Sweeney! - The Finale

The dramatic ending to the 1977 spin-off film. "They didn't kill him, you did".

[@tracyyy99]

Goes without saying...The Sweeney was one of the best British TV programmes ever made, and the theme tune was equaly a brilliant piece of music. Thanks for your legacy guys...John Thaw...Dennis Waterman...R.I.P Boys.

[@charliechristmas5147]

Just a side note that you may or may not be interested in. When writing the theme tune, the composer stated he started with the words ‘The Sweeney, The Sweeney…. Try singing the words and noting the inflection in your voice will be similar to the tune.

[@TheHorsebox2]

​@@charliechristmas5147"The Sweeney...The Sweeney. Flared trousers and a Ford Granada..." Yeah, works alright.

[@David.L291]

Idk if I can agree, I think even the Professionals was better

[@Gary-le7dz]

Professional s was crap in comparison, Bodie Doyle Always in leather jackets and all the other agents in ties n suits , endings just to predictable …. Sweeney you never knew the ending

[@David.L291]

@@Gary-le7dz I thought the Sweeney was boring if I remember correctly when I watched it a bit

[@bury_the_elite65294]

R.I.P. Dennis Waterman (and John Thaw). DS George Carter & DI Jack Regan reunited. Thanks for the memories, lads, we miss you a lot... :'((

[@stephenm6100]

Them two would be drinking the bar dry in heaven🥃🍺🍺 god speed den and john🙏🏼🍺

[@duncanbirss8923]

@@leehighland5435 heaven sounds very dull

[@duncanbirss8923]

@@leehighland5435 Regan and carter would prefer hell anyway

[@leehighland5435]

@@duncanbirss8923 Only a fool would say they would prefer hell. Hell is extreme suffering, forever.

[@sarac.3259]

@@leehighland5435 You are completely in the wrong writing your first comment. A genuine Christian would not have written this. Not sure what bible you have been reading - I believe God to be a compassionate being. What has Dennis Waterman done that you think he should be eternally damned? Actually, don't answer that because you are in no position to judge anyone.

[@user-py9vz6qx2h]

Classic from a bygone age. How i wish we could go back to those simpler times. That London is long gone now.

[@suesmith3744]

RIP John and Dennis , grew up watching you guys , thanks for all the hours of viewing pleasure .

[@pr9062]

Hi God, are we dead?.....put your trousers on.

[@paulmillington9291]

Your nicked

[@richardclarke376]

John Edward Thaw 1942-2002 RIP Dennis Waterman 1948 - 2022 RIP Both of the guys firing on all 8 cylinders here

[@paulfrost8895]

Been 20 years since John died ' don 't time fly.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

@@paulfrost8895 both fine actors, grew up with their programmes on tv, back when tv was worth watching, now it’s too many channels showing too much watered down crap, I use my tv now for Netflix or KZbin and premier league football otherwise it doesn’t get watched. I don’t watch terrestrial tv that’s what I mean lol.

[@paulfrost8895]

@@Eleventhearlofmars I agree totally ' tv has gotten very lame and overated in recent years ' I say thank god for You Tube ' where you can select your own viewing choice ' mind you I got a wealth of dvd 's too ' which includes The Sweeney box set which being digitally remastered looks sharper than on You Tube ' my tv viewing is pretty limited these past 10 years or so ' I find afternoons some decent stuff on Film4 ' like old Westerns ' war films eg.

[@David.L291]

​@@paulfrost8895And they still want us to pay for a stupid TV licence with a lot of junk on TV nowadays I stopped watching TV some years ago and just have streaming services But yet the idiots at BBC still think I'm doing things illegally 😂😂 unbelievable 🙄🤬

[@FlamingoPublications]

UNITED STATES missed out on Sweeney and pros. Thank goodness I have the dvds to enjoy

[@esssexboy]

The London skyline back then didn't look half as cluttered. No Gherkin, No Walkie Talkie Building, No Dome, No shard, No Canary Wharf Nice to see!

