Select delivery location
See All Buying Options

The Sweeney - The Complete Series 1 [Blu-ray]

John Thaw (Actor), Dennis Waterman (Actor), Terry Green (Director), Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over Format: Blu-ray
Additional Blu-ray options Edition Discs
Amazon Price
New from Used from
Blu-ray
10 Sept. 2012 		—
3
—
— —
Format PAL, Full Screen, Mono, Colour
Contributor Ian Hendry, Terry Green, Tom Clegg, Dennis Waterman, David Wickes, Garfield Morgan, John Thaw, Brian Blessed, Viktors Ritelis, William Brayne See more
Language English
Number of discs 3
Runtime 10 hours and 50 minutes

Product description

Rough, tough and politically incorrect in the way that only the best '70s drama series can be, The Sweeney is one of the major television successes of the last fifty years. Featuring John Thaw as the irascible Detective Inspector Regan and Dennis Waterman as his loyal 'oppo', Detective Sergeant Carter, this benchmark television series is now available on Blu-ray in a stunning level of quality not previously seen. The Sweeney has never looked this good.

FEATURES ON THIS NEW EDITION:
[] Brand new High Definition transfers and restorations from the original negatives.
[] Brand-new, exclusive booklet written by archive television historian Andrew Pixley, fully detailing the history and production of both Regan and this first series.
[] Reconstructed titles created from the original stills.
[] Dolby 5.1 along with original as-broadcast mono and music-only tracks.
[] Interview with creator Ian Kennedy-Martin.
[] Commentaries with Dennis Waterman, Garfi eld Morgan, producer Ted Childs, writers Trevor Preston and Troy Kennedy-Martin, directors Tom Clegg and David Wickes, assistant director Bill Westley and editor Chris Burt.
[] Episode introductions by guest stars Warren Mitchell, Wanda Ventham, Prunella Gee, John Forgeham, Billy Murray, Tony Selby and Dudley Sutton.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 4:3 - 1.33:1
  • Is discontinued by manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.2 x 13.8 x 2.2 cm; 322.05 g
  • Manufacturer reference ‏ : ‎ 5027626703745
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Terry Green, Tom Clegg, Viktors Ritelis, William Brayne, David Wickes
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ PAL, Full Screen, Mono, Colour
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 10 hours and 50 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ 10 Sept. 2012
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan, Brian Blessed, Ian Hendry
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Unqualified (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Network
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0085UDHDE
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 3
  • Customer reviews:

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
44 global ratings
The Sweeney: Great Show and Great DVD Set
5 Stars
The Sweeney: Great Show and Great DVD Set
No doubt about, "The Sweeney" is one of the best television shows I ever watched. It's realistic and action-packed. And this "Complete First Series" DVD set is amazing.The menus are really good (but the pilot DVD Regan menus are most beautiful than this one), the picture quality is outstanding, probably the best one that I ever saw, the 5.1 sound is great and the "Music Only" tracks are a nice touch. And a large amount of bonus features are also included, like a Ian Kennedy Martin interview, audio commentary by actors and producers, reconstructed titles with the original photographs (in black & white), and episode introductions by guest stars in selected episodes. And the book, "Cover Story", with 108 pages, another nice touch, is very detailled and full of pictures. And, for strangers that doesn't talk English very well, like me, the english subtitles are very welcome. Just one bad thing: Would be nice if the film "Regan" was included on this set. But nothing is perfect. At least, you can buy the original Armchair Cinema pilot for the series right here on Amazon.If you are a "Sweeney" fan, or if you like a good old TV show, this box set is highly recommended.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry, we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from United Kingdom

