Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
Product Description
All fifty-three episodes from the four series of the groundbreaking British television police drama, starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as tough, no-nonsense cops serving on Scotland Yard's Flying Squad, cleaning up the gritty streets of 1970s London. Episodes from series one are: 'Ringer'; 'Jackpot'; 'Thin Ice'; 'Queen's Pawn'; 'Jigsaw'; 'Night Out'; 'The Placer'; 'Cover Story'; 'Golden Boy'; 'Stoppo Driver'; 'Big Spender'; 'Contact Breaker' and 'Abduction'. Episodes from series two are: 'Chalk and Cheese'; 'Faces'; 'Supersnout'; 'Big Brother'; 'Hit and Run'; 'Trap'; 'Golden Fleece'; 'Poppy'; 'Stay Lucky, Eh?'; 'Trojan Bus'; 'I Want the Man'; 'Country Boy' and 'Thou Shalt Not Kill'. Episodes from series three are: 'Selected Target'; 'In From the Cold'; 'Visiting Fireman'; 'Tomorrow Man'; 'Taste of Fear'; 'Bad Apple'; 'Sweet Smell of Succession'; 'May'; 'Down to You Brother'; 'Payoff'; 'Loving Arms'; 'Lady Luck' and 'On the Run'. Episodes from series four are: 'Messenger of the Gods'; 'Hard Men'; 'Drag Act'; 'Trust Red'; 'Nightmare'; 'Money, Money, Money'; 'Bait'; 'The Bigger They Are'; 'Feet of Clay'; 'One of Your Own'; 'Hearts and Minds'; 'Latin Lady'; 'Victims' and 'Jack or Knave'.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
133 of 137 people found the following review helpful
By Rowena Hoseason
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
The Sweeney is by far the best TV series about British policing ever screened. It's gritty, hard-hitting (literally); packed with strong characters and tight plots; blessed with one of our great TV actors, and it set a very high bar for subsequent series to try to reach.
The Sweeney has very little of the gloss of American cops-n-robbers series. Instead it's set in the very grubby, very cheap offices of London's Flying Squad with rogue copper Jack Regan (John Thaw) and his regular crew. They break the rules, they beat up the bad guys, they take a pounding themselves. And they drive truly cool cars form the 1970s in some of the most unlikely chase scenes -- nearly always on the edge of losing control... much like Regan himself.
The early episodes of the first couple of series are the ones to treasure. If you're in any way offended by violent, bad-tempered behaviour, naked girlies and angry shouting, then don't watch. If you're gripped by the desperate situations that Regan gets himself in to, and compelled to see whether the Sweeney will come out on top this time (they don't always get their man, in fact they often fail when Regan cuts corners), then buy this set and sit back and enjoy. It's remarkable how much the writers could cram into 50 minutes, and how well it reflects the criminal underbelly of London at the time.
A whole genre of TV and film owes its birth to the Sweeney. Without this series there never would have been 'Lock, Stock...' or Layer Cake, never mind Life on Mars. The Sweeney set the tone and it has not been bettered.
The film-making of the 1970s has been massively surpassed in recent years, but the characters and plots of the Sweeney will reveal that even the best of current TV drama is pretty limp by comparison.... Read more ›
The Sweeney has very little of the gloss of American cops-n-robbers series. Instead it's set in the very grubby, very cheap offices of London's Flying Squad with rogue copper Jack Regan (John Thaw) and his regular crew. They break the rules, they beat up the bad guys, they take a pounding themselves. And they drive truly cool cars form the 1970s in some of the most unlikely chase scenes -- nearly always on the edge of losing control... much like Regan himself.
The early episodes of the first couple of series are the ones to treasure. If you're in any way offended by violent, bad-tempered behaviour, naked girlies and angry shouting, then don't watch. If you're gripped by the desperate situations that Regan gets himself in to, and compelled to see whether the Sweeney will come out on top this time (they don't always get their man, in fact they often fail when Regan cuts corners), then buy this set and sit back and enjoy. It's remarkable how much the writers could cram into 50 minutes, and how well it reflects the criminal underbelly of London at the time.
A whole genre of TV and film owes its birth to the Sweeney. Without this series there never would have been 'Lock, Stock...' or Layer Cake, never mind Life on Mars. The Sweeney set the tone and it has not been bettered.