[@paulfrost8895]

Proper old London ' though the docks had already been derelict for some years by then.

[@ronpage1994]

You forgot to mention the ridiculous pointy building David.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

The coffee percolator building? Or is that the gherkin?! 😆

[@billpugh58]

No work, rubbish in the streets, derelict docklands……we have moved on.

[@andrewganley9016]

And 'proper' route master buses,real not themed pubs, Lyons Corner House's, mummy!

[@steveguest8028]

Two of the best actors we have ever seen … RIP Den and John ☹️

[@martinburke362]

The best programme ever made on British TV, the films where pretty good aswell!!

[@Howhighsir]

Rip Dennis waterman

[@alanjm1234]

John Thaw too.

[@Howhighsir]

@@alanjm1234 and Lewis Collins

[@jane1975]

@@Howhighsir He was in The Professionals, he wasn’t in this. Barry Foster though is also no longer with us, he also starred with Thaw in an Inspestor Morse episode too.

[@Howhighsir]

@@jane1975 I was thinking of my best 2 shows while growing up. Gordon Jackson too , rip. I met Barry Foster in the early 90s, he came into my local pub for last orders, The windmill pub at Waterloo.

[@BenLag1960]

Looked forward to this series every Monday night. It was my favourite tv programme! Loved John thaw what an actor, Dennis & himself were a great tv team. Rest in peace guys

[@kennethbull5700]

Hi totally agree Monday night was Sweeney night I refused to even see my girlfriend on Monday nights when it was on.

[@janeokeeffe5297]

Me too 👍loved the sweeney

[@davidboyce8683]

I miss old London and I love the Sweeney.

[@andywright3450]

Sweeney was magic great actors John and Dennis was sadly missed by many fans

[@namesake-mx9nl]

The Sweeney , one of the best series ever shown on tv , still gripping today , excellent performances still make for graet viewing .

[@staceygrove5976]

I could never take John Thaw seriously as the ridiculous Inspector Morse after seeing his performances in 'The Sweeney'. Thaw WAS Regan, full stop!

[@beefchops1400]

Amazing programme……still watch it on ITV4 when I’m not working, British TV at its finest never to be seen again! RIP fellas

[@JonSmith-cx7gr]

Put your trousers on Dennis and John - you're nicked.... RIP to two UK legends. We will never see the like again.

[@davidkemble3419]

We're the sweeny son and we haven't had any dinner.

[@tangerinedream7211]

That neck o the woods has changed a bit since then and gone up in value somewhat. Great that the old films of the Sweeny and Bodie and Doyle captured the run down warehouses, docks, railway yards etc .

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

Go watch the long good Friday, that’s set in London docklands

[@kyran333]

Agreed, I was brought up at Bethal estate,

[@emmanueladeyosoye4070]

True and if you bought one back then will laugh at you now you will be smiling ear to ear

[@tracyyy99]

Check out Movie Pool Of London...Fantastic shots of old london.

[@highpath4776]

St Katherines Dock was pricey even in 77

[@rogerpritchard]

God bless you Dennis Waterman. Thanks for the memories.

[@rampageclover9788]

Top drawer talent right there in both John Thaw and Dennis Waterman...clearly did their research and embodied those parts...Sweeney! was The Wire of the 70's...so ahead of it's time and so authentic

[@ashleyscottthomas6633]

One of the best shows of the 70s

[@paulfrost8895]

And all time.

[@1mikefrost]

@@paulfrost8895 Well done. Us Frosts obviously think the same!

[@paulfrost8895]

@@1mikefrost Not my real name ' just an alias ' will be changing it soon.

[@jakebond2294]

I got quite a thrill some years ago standing at this spot and picturing the movie in my mind.

[@tilerman]

A fantastic spot of prime land looking at the beautiful iconic Tower Bridge, a true symbol of the United Kingdom and recognised the world over. And all that land owned by the Kuwaiti government. Sad isn't it. Makes me want to cry.

