The Squeeze (1977 film): Difference between revisions

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| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget = $1.4 million<ref name="los">The Nonthinking Equilibrium of Stacy Keach
Roberts, Glenys. Los Angeles Times 31 Oct 1976: t73. </ref>
| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}


'''''The Squeeze''''' is a 1977 British [[gangster]] [[thriller film|thriller]], directed by [[Michael Apted]], based on a novel by [[Bill James (novelist)|Bill James]] (under the pseudonym David Craig).<ref>[http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/130323/desc/james-bill/ The Writers of Wales Database: Bill James]. Accessed 27 August 2014</ref> The screenplay was written by [[Minder (TV series)|Minder]] creator [[Leon Griffiths]].
'''''The Squeeze''''' is a 1977 British [[gangster]] [[thriller film|thriller]], directed by [[Michael Apted]], based on a novel by [[Bill James (novelist)|Bill James]] (under the pseudonym David Craig).<ref>[http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/130323/desc/james-bill/ The Writers of Wales Database: Bill James]. Accessed 27 August 2014</ref> The screenplay was written by [[Minder (TV series)|Minder]] creator [[Leon Griffiths]].<ref>SQUEEZE, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 44, Iss. 516, (Jan 1, 1977): 80. </ref>


The production headlines a major cast made up of American actor [[Stacy Keach]], and British actors [[Edward Fox (actor)|Edward Fox]] and [[David Hemmings]]. Irish actor [[Stephen Boyd]] was also featured in a major (and final) role as a gangster.
The production headlines a major cast made up of American actor [[Stacy Keach]], and British actors [[Edward Fox (actor)|Edward Fox]] and [[David Hemmings]]. Irish actor [[Stephen Boyd]] was also featured in a major (and final) role as a gangster.


Apted called it an informed look at the British underworld," and said Warner Bros considered the film "too indigenous."<ref>'A Certain Edge'
Yakir, Dan. Film Comment; New York Vol. 20, Iss. 1, (Jan/Feb 1984): 29-32,78. </ref>
==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Stacy Keach]] as Jim Naboth
* [[Stacy Keach]] as Jim Naboth
Line 57: Line 61:


==Production==
==Production==
The film was shot in London in October 1976.<ref name="los"/> Keach had lived and worked in London for many years. He says Apted was "a wonderful and intelligent director" who cast the actor on the basis of his appearance in ''Conduct Unbecoming''.<ref name="sk">{{cite book|first=Stacy|last=Keach|page=120|title=All in all : an actor's life on and off the stage|yer=2013 |publisher=Lyons Press }}</ref>


The producers of ''The Squeeze'' enlisted an ex-gangster called Bob Ramsey to act as a contact between the film unit and the local underworld to cut down on harassment, due to location shooting in rather undesirable areas where criminals were operating. Local people in the area were hired as extras. ''[[Sex Pistols]]'' guitarist [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]] accidentally became an extra in the film.
The producers of ''The Squeeze'' enlisted an ex-gangster called Bob Ramsey to act as a contact between the film unit and the local underworld to cut down on harassment, due to location shooting in rather undesirable areas where criminals were operating. Local people in the area were hired as extras. ''[[Sex Pistols]]'' guitarist [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]] accidentally became an extra in the film.

==Reception==
==Reception==

'''''The Squeeze''''' has been called a better sequel to ''[[Sweeney!]]'' than ''[[Sweeney 2]]'', with "superbly drawn and vividly played villains" (Leon Hunt).{{sfn|Hunt|1999|p=143}}
'''''The Squeeze''''' has been called a better sequel to ''[[Sweeney!]]'' than ''[[Sweeney 2]]'', with "superbly drawn and vividly played villains" (Leon Hunt).{{sfn|Hunt|1999|p=143}}


On its release, the tabloid paper [[News of the World]] called The Squeeze, "A nail-biting thriller...".
On its release, the tabloid paper [[News of the World]] called The Squeeze, "A nail-biting thriller...".


Keach said the film "didn't translate in America but it was well regarded and successful in England."<ref name="sk"/>
==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 12:49, 4 March 2020

The Squeeze
Directed byMichael Apted
Screenplay byLeon Griffiths
Produced byStanley O'Toole
Starring
CinematographyDennis C. Lewiston
Edited byJohn Shirley
Music byDavid Hentschel
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • 7 November 1977 (1977-11-07) (Sweden)
  • 20 March 1977 (1977-03-20) (United Kingdom)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.4 million[1]

The Squeeze is a 1977 British gangster thriller, directed by Michael Apted, based on a novel by Bill James (under the pseudonym David Craig).[2] The screenplay was written by Minder creator Leon Griffiths.[3]

The production headlines a major cast made up of American actor Stacy Keach, and British actors Edward Fox and David Hemmings. Irish actor Stephen Boyd was also featured in a major (and final) role as a gangster.

Apted called it an informed look at the British underworld," and said Warner Bros considered the film "too indigenous."[4]

Cast

Production

The film was shot in London in October 1976.[1] Keach had lived and worked in London for many years. He says Apted was "a wonderful and intelligent director" who cast the actor on the basis of his appearance in Conduct Unbecoming.[5]

The producers of The Squeeze enlisted an ex-gangster called Bob Ramsey to act as a contact between the film unit and the local underworld to cut down on harassment, due to location shooting in rather undesirable areas where criminals were operating. Local people in the area were hired as extras. Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones accidentally became an extra in the film.

Reception

The Squeeze has been called a better sequel to Sweeney! than Sweeney 2, with "superbly drawn and vividly played villains" (Leon Hunt).[6]

On its release, the tabloid paper News of the World called The Squeeze, "A nail-biting thriller...".

Keach said the film "didn't translate in America but it was well regarded and successful in England."[5]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b The Nonthinking Equilibrium of Stacy Keach Roberts, Glenys. Los Angeles Times 31 Oct 1976: t73.
  2. ^ The Writers of Wales Database: Bill James. Accessed 27 August 2014
  3. ^ SQUEEZE, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 44, Iss. 516, (Jan 1, 1977): 80.
  4. ^ 'A Certain Edge' Yakir, Dan. Film Comment; New York Vol. 20, Iss. 1, (Jan/Feb 1984): 29-32,78.
  5. ^ a b Keach, Stacy. All in all : an actor's life on and off the stage. Lyons Press. p. 120. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |yer= ignored (|location= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Hunt 1999, p. 143.

References

  • Hunt, Leon (1999). "Chapter 12. Dog Eat Dog: The Squeeze and the Sweeney Films". In Chibnall, Steve; Murphy, Robert (eds.). British Crime Cinema. London: Routledge. pp. 134–147. ISBN 0-415-16870-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)