The film-making of the 1970s has been massively surpassed in recent years, but the characters and plots of the Sweeney will reveal that even the best of current TV drama is pretty limp by comparison.... Read more ›
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By M. Saxby
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
A lot of the memories from your childhood/teens don't really stand up too well on revisitation, but having bought The Sweeney Box set for myself for Christmas, I've been watching a few episodes (I also picked up the pilot, Reagan, which is great too).
From the opening bars of the theme tune - Surely one of TV's best ever - the Sweeney on DVD is every bit as great as when I watched it as an impressionable teenager.
The scenes of London (the run-down, disused docklands in Reagan is a real eye-opener for anyone who knows the area now!) are great nostalgia and the wobbly suspensioned Granadas are fun too (so are the Austin 1100 panda cars), but the scripts, editing and pace are all excellent - Nothing flags in the 50 minutes of each episode (none of your stretch it out to 3 hour slots so beloved of today's TV cop shows) and there's always a resolution (of sorts).
Another great part of watching the Sweeney is to see so many well known (or just familiar) actors (TV and film) playing small parts (eg Villains, grasses, girlfriends). A few of the actors ham horribly, though, it must be said!
If you liked the Sweeney when it was out originally, you'll find it still stands up well to revisitation (even if the mid 70s were a crime against fashion and hairstyles!)and if you just enjoy TV cop shows, the Sweeney is a great example of how to keep it tight and taut and realistic, even today.
From the opening bars of the theme tune - Surely one of TV's best ever - the Sweeney on DVD is every bit as great as when I watched it as an impressionable teenager.
The scenes of London (the run-down, disused docklands in Reagan is a real eye-opener for anyone who knows the area now!) are great nostalgia and the wobbly suspensioned Granadas are fun too (so are the Austin 1100 panda cars), but the scripts, editing and pace are all excellent - Nothing flags in the 50 minutes of each episode (none of your stretch it out to 3 hour slots so beloved of today's TV cop shows) and there's always a resolution (of sorts).
Another great part of watching the Sweeney is to see so many well known (or just familiar) actors (TV and film) playing small parts (eg Villains, grasses, girlfriends). A few of the actors ham horribly, though, it must be said!
If you liked the Sweeney when it was out originally, you'll find it still stands up well to revisitation (even if the mid 70s were a crime against fashion and hairstyles!)and if you just enjoy TV cop shows, the Sweeney is a great example of how to keep it tight and taut and realistic, even today.
110 of 115 people found the following review helpful
By C. X. Linton-Willoughby
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Disc 1: Ringer, Jackpot, Thin Ice, Queen's Pawn
Disc 2: Jigsaw, Night Out, The Placer, Cover Story
Disc 3: Golden Boy, Stoppo Driver, Big Spender, Contact Breaker
Disc 4: Abduction, Chalk and Cheese, Faces, Supersnout
Disc 5: Big Brother, Hit and Run, Trap, Golden Fleece
Disc 6: Poppy, Stay Lucky Eh?, Thou Shalt Not Kill, I Want The Man
Disc 7: Country Boy, Trojan Bus, Selected Target, In From The Cold
Disc 8: Visiting Fireman (Full uncut Version), Tomorrow Man, Taste of Fear (Full uncut version), Bad Apple
Disc 9: May, Sweet Smell of Succession, Down To You Brother, Pay Off
Disc 10: Loving Arms, Lady Luck, On The Run, Messenger of the Gods
Disc 11: Hard Men, Drag Act, Trust Red, Nightmare
Disc 12: Money Money Money, Bait, The Bigger They Are, Feet of Clay
Disc 13: One of Your Own, Hearts and Minds, Latin Lady, Victims
Disc 14: Jack or Knave
Disc 2: Jigsaw, Night Out, The Placer, Cover Story
Disc 3: Golden Boy, Stoppo Driver, Big Spender, Contact Breaker
Disc 4: Abduction, Chalk and Cheese, Faces, Supersnout
Disc 5: Big Brother, Hit and Run, Trap, Golden Fleece
Disc 6: Poppy, Stay Lucky Eh?, Thou Shalt Not Kill, I Want The Man
Disc 7: Country Boy, Trojan Bus, Selected Target, In From The Cold
Disc 8: Visiting Fireman (Full uncut Version), Tomorrow Man, Taste of Fear (Full uncut version), Bad Apple
Disc 9: May, Sweet Smell of Succession, Down To You Brother, Pay Off
Disc 10: Loving Arms, Lady Luck, On The Run, Messenger of the Gods
Disc 11: Hard Men, Drag Act, Trust Red, Nightmare
Disc 12: Money Money Money, Bait, The Bigger They Are, Feet of Clay
Disc 13: One of Your Own, Hearts and Minds, Latin Lady, Victims
Disc 14: Jack or Knave
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Watching the Sweeney again after 30 years is like getting into a time machine and going back to the seventies, with their brown clothes, shaggy haircuts, and googly wallpaper. It's not glamorous like the police shows of today - it's gritty, it's ugly, and the actors are not good-looking, but they all do a fantastic job in creating riveting drama, much of which has become the cop cliches of a generation. It's almost amusing to watch, seeing them spout the lines that we all know and love, but you could never put in a police show today. Nothing is politically correct, everybody smokes, the leads are always grumpy, and not afraid to whine about it to whomever is nearby. Unlike American cop shows, the violence is realistic: they don't trade blows for five minutes with barely a scratch, but people get hurt, and sometimes the action is sudden and frightening. It's a classic programme, and well worth a modern viewing. "Life on Mars" of course harks back to this era, but with more humour.
