Brannigan (film)

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Brannigan

Directed by	Douglas Hickox
Produced by	Arthur Garnder, Jules Levy
Written by	Michael Butler, Christopher Trumbo
Starring	John Wayne, Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, Mel Ferrer, John Vernon, Ralph Meeker, Daniel Pilon
Music by	Dominic Frontiere
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	March 26, 1975
IMDb profile

Brannigan is a 1975 film set in London starring John Wayne and Richard Attenborough, directed by Douglas Hickox. It tells the story of a Chicago detective sent to England to organise the extradition of an American mobster (John Vernon).

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After turning down the role of Dirty Harry and seeing the subsequent success of the film John Wayne made two gritty police thrillers in quick succession. After McQ he ventured over the Atlantic to make a “cop out of water” film in the same vein as Clint Eastwood's Coogan's Bluff.

Tough Chicago cop Jim Brannigan is sent to London to extradite notorious American gangster, Ben Larkin, but before he can collect him, Larkin is kidnapped and Brannigan spends the rest of the film chasing around London in search of his quarry. Whilst struggling to adapt to the British way of life and the restrained style of policing, he employs techniques not usually seen outside Chicago. In the meantime, a contract has been put out on Brannigan's life by Larkin to prevent him from being extradited.

Richard Attenborough gives support as the stuffy, upper-class Metropolitan Police Commander who's not afraid to get his hands dirty . There is continual conflict on screen about Brannigan's retention and use of his handgun. Small roles are taken by Brian Glover and Don Henderson as heavies and Tony Robinson (from Blackadder).

The film is notable for it's well executed action sequences, including a specatuclar car chase featuring Brannigan jumping a Ford Capri across Tower Bridge.