Brannigan (1975)

Director:

Douglas Hickox

Writers:

Christopher Trumbo (screenplay) and
Michael Butler (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Big Jim Brannigan takes on London - Chicago Style !

Plot:

Jim Brannigan is sent to London to bring back an American mobster who is being held for extradition...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | American Abroad | Irish American | American In The Uk | London England

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

John Wayne	...	Lt. Brannigan
Richard Attenborough	...	Cmdr. Swann
Judy Geeson	...	Jennifer
Mel Ferrer	...	Fields
John Vernon	...	Larkin
Daniel Pilon	...	Gorman
John Stride	...	Insp.Traven
James Booth	...	Charlie-the-Handle
Arthur Batanides	...	Angell
Ralph Meeker	...	Capt. Moretti
Barry Dennen	...	Julian
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Luana (as Lesley Anne Down)
Pauline Delaney	...	Mrs. Cooper (as Pauline Delany)
Del Henney	...	Drexel
Brian Glover	...	Jimmy-the-Bet

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #24041) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Wellborn

Trivia:

The production was difficult for John Wayne since he had heart problems and had just recovered from a severe bout of pneumonia.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the end of the bar brawl, paint cans on a wall shelf on the far side of the sound stage can be seen through the open exit door.

Quotes:

Brannigan: How's the world's second-best navy?
Royal Navy Sailor: You should know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Enforcer (1976/I)

Soundtrack:

Let the Sunshine In

"Exciting, fast-paced and slickly directed."

Lieutenant Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) is sent to London to extradite an extortionist called Ben Larkin. However, things become more complicated when Larkin is abducted by some hoods and at the same time, Gorman (Daniel Pilon), a contract killer is out to kill Brannigan.

Exciting, fast-paced and slickly directed by Douglas Hickox who directed Oliver Reed in "Sitting Target" (1972 - see my review), and in common with that film, his direction has the right feel for tough guy thrillers employing the right actors and staging some fantastic action scenes such as a marvelous pub brawl in a London bar. And also in common with "Sitting Target" the direction papers over a somewhat deficient script. Great performances from John Wayne as Brannigan and Richard Attenbrough as the commander of Scotland Yard frustrated at the former's police methods which seem unorthodox by British standards. Judy Geeson is good as Detective Sgt Thatcher who is assigned to keep Brannigan out of trouble while Daniel Pilon is superb as the contract killer out for Brannigan's blood. The film is an obvious rip off of "Dirty Harry" (1971)which Wayne regretted turning down after he saw that movie.