The Firechasers

In reply to an earlier review Network DVD are going to release this on DVD on the 1st November 2010.

I remember seeing this TV movie on ITV one Christmas in the mid 1970s and thought it was fairly reasonable ITC fare. I have to agree with another reviewer that it was not difficult to work out who the culprit was, I can even remember the plot pretty well all these years later. I am looking forward to getting the DVD to see what I think of it some 35 years later. Network are initially releasing 'The Firechasers' as a "web site exclusive" so it won't be available at online stores like Amazon for a while yet.

A fast-moving potboiler from the people that brought you 'The Avengers', complete with obvious add breaks. Energetically directed by Sidney Hayers, it's a pyromaniac's dream shot in bright colours in a London of red telephone boxes in the days when people knew what a teasmade was.

Cameos include John Loder in his only film after the fifties, Allan Cuthbertson incongruously dressed as a fire chief, Marianne Stone as a nuisance caller nicknamed 'Edwards the Confessor' and Roy Kinnear as a suspect who drives the most easily identifiable car in London.

The leads are imported yanks Chad Everett and Anjanette Comer, but the best-drawn female character is a cool, large-maned actress called Joanne Dainton (who sadly made few films), here wearing glasses and a lab coat to show she's brainy.

Filmed for showing as a TV Movie of the Week in the US and as a supporting feature in UK cinemas, this utilized the talents of several former Avengers personnel, director Sidney Hayers, writer Philip Levene, Laurie Johnson with an unmistakable score and Julian Wintle producing. Trademark fast-moving direction of the action scenes from Hayers, with no time wasted on people getting in and out of cars for example. The quirky character played by Roy Kinnear is very Avengers, in fact he'd played similar types in the show. A last appearance from 1930's leading man John Loder, while surprising to see the smooth Allan Cuthbertson, usually seen as one of the officer class, as a firefighter. Not too difficult to guess the identity of the arsonist, but the fires are relatively convincing, though how the hero and heroine emerged with barely singeing their eyebrows is anyone's guess. Good undemanding entertainment nevertheless.

This film was made by Lew Grade for the bottom half of British cinema bills and for showing on CBS tv,hence the 2 bland American leads.The plot is poorly developed.We know very early on who did it,but not why.The leads wear a multitude of clothes,every scene something different.The only pleasure is in seeing so many familiar faces amongst the cast.Shows you the lack of imagination at Rank,showing this with Carry on Henry.Far too long for a supporting feature.

Watchable. Interesting to see old actors much younger. Older style vehicles and fashions. Definitely a programme filler but a good film.