THE SQUEEZE 1977 Michael Apted

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by mr 420

This is a cracking little film in the vein of they don't make them like that anymore.

They certainly don't.
The grubby London locations are superb as is the film's underlying wit.

Stacy Keach,Carol White,David Hemmings,Alan Ford,Edward Fox,Stephen Boyd and even Freddie Starr are all superb.

It'd be interesting to hear the thoughts of Apted,Fox and Keach now.

[James Morton]

it would be really great if there was a sp ed of this brilliant Brit thriller w/Apted and Keach commentary
got the excellent Warner Archives dvdr
but a sp ed....

[Paul@TheOverlook]

Originally Posted by James Morton

it would be really great if there was a sp ed of this brilliant Brit thriller w/Apted and Keach commentary
got the excellent Warner Archives dvdr
but a sp ed....

Given that the BFI has already released THE DEVILS and REVOLUTION (both Warner titles) it would be lovely to see this and SITTING TARGET appear in the Flipside collection.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

ABSOLUTELY!

I was watching Bram Stoker's Dracula on Blu Ray recently and was surprised to see Michael Apted's name there as executive producer!

[Paul@TheOverlook]

Apted still makes films, notably Bond flick THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Yeah that's right.
Was quite surprised to see his name as EP though.
THE SQUEEZE along with GET CARTER and VILLAIN remain the UK's finest 70's crime films.
The Squeeze is like a more violent,sleazier,longer episode of The Sweeney.
What more can you ask for?

[Paul@TheOverlook]

You seen SITTING TARGET? If you've not I know you'll love it.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Read on Graham Humphrey's FB page that he was at a BFI screening of Apted's classic The Squeeze.
Hopefully if they're screening this,then they have something special up their sleeves ala The Devils.
An all singing,dancing Blu Ray release would be superb!

[Inspector Abberline]

When it comes to criminally under rated British movies then they do not come much more under rated than Micheal Apted's The Squeeze,other wise why hasn't it had a decent uk release yet,?? and considering the high cult appeal the like's of The Sweeney and Sidney Lumets The Offence have, you would think it would have a certain cult appeal,especially if you enjoy everything from The Performance to The Long Good Friday.And if that was not enough the screenplay was by Minder creator Leon Griffiths,directed by Michael Apted and starring a feast of British talent including David Hemmings,Edward Fox and er Freddie Starr,(who it has has to be said does a good job.of basically being a more mellow version of his hyperactive tv persona that was).And of course not forgetting the rather marvelous Stacy Keach as an alcoholic ex -police detective who while he isn't throwing up all over himself he is being humiliated by the local gangsters and made to walk home naked with only a shoe to cover his pride. Keach is on top form in the role Jim Naboth an ex-copper with more than his share of inner demons to contend with,alcohol being the main one,which caused him to be sacked and see the break up of his family.My only gripe with Keach's performance is that his accent does waver into something which sounds a little bit Aussie to me,but apart from that its a very convincing portrayal of a man tottering on the edge of despair at times.Of course no gangster film is complete without its villains,the main one being Irish hood Stephen Boyd as Vic and leader of the kidnapping gang David Hemmings as Keith,while both actors are good,Hemmings is masterful in the role as head gang member and manages to be charismatic and sinister in equal measures.Another highlight is an early appearance of hard man for hire Alan Ford,who must have been in every British gangster film since the 1970's.The plot is a fairly straight forward kidnap story,the twist being that the kidnapped woman Carol White as Jill,is Edward Fox's missus,but was also Keach's (Naboth) ex wife as well.If your like me,one of the fun things about British films from the 1970's is seeing all the locations from the past and comparing them to the present day,and The Squeeze uses some marvellous run down areas of London,especially the scenes where the daughter of Jill has been dumped inside a disused factory to die.A truly gripping thriller .

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Read my signature Inspector.

Surely this will appear on Blu soon on Warner Archive.....

One of my favourite all time films.
NEVER tire of watching it.