[@alexnelson9512]

@@tilerman _I was not aware of that fact. We have to ask ourselves how this could come about - apart from the machinations of the "elites" at the top of every country. No doubt somebody within the UK has been rewarded one way or the other. The manipulations are on an international level. _*_Utterly diabolical._*

[@garfieldsmith332]

"It's gonna prove, even you are expendable". Regan knew the creep was targeted. Great series. Out on DVD, so available to watch anytime.

[@colincampbell437]

Class. God bless Dennis .

[@paulfrost8895]

God rest them both ' John and Dennis ' and all the other cast no longer around.

[@tanseygreen291]

If only there really was a sky fairy

[@darthkek1953]

The Sweeney, The Professionals, Minder. These days we have, erm, f-all.

[@andrewlockett4569]

Sweeney, Professionals, Minder, and The Bill... hehe just joking, fooled you there 😂

[@David.L291]

​@@andrewlockett4569The Bill was great though in it's early days and then London's Burning too

[@Pure-Minty]

Got the box set. never tire of watching them. nothing on TV comes near the Sweeny!

[@red44269]

Absolutely loved the SWEENEY as a boy...sad that all are gone now ... Regan, carter, Haskins all catching villains who snook past the pearly gates 😊

[@PB-pk8lt]

Best ever series. Yes, I have watched it since I was a boy. And still today.

[@The80sBoy]

Good ol' George. "They didn't kill 'im, YOU DID!" RIP Dennis.

[@paulfrost8895]

Yea ' but he was an evil bastard ' who thought he was untouchable ' after using his hitmen to kill all those associates of his ' then his own turned on him ' when he got nicked so he wouldn 't grass on them ' what goes around comes around ' certainly in this case ' a great performance by Barry Foster of Van Der Valk fame ' also sadly deceased now.

[@salvadormarley]

@@paulfrost8895 Barry was great in Frenzy as well.

[@quaker57]

Greatest TV coppers ever bar none.

[@roblyndon5267]

The genius of this ending is that it's not at all cathartic. McQueen had it coming all the way through the film. He's vicious, smug, slimy, callous, cowardly and racist (and yes, that was frowned on, even in the 70s). But his final demise is so brutal and shocking, it's hard not to feel sorry for him, and wish he had got away. It's brilliantly written, shot and acted. Massive credit to all involved.

[@tonyjordan205]

That's a brilliant summary

[@webbo9798]

The great thing about the Sweeney for me is that it was groundbreaking. First UK detective series with a "warts and all" rough and ready real life type characters. Brilliant!

[@glennpowell3444]

Liked the mk1 granada and the mk3 cortina in the shots.

[@kieranharriman7055]

Both solid blokes and great actors. RIP

[@AvailableHandle]

Solid bloke, or wife beater?

[@alexnelson9512]

@@AvailableHandle Sometimes both - but don't let that put you off.

[@jimmythemadostrich8947]

Back when I was dealing a bit of coke it would've almost been a pleasure to have been nicked by these two. I think.

[@jimmythemadostrich8947]

KZbin is run by silly c✳!#s who censor our freedom of expression.

[@michaelkaliski7651]

The best police recruitment advertisements ever produced.

[@ianwoodham3676]

This series was 1 of the best TV programmes ever produced I still watch now on a chanel every morning brings back my memories growing up

[@MC-bu6ez]

They don't make films like these today, raw, and politically incorrect, just brilliant, Thaw and Waterman are legendary in this classic series.

[@ChristopherJones-qm2nw]

Shows like this (Messrs Thaw and Waterman - Legends both) and American "Hill Street Blues" prove that you don't need squillion dollar budgets and boring CGI - All you need are truly talented writers, actors and directors...

[@paul.h.8014]

RIP Guys. When TV was PROPER TV....

