, reflecting on their own lives and mortality, in what are very poignant and touching scenes.

But there can only be one winner - will it be Bodie and Doyle - or will the enemy duo be clever enough to outwit them?

This is a thoughtful and well-structured episode that certainly does something a bit different, especially as we grow to have genuine sympathy for Bodie and Doyle's antagonists, and maybe hope they can escape unscathed.

Lots of great location work too around the long-demolished Southall gasworks and its White Lion pub.

Look out too for an appearance too from The Bill's DC Carver (Mark Wingett) in a small role as 'Big Punk'!

The Professionals: Servant of Two Masters (1979) Season 3, Episode 8

It's a gas...

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

This has always been a favorite episode of mine, and I never get tired of watching it.

The story revolves around Cowley, who appears to steal a secret nerve gas to sell to a foreign power.

Bodie and Doyle are tasked with tailing their boss to find evidence that he's gone over to the other side... of course they (and us, the viewers) know that there must be something else going on, as it seems impossible to believe that the sacred 'Cow' would be involved in anything remotely dodgy.

This is a well-paced and neat episode which, after some twists and turns, reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Viewers of long-running ITV cop show will enjoy seeing an early cameo from Tony Scannell (aka Ted Roach) in the opening scenes, as will viewers of Minder enjoy seeing Glynn Edwards in a supporting role.

It was good (for me) to see lots of location filming once again around Maidenhead (where I live), and the story highlights the loyalty and camaraderie around CI5, especially when their seemingly infallible boss's motives are called into question.

A very entertaining episode that does something a bit different, and keeps the viewer guessing until the end.

Burnside (2000)

Excellent Bill spin-off that should have been around for years!

[9/10 · 10 September 2021]

I can't believe it's taken me over 20 years to watch this shortlived series, seeing that I was a huge fan of The Bill, and hardly missed an episode between 1985 and 2002!

As with many fans of The Bill, I loved the antihero character of Frank Burnside - the old-school detective who gets his results by not always using the most orthodox methods.

When I heard there was going to be a Burnside spinoff show, I wasn't sure it was a good idea, and maybe it would stretch the character too much by taking him out of his usual setting, with completely new characters.

But, after seeing this excellent series, I'm now very glad to be proved wrong. What amazed me is how fresh and modern the show looks - as if it were made in 2020, not 2000!

Burnside has now in charge of a unit in the National Crime Squad, and works with two sidekicks, Sam and Dave.

Sam is an attractive young Scottish woman, and Dave a mixed-race gay man - which all sounds very 'woke' by today's standards, but these are no 'token' characters... they both have fully fleshed-out personalities and have real and meaningful input into the stories, and the whole set-up feels authentic and in tune with today's special forces.

There are three stories, each a two-parter, and all very different - although, as the shoe progresses, it's clear Burnsife has a score to settle with smarmy and ageing gangster Ronnie 'the razor' Buchan, played by Paul Nicholas.

The standard is very high, and the stories are violent, action-packed and suspenseful. If you've never seen this show, then I'd urge you to give it a try and see for yourself.

I've no idea why it was cancelled after only 6 episodes - this is a series that should have been around for years.

Penny Gold (1973)

Twin dilemma!

[6/10 · 9 September 2021]

This had all the ingredients to be a great film, but sadly it ultimately falls a bit short of the mark.

It follows the investigation into a young woman's murder in the opening scenes, and the pursuit of a priceless stamp which seems to be connected to her death - the Penny Gold.

There's a excellent cast, including the gorgeous Francesca Annis in the lead role, and also James Booth as a rumpled detective who soon gets on the case.

The story does become a bit muddled and unfocused, although things pick up a bit towards the end as the deception is finally uncovered.

Apart from Francesca (who plays a set of identical twins here), the best part of the film for me was all the location filming, unusual for a British film from this era. It's wonderful to see the streets of Windsor and Eton as they were in thr early 70s, as well as Pinewood's Heatherden Hall and grounds.

It certainly helps to give the film so realism and grittiness, and it must have felt quite fresh and moddish at the time.

But, considering the prestige of the director, this is sadly where the film falls a bit flat - the direction just doesn't create much suspense or real tension, and fails to translate quite an intriguing and twisty story to the big screen.

Having said that, it certainly has lots of early 70s charm, and it's fun spotting all the famous faces and locations. The ending, when you get there, is clever and worth waiting for too.