S. Muzyka
5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2012
Verified Purchase
The first thing to say about this release is the aspect ratio. Whereas the restored DVD's re-formatted the 4:3 picture to fit the dimensions of widescreen (16:9) TV's, this re-release sticks to the square format of its original broadcast ratio. Hence the black bars at the left and right of the screen (TV's were squarer in those days so it was almost unheard of for a television series to be shot in widescreen). It feels strange to start with but you do get used to it. Personally, while I have no problem watching widescreen films in their proper ratios (and indeed welcome it) I don't like the pillarbox 4:3 format now preferred for new releases and would rather they stuck to full-frame format. Anyway enough of my yakkin' it must be said that this Blu-Ray is as good as a Sweeney fan could have hoped for. The picture is impressively sharp (it was only shot on 16mm remember) and a noticeable improvement on the DVD release. Colours look brighter and the little details have more definition. There are still some minor picture defects (particularly on the episode 'Big Spender') but that's to be expected.All the episodes have been restored from the original camera negatives (with the exception of the very first episode 'Ringer' which was not available) and it shows. The sound is equally impressive. Now you can hear much more background noise and snatches of conversation that you may have missed before. The dialogue is remarkably clear and I will stick my neck out and say it's the best I've ever heard on a pre-digital TV series. Network obviously take a lot of care in their restoration work and should be congratulated for lavishing such time and effort on this and not short-changing fans. Top marks!
If I have a criticism it's that some of the extras that appeared on the DVD Box-sets have not been ported over and so I will be keeping my DVD's aswell.
I'm sure most people are aware of the programme itself and the impact it had at the time so i won't dwell on it here. Suffice to say, the acting is top-notch from the leads, John Thaw particularly, and I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing there were more coppers like Jack Regan about today. There are also many guest stars to enjoy and plenty of gritty action scenes (punch-ups, shootings, car chases etc.) as well as plenty of humour (important this!) To me, The Sweeney is simply the greatest TV series ever made and this new Blu-Ray release just makes it even better. I have no hesitation in recommending this to fans and can't wait for Series 2.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Richard Bevan
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic blu-ray
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2012
Verified Purchase
This is a review of the blu-ray edition released in 2012.
I already had the series on DVD but this blu-ray is fantastic and a model of how a TV show shot on film can be released on blu-ray.
Aspect ratio is as broadcast (4:3) and detail is superb. I only wish more TV shows could be released like this. From the picture quality you cannot really tell this is 40 years old.
There are plenty of extras, commentary tracks and the like.
I am so relieved this is 4:3 as broadcast originally and not like Thunderbirds/World at War with the top and bottom of the picture chopped off.I don't own either of those disks and never will, but immediately bought this Sweeney blu-ray.

I only worry that some will complain it's not widescreen and want their blu-rays released "widescreen". And there is plenty of scope for people not realizing why some shows (shot on film) can be transferred to HD blu-ray but others (shot on video) won't look much better than on DVD. It would only take a show shot on video in the 70's and issued on blu-ray to make people steer clear of any 70's TV shows on blu-ray, which reduces the market and so discourage the release of older TV shows on blu-ray.
I dream of UFO and The Avengers on blu-ray.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Chandler
4.0 out of 5 stars Very consistent, brilliantly scripted and acted
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013
Verified Purchase
This is a fascinating series. Firstly it rings very close to the way things must have been in those days: No mobile phones, hardly any phones at all in fact, limited use of guns and all the action very local and very dependent on local knowledge. How different to today. The episodes are fast moving, full of London English so non-UK viewers may need the very good English subtitles to offset some of the accents if not the slang, and the plots are consistent and believable. The picture quality is good considering the age, only episode 1 being noticeably poorer. The sound is generally good but I found the surround sound on some episodes had excessive resonance in the sub-woofer and I had to change to the 2 channel stereo. All in all this is a really good series with outstanding scripts and acting. So much better than so much of the excess violence, sex and drugs that appears on screen today. Good buy!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Thomaz Kravezuk
5.0 out of 5 stars The Sweeney: Great Show and Great DVD Set
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2012
Verified Purchase
No doubt about, "The Sweeney" is one of the best television shows I ever watched. It's realistic and action-packed. And this "Complete First Series" DVD set is amazing.

The menus are really good (but the pilot DVD  Regan  menus are most beautiful than this one), the picture quality is outstanding, probably the best one that I ever saw, the 5.1 sound is great and the "Music Only" tracks are a nice touch. And a large amount of bonus features are also included, like a Ian Kennedy Martin interview, audio commentary by actors and producers, reconstructed titles with the original photographs (in black & white), and episode introductions by guest stars in selected episodes. And the book, "Cover Story", with 108 pages, another nice touch, is very detailled and full of pictures. And, for strangers that doesn't talk English very well, like me, the english subtitles are very welcome. Just one bad thing: Would be nice if the film "Regan" was included on this set. But nothing is perfect. At least, you can buy the original Armchair Cinema pilot for the series right here on Amazon.

If you are a "Sweeney" fan, or if you like a good old TV show, this box set is highly recommended.
Customer image
Thomaz Kravezuk
5.0 out of 5 stars The Sweeney: Great Show and Great DVD Set
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2012
No doubt about, "The Sweeney" is one of the best television shows I ever watched. It's realistic and action-packed. And this "Complete First Series" DVD set is amazing.

The menus are really good (but the pilot DVD [[ASIN:B008CZOOIO Regan]] menus are most beautiful than this one), the picture quality is outstanding, probably the best one that I ever saw, the 5.1 sound is great and the "Music Only" tracks are a nice touch. And a large amount of bonus features are also included, like a Ian Kennedy Martin interview, audio commentary by actors and producers, reconstructed titles with the original photographs (in black & white), and episode introductions by guest stars in selected episodes. And the book, "Cover Story", with 108 pages, another nice touch, is very detailled and full of pictures. And, for strangers that doesn't talk English very well, like me, the english subtitles are very welcome. Just one bad thing: Would be nice if the film "Regan" was included on this set. But nothing is perfect. At least, you can buy the original Armchair Cinema pilot for the series right here on Amazon.