Technically, the picture quality is excellent, and considering that it was made over 30 years ago, they have really put some effort into making sure the image is very clear, without scratching or distortion: digital remastering at its best. It is also good to see that they haven't tried to stretch the image or pander to the rectangular screens of today - the picture appears to fit the old-style television as an almost-square box in the middle of the viewing area, with black on each side. As far as I can tell, it uses only the original mono soundtrack, but the series is so good, you don't really notice and this is not really an issue.
The only complaint I have is that the complete series DVD box has all the episodes, but nothing else.... Read more ›
Technically, the picture quality is excellent, and considering that it was made over 30 years ago, they have really put some effort into making sure the image is very clear, without scratching or distortion: digital remastering at its best. It is also good to see that they haven't tried to stretch the image or pander to the rectangular screens of today - the picture appears to fit the old-style television as an almost-square box in the middle of the viewing area, with black on each side. As far as I can tell, it uses only the original mono soundtrack, but the series is so good, you don't really notice and this is not really an issue.
The only complaint I have is that the complete series DVD box has all the episodes, but nothing else.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must own
I had video tapes of loads of episodes - but this is the way to own what is the best ever police show on TV. If you love the Sweeney - buy this. Read more
Published 1 month ago by NeatNeatNeat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweeney-tastic
Birthday gift, arrived as promised. Good quality and great tv series. Something to watch again and again. Love the M&W episode.
Published 1 month ago by Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweeney - still got it
It may have been made in the 70's but it still managed to keep me engaged and entertained like it the first time round. Read more
Published 1 month ago by EK
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back to no-frills seventies police realism
Enjoying the gritty and occasionally funny atmosphere of 70's London. Lots of local colour, wiity repartees and small-time crooks. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Onno Simons
3.0 out of 5 stars
THE SWEENEY
This series gets rave reviews from all over. Starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman it was bound to be good but I found it a bit frantic and unrealistic. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Doreen Langmead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back to the 70s
I kept watching these on Sky tv and kept thinking I needed to see more.
I was surprised by how many episodes I hadn't seen.
Fantastic buy.
I was surprised by how many episodes I hadn't seen.
Fantastic buy.
Published 3 months ago by Andyk
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not a Patch On The Professionals
Well it might be a little more gritty than The Professionals, but there's a lack of imagination in the stories
which normally begins with armed robbers jumping into a van and... Read more
which normally begins with armed robbers jumping into a van and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rappers
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's taken over my life and I love it!
I have always loved the Sweeney. A rough tough window into a time in history that even the real Sweeney couldn't deny. Buy it, watch it, you'll love it too.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. S. Sampayo
1.0 out of 5 stars
,
it was a gift for someone else therefore i am unable to process a review. perhaps my son will in due course
Published 5 months ago by archibald johnstone
4.0 out of 5 stars
Looks like I will enjoy this
Having been hooked on Morse and Lewis I have expanded my search for John Thaw movies and happened on this.
Akin to the Life on Mars series it is Pre P.C. Read more
Akin to the Life on Mars series it is Pre P.C. Read more
Published 6 months ago by subwo
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