[@rickyb5499]

R.I.P John and Dennis, you were the best 🙏🥃

[@Chris_34]

Favourite episodes? Mine were Stoppo Driver, Faces, Ringer and Queen's Pawn. So many to choose from, tho. Jack, George, Frank Haskins, Sergeant Ronnie Rycott, Arthur and Dave are all having a lock in at The Winchester in the sky🍺.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

I like Night In. My least favourite is the one with Eric and Ernie. Love the boys but that was a silly one. Not keen on the fake Aussie ones either.

[@ianbell7342]

they made a bloody good couple , never do a remake please .... fantastic series ❤❤❤❤

[@johnwelch5132]

Sadly a remake was made with Ray Winstone. Disheartening when it was announced. Nothing will ever get near the original. Euston Films was a terrific production company.

[@stephenfuller1395]

Best British police show ever made all round superb, thanks for some great viewing guys.

[@philtucker1224]

Fabulous! Both Dennis and John can be back together again now.

[@steveprestegard5151]

Get your trousers on. You’re nicked.

[@brianmorecombe2726]

imo the best ever cop show on tv.I suppose the reality that it showed of bent coppers in the 70s made it the most exciting.Then when the police service was cleaned up they did shows like Prime Suspect and The Bill and Inspector Morse.

[@paulfrost8895]

Always thought Morse was a bit slow paced ' though there were some decent episode/story lines ' thought John Thaw did a good job portraying a different more sophisticated character to previous ' though even in that he was tough ' just without the physical methods.

[@highdownmartin]

I thought that the sweeney portrayed reg and car as straight cops against the upstairs pressure and nasty villains.

[@jane1975]

Regan and Carter were straight cops.

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

I liked the gentle touch

[@Lionboy2930]

"we're the Sweeney... you're nicked... and we haven't had any dinner" class

[@stevotheo4726]

I remember those classic car chases. What an ending for Regan😟

[@johnwood2448]

The Ford Squad vs Jaguars

[@redlopa1]

ABSOLUTE GENIUS. One of the best films ever made.

[@frankmcconnellogue3351]

Always liked the music at the end of each episode, a slowed down version of the opening music.

[@liammcauley7572]

You're right. Brought one back down slowly from the usually exciting episode.

[@steve-ip6qs]

another great actor gone,rip dennis will live forever tho

[@plod5578]

Please avoid dangerouse injections. Be safe. namaste.

[@melb6528]

Some memories of the 'factory' there and that view under the bridge is unrecognisable now, how times change.

[@stephenpowell5912]

They didn't kill him ,You did ,Great performances from The Late Cast of Dennis Waterman ,John Thaw and Van Der Valk Star the Late Barry Foster as McQueen .🙏

[@hoviswilliams1548]

When I heard the theme tune coming on to this at 9pm i knew i should be in bed because I had school in the morning. A few times i pretended i was asleep already and i wasn’t taken up to bed ‘till News at Ten come on. A great programme. Better than the stuff on ITV now.

[@richhughes7450]

A unique signature tune. It has to be said.

[@darthkek1953]

60s and 70s were full of them.

[@patrickpayne8330]

Where they filmed it was around St Catherine's Dock.... I used to play run outs by the tower before the security restrictions.... TOP DRAW of a programme

[@nickwillobey2205]

Loved the program 💗💗💗 then, still great now!

[@stephenm6100]

Jack reagan was a smart copper. A bastard, but smart

[@paulfrost8895]

I agree ' shame there not many like him left now ' coppers are way too soft now ' too much beurocracy and paperwork eg.

[@midhc5072]

@@paulfrost8895 no, because bent coppers brought about the abolition of Judges Rules and the introduction of PACE and more recent restrictions on police powers. Add in a willingness by woke liberals and the left to prosecute officers over spurious and malicious allegations.

[@alexnelson9512]

He had both a mother and a father, as far as is known.