If you are a "Sweeney" fan, or if you like a good old TV show, this box set is highly recommended.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

David G. Lamplugh
5.0 out of 5 stars begs for further seasons released on region 1
Reviewed in the United States on 5 September 2009
Verified Purchase
This season one box set is a good start if you are unfamiliar with The Sweeney, the seminal british police procedural of the seventies. I would put this series high on a list of all time greatest cop shows, irregardless of country of origin. Though notably lacking the pilot episode "Regan", The set has more than a few classic episodes, including "Ringer" and the hilarious "Thin Ice". The Sweeney has a reputation of being quite violent, but most modern viewers have nothing to worry about on this score (though i sense that people that have an even mild interest . The violence and hard charging police tactics are mild by today's television standards. There is a seventies pre-delection for action, punch-ups and car chases. Fans of Starsky and Hutch and Miami Vice will not be disappointed in their choice of The Sweeney, Season One for this very reason. That said, there is a decidedly more realistic and cerebral under current at play in the Sweeney, mostly due to the excellent characterizations provide by John Thaw and Dennis Waterman. The character of Regan provides an interesting counterpoint to John Thaw's later, more famous work as Inspector Morse, the similarities being, if anything, more interesting than the differences. Thaw frequently played an alcoholic with a fanatical sense of duty and workaholic tendencies. Apparently, Thaw had these qualities in real life, so it was a fairly easy sell to produce on screen. Necessarily, the later character of Morse is a far less physical being, relying on almost entirely on brains with the brawn and pint purchasing ability provide by sergeant Lewis. Regan, befitting a much younger man, a man raised in the tough mancunian north, kicks down his own doors, and seems to relish putting a hand on the bad guys. Besides that, the differences are mainly structural and procedural. Regan is the head of the flying squad, similar to a major crimes unit in the U.S. The flying squad deals mostly with grand theft, forgery, and racketeering. Morse is, of course, murder police through and through, and the Oxford locale of the Inspector Morse series begs for an more nuanced approach to policing. All for now, enjoy season one on DVD, and hope that the PAL
Report
Phil Cottrell
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic 70's UK Cop Show
Reviewed in Canada on 26 January 2008
Verified Purchase
Of course it's dated.
Big ties.
Polyester suits.
Political correctness? Do me a favour, guv!
Whisky and women? Of course.

You owe it to yourself to buy this series. Bollocks to the filmed in studio thing, this is done on location in the least time possible and gives a view of 70's London that you can't get anywhere else. I only hope they bring out later seasons in North American DVD format.
11 people found this helpful
 Report
T. Neff
5.0 out of 5 stars Get yer trousers on, you're nicked.
Reviewed in the United States on 2 July 2007
Verified Purchase
If you're a Brit this TV show is as famous as Starsky & Hutch, so allow me to address the US consumer for a moment.

Remember when US TV comedy was mostly cringe inducing twaddle, but British TV comedy was genius stuff like Fawlty Towers and Good Neighbors? What you DIDN'T know was that serious British TV drama was often just as brilliant, but didn't translate as well ("too British") and had no hope of a US licensing deal to allow you to see it.

And thus we have THE SWEENEY, a ground-breaking show about Britain's elite coppers The Flying Squad. (Cockney rhyming slang: Flying Squad = Sweeney Todd = The Sweeney.) Previous British police shows had been relatively genteel affairs, but THE SWEENEY exposed the raw side of street policing. Inspector Jack Regan (John Thaw of Inspector Morse fame) is a born cop and a stone predator in the crime jungle. He will bend the rules when necessary to achieve rough justice. His sidekick George Carter (Dennis Waterman) often calls his methods into question, but is always ready when the scrap is on.

Rather than dissect every episode and angle, let me just say that if you cherish great acting, strong casting, inventive plotting and tasty style, THE SWEENEY will afford you many hours of pleasure. The dialog will, at times, require a US viewer to listen attentively. Once you've watched a few episodes and gotten into the London and Manchester argot, it becomes easier. I could wish for an English subtitle track in future series however. It's been a lifesaver with  Life on Mars: Series 1 [Region 2 ] where it can get a bit thick.
25 people found this helpful
 Report
E. Janse
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeney
Reviewed in the United States on 26 April 2023
Verified Purchase
Great police series from the 70's !
Report
denise b george
4.0 out of 5 stars Old time tv
Reviewed in the United States on 22 January 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the original tv show which the movie was based on.I brought this for my husband for christmas,as i grew up in the uk i was able to watch it when i was growing up.It is very retro!
Report