lee nicholson (dolemite72) STACY KEACH (always under-rated) plays burnt out (alcoholic) ex-Scotland yard inspector, JIM NABOTH a likable, but weak single father of two young boys. The bottle seems to be his only genuine 'care'. Coming out of 'd-tox', he is hero-worshipped by petty ex-con, TEDDY (a natural and warm performance, by none other than TV comic FREDDIE STARR) who tries to keep his ex-arresting officer off the booze, and on the straight and narrow. It seems that, Naboth's ex wife has remarried to a wealthy bank boss, and her (and her daughters)subsequent kidnapping, forces her new husband (EDWARD FOX) turns to Naboth for help. The kidnappers (played with sinister conviction by the late great David HEMMINGS and STEPHEN BOYD) know nothing of this woman's former husband, and pass Naboth of as a washed up alcoholic ex-cop...............Big mistake!MICHAEL APTED's cracking seventies thriller is simplistic in it's unfolding of events (unlike the 'complicated-ness' of THE LONG GOOD Friday) and THE SQUEEZE is all the better for this. It has some great character studies, beneath it's violent melodrama. Most of all, it goes to painful lengths to strip the male ego, off all it's 'macho-posturing', this is, at first, highly evident in KEACH's bare-boned performance (the desperate-ness he conveys, is powerful stuff) but later on in the movie, the kidnappers force Naboth's ex-wife to perform a strip routine, whilst 'The Stylistics' warble 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW'in the background. This sequence, is meant for the kidnappers titillation, because it's extremely unerotic and painful to watch as a movie viewer. Credit to CAROL WHITE for a great performance during this scene. Apted, proves (especially with that sequence) that it is, indeed a man's world...and all the worse for it.Given that this film is rarely heard of (despite, i think being better than GET CARTER and THE LONG GOOD Friday...sorry guys, i think it is!) is the biggest crime of all. I would ask everyone reading this, to hunt down a copy of this fine film (Where's the DVD release?) and if anyone would like a copy, please get in touch with me.10 out 10, for it's performances (all great, no standouts) it's crisp direction, seedy locations, and above all else, it's cracking soundtrack by David HENTSCHEL.Highly recommended

kryan-1 This is a minor lost classic of a British gangster film done in the same vein as The Sweeney, Get Carter and The Long Good Friday. It proves that it doesn't have to be American to be authentic and realistic. In fact it's the film's gritty locations which add weight to the storyline. Former Detective Inspector Naboth, now a struggling private eye who live s in the bottle is called upon when his ex-wife is kidnapped. Stacey Keach is Jim Naboth who is called upon by ex-wifes new lover Edward Fox who is blackmailed into taking part in a bank heist. Look out for the scene when Stacey Keach is wearing nothing but a shoe to cover up his manhood after being forced to hand over all his clothes to villain boss "Irish Jack" who is a sadistic thug, except when it comes to his own daughter whom he dotes upon. Another controversial scene is when Jill(Carol White) who is the ex wife of Stacey Keach is forced to do a strip in front of the gangsters who are holding her captive. She is even made to choose what music she wants to strip to for their entertainment.Freddie Starr is excellent as "Teddy" who is a wet nurse to Stacey Keach and does his best to keep him away from the bottle and seedy pubs. The 1970's feel to this film reaches a dramatic climax towards the end when the robbery actually takes place and theres a few twists and turns in store.

hacker-9 Gritty, fast-paced British crime thriller typical of the genre-eg "Get Carter"; "The Long Good Friday", and although falls somewhat short of these classics, nevertheless delivers the requisite punch. Interestingly cast, with Stacy Keach on good form as the alcoholic ex-cop investigating the kidnap of his daughter; David Hemmings in smooth bad-guy mode, Edward Fox as the wealthy step-father,and Stephen Boyd, in his final film role delivering a menacing portrayal as master-villain Vic Smith. Shot in and around London, many of the scenes and settings will be familiar to British viewers of the 1970's TV hit "The Sweeney" with similar allusions to a less-than-perfect central character struggling with the violent London underworld. Massively under-rated at time of release; certainly a must for all fans of this peculiarly British genre.

earwig Early film from Michael Apted (2000 Bond film, The world is not enough, 7up series for TV, etc.) Stacey Keach gives a wonderfully seedy performance playing against type as an English, alcoholic ex-policeman searching for a kidnapped child. Watch out for English comic Freddie Starr in a straight role as Keach's friend and saviour. Filmed in London during the heatwave summer of 1976, most people of my age who were children at the time would remember London like this. The film uses great locations- The Thames, the Underground, tatty 1970s pubs, etc. The opening scene in the Underground station and the climax of the film are particularly good. Keach plays the seemingly hopeless alcoholic with great dignity. The film has a slick pace, an atmospheric twangy 1970s soundtrack, great action scenes and a familiar cast. It may be hard to find this film, it is often tucked away on TV in the middle of the night for some reason, but I would recommend it to all crime/gangster film fans.