[@jane1975]

@@paulfrost8895 Woke you mean, we cannot have a politicised Police Force it’s corruption in a major way and it needs to dealt with before it’s too late.

[@jackthelad5366]

It’s Regan not Reagan just saying ☝️😁

[@lemmybon3100]

Back together again. With Haskins too.

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

I think Haskins was brilliant, the whole crew were good together.

[@Paul_1971]

That wasn't the finale of the series, that was the end of the first movie with Barry Foster in it - there was also a Sweeney 2 movie after that!

[@paulfrost8895]

That was brilliant too ' tho prefer this one slightly more ' have them on dvd ' along with the rest of the Sweeney box set.

[@jane1975]

@@paulfrost8895 I preferred the second film, also hearing John Thaw say the f word was hilarious. It wasn’t common on TV at the time now it’s overused, but it was also back to the Armed Robbery kind of crime that series was about, it was more violent though as it was a cinema release and Director Tom Clegg had more freedom to do that.

[@peteanderson4395]

@@jane1975 I preferred Sweeney 2 as well.

[@djh29971]

@@jane1975 I like both for different reasons as they are very different films. The first one was commercially very successful in relation to its budget, whereas the second was not. Producer Ted Childs wanted the combination of Troy Kennedy Martin & Tom Clegg for 'Sweeney!' but got overruled as Euston wanted David Wickes combined with Ranald Graham's script. Childs got his way for the 'Sweeney! 2', but it didn't work with the public in the way its predecessor did.

[@pcoldlight5631]

Great ending from Carter.

[@dazzledarren1271]

The best television programme of all time ❤

[@JJthrashing]

Great series still watch the repeats along with the Professionals good old days, Also Minder with George Cole, RIP Denis Waterman 🙏

[@Ron-wc4rj]

Also sadly missed the lovely lynda bellingham who was in films and tv

[@mt23289]

Love the sweeney…. Got the box set years ago.. I was born in 1983 and the good thing about being born in the 80,s is I can kinda relate to this time period…. Loads of 70,s cars and ways of life were still on the go then 👍👍

[@johnwelch5132]

The two Sweeney films were wonderfully written. Recommended viewing. As someone who grew up in South West London, it’s still evocative watching them.

[@philipfriend9737]

Superb actors-great programme-R.I.P lads.

[@kennethbull5700]

Love this I've worked for my employer for 41 years and on the last 2 long service awards we have stayed at The Tower Hotel and St Katherines Dock quite fitting as I love the tv series and the 2 films were awesome and I've just binge watched all 4 series of the tv series on Amazon .I still love it.

[@charlescovell8054]

Jack knew what he was doing; McQueen had it coming.

[@thefrecklepuny]

RIP Denis Waterman.

[@sazal67]

Gritty british drama at its finest.

[@thepub245]

The Oxo lady got her baps out in this movie if I recall rightly. 🤣

[@paulfrost8895]

The young Linda Bellingham ' dies in the opening pre credit scene by lethal injection.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

She was tasty meat was that oxo lady back in the day. 🙄 sorry lol.

[@johnlong8082]

Did they have gravy on them?

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

Linda Bellingham is also in the episode "Trojan Bus" with Patrick Moore, watched it recently.

[@trevormillar1576]

So did that bird from "The Cuckoo Waltz".

[@Michael-yd5ry]

I was working at Tower Bridge nick when they filmed this.Happy days.

[@warriorboy1976]

'78?

[@redflag8970]

Great show loved it then an now. Typifies the era an great cast

[@georgegeorge4921]

R.I.P Dennis

[@ethanhall8686]

To me it always felt like the last five minutes of the film were hijacked by a different director

[@None-zc5vg]

Agreed: it had to be spiced-up with some gunplay.

[@jane1975]

The second spin off movie was better.

[@djh29971]

The ending was classic David Wickes. The thing about the show was how you could tell who was directing a particular episode in minutes. Wicksey was quite stylised and was clearly influenced by the French New Wave, combined with a touch of Hollywood sparkle. He also directed one of the very best episodes 'Taste of Fear', which has a slow down freeze frame at the end.

