I finally viewed "The Squeeze" (1977) after reading that it was like "The Sweeney," all 53 hard-hitting, snappy TV episodes I very much enjoyed but alas, despite a star-studded cast and gritty London locales, "The Squeeze" had me checking the time every 5 minutes, not a good sign, but still I slogged through it, starting with a slow falling-down drunk opener, the exact opposite of "The Sweeney." Stacey Keach is a handsome, soft spoken leading man but not a hard-boiled private eye, as this script has him too pathetic, vulernable, meek, mild and apologetic. Still, "The Squeeze" also includes Dennis Hemming of "Blow Up" and Stephen Boyd's final movie role. I was always wild about Boyd but he smoked too much and accepted too many tasteless parts which ruined his looks and his health. Here he is the especially rotten crime boss Vic with huge unflattering sideburns and a tight-fitting wardrobe (red check gingham shirt, big red carnation, small tweedy hat -- ugh!) And spouting a belief system about God and reincarnation - but Vic is an unnecessarily violent, leering gangster. I did like the clever, unorthodox ending.
Review of The Squeeze
