However the show can be slightly awkward, particularly DS North (played by Roger Rowland) through no fault of the actor, his character was just not made interesting or deep enough. Patrick Mover was brought in mid way through the series to liven it up a bit by being a more rebellious and macho character, which seemed to ignite the show a bit. Many of the episodes are based on espionage plots, much like the later episodes of The Professionals, but by staying true to replicating Special Branch procedures it almost limits itself to the amount of action it can include in the show.

It was a ground breaking series, when we look back to set based shows like Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green, but it lacked the real punch and grit of its Euston Films brother - The Sweeney so has been overshadowed by The Sweeney's legacy.

Its still very entertaining, and features some good episodes and early cameos from support actors who later went on to be household names.

Gritty, cynical 'seventies British TV drama at its best
Review date: 2005-01-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

There is a common perception that TV in Britain isn't what it used to be. A magical 'golden age' of TV is often imagined, starting somewhere in the mid-sixties (possibly with the start of BBC2 in 1964) and ending at the start of the 'eighties.

I wonder how many people would consider Special Branch to be part of the 'golden age'. Not many, I reckon. Even the actors who appeared in it - George Sewell and Patrick Mower - interviewed on the DVD set of the 1974 series (also available as a network release) seem to be somewhat apologetic about it. Mower suggests that he was brought in to "grab the series by the balls" after the filming of the first six episodes because the format wasn't working, and Sewell disarmingly admits that it lacked the "polish" of its highly-regarded successor, The Sweeney.

Well, forgive me for disagreeing, but Special Branch - at least the 1973 and 1974 series - certainly deserve to be seen as part of the golden age of British TV. Well acted, well scripted, and the first of Thames TV offshoot Euston Films' productions shot entirely on film and on location, this series is a gem from start to finish.

Chic, it certainly isn't. It's gritty and cynical, an attitude superbly captured by Sewell's portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Craven, a smoking, swearing, punching copper whose idiosyncratic methods - in a wonderfully cliché-snubbing way - do not always get results. A sense of almost sordid ethical ambivalence pervades the series: you find yourself siding with the 'criminal' as often as with the law, who themselves often wonder why they are pursing their latest hapless victim.

London in the 'seventies - a far grubbier and decaying city than that of today - is superbly captured on film, as is the dullness and dimness of Special Branch's office. The dialogue often displays its 1970s heritage - girlfriends are 'birds', gays are 'queers'. Yet, Craven - an archetypal East Ender - has a West Indian girlfriend, and becomes prickly when racism rears its ugly head. This on-screen relationship must have been quite a novelty on early 'seventies TV, and I bet it did far more to highlight the absurdity of racism than any number of episodes of the 'ironic' 'Till Death Us Do Part or the ghastly Love Thy Neighbour.

In a series of 13 episodes there will always be the odd dud script and there is one here - Episode 9, Threat, is absolutely dire. But the rest are uniformly excellent. Some stand out as superb television drama, especially A Copper Called Craven, Round the Clock and Inquisition. The latter, in particular, sums up the essential virtues of this series - a great script, superb dialogue, and down-to-earth, believable actors who can carry it off. The pace of such episodes is also interesting - slower than contemporary TV drama, but all the better for it. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

it's slow going but it's good.
Review date: 2004-03-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

I have no memory of this show from childhood but I do love a good cop show. This show starring George Sewell best known for 'UFO' and 'The Detectives' as DCI Craven. The plots are pretty run of the mill and bare comparison with 'The Sweeney'.The action is quite good in a 1970's way as are the basic storylines.Patrick Mower who is DCI Haggerty comes across as a brash 'Bodie' like person.Set against the plodding by the book Craven who won't rock the boat.They drive around in a lovely mk1 Ford Granada and stick out like a sore thumb.The Dvd's have been re-mastered and offer good quality at a resonable retail price.The very 'First' episode 'Troika' from series one is featured.As a purist I would have liked series 1 issued to be followed by the rest in order.However if you like 1970's cop drama to a high standard this is still a good purchase.

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