[@501sqn3]

Beyond any shadow of a doubt thee greatest cop show ever made 👍👍👏👏

[@SimonWebbRCandModellingChannel]

I miss the old days.....

[@stephendavis5530]

If this had been an American film, I believe this would be regarded as a classic. Instead it has rather been looked down upon by many critics. Yes.....the attitudes date this somewhat, but it was a realistic window of what the police were like at that time. The second film Sweeney 2 was quite good as well, though I enjoyed this one more.

[@mohamedsheik4589]

Best cop series ever

[@feenix8461]

Johnston & Johnston clearly enjoyed their work.

[@paulfrost8895]

Physcopaths ' probably earning a high wage.

[@Cody-zd2ye]

Best police series ever.these we're cops i liked both gone now sadly bless em both

[@every1665]

Love the way the old British cop shows had flawed main characters. The villains weren't entirely bad either. Just like real life.

[@nickwillobey2205]

Loved the Granada's, had a few of them myself ! Great 😃 series you'll never beat Regan & Carter!!!

[@markfox1545]

Why do you believe that apostrophes play a part in plurals?

[@nickwillobey2205]

Apologies for grammatical error, need to put on my glasses 🕶️🕶️🕶️

[@johnwood2448]

The FORD SQUAD vs Jaguars

[@stephenm6100]

rip dennis waternan...clapham gentleman🥊🥊🙏🏼🥃🙏🏼

[@Toby_the_Glen]

A genuine London accent is not as easy as you'd think. You just have to watch the stage school 'luvvies' on eastenders to see that!

[@jacksugden8190]

Never thought much of The Sweeney. Never cared much for the obnoxious Thaw or Waterman either.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

They always spoke highly of you.

[@andrismajors8171]

The man who are killed,was in Alfred Hitchcock Frenzy.

[@timryan355]

Barry someone.

[@ImLonelyLinda]

@@timryan355 Barry Foster

[@charlesedwards4160]

Sir Robert Rusk :)

[@paulfrost8895]

@@ImLonelyLinda Also played Dutch detective Van De Valk.

[@philipparogers5613]

Luvly … luvly…luvly, 😂

[@andylane247]

We're the sweeney and we haven't had our dinner.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Put your trousers on you’re nicked. Priceless 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@paulfrost8895]

Yerv kept us waiting son.

[@richardlockwood8430]

Best quote ever

[@kevinwilde]

timeless classic.

[@terryjohnson7389]

Top quality writing and production before the snowies took over the country.

[@xavcarmic0686]

RIP Dennis and John. Loved this show and the Ford Granada.

[@thewomble1509]

Consul and Granada ghia depending on which series you watched.

[@user-pe4sx7ey3m]

They were both top class actors, rip

[@jamesfrench7299]

Don't get why everyone raves about Inspector Morse. This is where it's at with the late John Thaw.

[@vicfulcher3648]

This and Sweeney 2 Were Brilliant Films. R.I.P John And Dennis.

[@oddities-whatnot]

The shooter in the cab, looks a proper 1970s criminal he does.

[@johnbower7452]

I never knew Dennis Waterman had gone. :( RIP you will be very much missed.

[@michaelpallett178]

Theyll be in a pub now together pssin it up R.I.P

[@madnuts6584]

The last scene I remember is when Jack went off in a taxi and their governor said he'd be back. It was after something that went wrong at a marina. Thanks for sharing though. Cheers.

[@leestockton9367]

Most satisfying moment of The Sweeney

[@darrengriffin8609]

Morse trying to arrest Van der Valk.

[@madcarew5168]

As a 70yr old i watch every repeat i can...with the cr@p on tv today all sets should have a flush handle.......

[@John-ob7dh]

I had one of those MK5 Ford Consuls in the 70s .Nice car.