A series called "Armchair Cinema" surfaced in the mid 1970s. It was a series of plays that were shot entirely on film and represented major changes for British television. Now, viewers would be watching programmes which would cast aside the constraints of the studio and give television a more natural and less flamboyant look. Each play from "Armchair Cinema" was a self-contained story and with some fine actors. In all honesty, a few of them aren't very good, the stories weren't interesting enough. However, a few others are great. The plays were broadcast between 1974 and 1980. In my honest opinion, "Regan" is by far the best play. It was the only one out of all of them that led to its own series and that gives me a slightly proud feeling. Meet Detective Inspector Jack Regan of the Flying Squad at Scotland Yard - unorthodox in his methods and constantly clashing with his fellow officers. Regan usually achieves good results but at a cost. He's always going by his own hunches and doesn't feel a need to function as part of a team. In today's world, Regan would struggle to fit into the kind of "politically correct" world that we inhibit. After a police officer is fatally beaten by a London syndicate, Regan takes it upon himself to investigate and to bring those responsible to book. He secures the help of George Carter, a Detective Sergeant, in uncovering something quite complicated and sinister regarding warring London syndicates. The writing and the acting are exceptional. The tone and the style that would follow with the series of "Sweeney" is immediately established, which is vital. The play had a few twists and turns and I was enthralled. The play has a much more harsh and gritty style than the other ones from "Armchair Cinema." Neither Regan or Carter are more or less brave or heroic than your typical Police officer. They just carry out their duty to the best of their ability and hope they catch some criminals. Television of this quality is rather seldom nowadays.
