Brannigan

[yoloswegmaster]

“The Duke is in London, and London will never be the same!”

Veteran Chicago detective Jim Brannigan (John Wayne, The Searchers) is dispatched to London to bring back notorious gangster Ben Larkin (John Vernon, Dirty Harry), and is assured that the whole operation will run smoothly… However, things don’t go to plan and Brannigan soon finds himself in the crosshairs of Larkin’s thugs. Reluctantly teaming up with by-the-book Commander Swann of Scotland Yard (Richard Attenborough, The Great Escape), Brannigan tears through London leaving behind a trail of destruction whilst determined to re-capture Larkin.

Featuring great panoramic views of London shot by cinematographer Gerry Fisher (The Go-Between, Highlander) and with a supporting cast that includes Judy Geeson and Mel Ferrer, Brannigan proved an action-packed vehicle for John Wayne, capitalising on the success of Dirty Harry a few years earlier.

EXTRAS:

TBC

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced:

John Wayne is
BRANNIGAN
A film by Douglas Hickox

BFI Blu-ray release on 21 August 2023

Boasting incredible stunts, powerful punch-ups, dry dialogue and panoramic views of 1970s London shot by cinematographer Gerry Fisher (The Go-Between, Highlander), as well as a superb supporting cast including Judy Geeson and Mel Ferrer, Douglas Hickox’s 1975 feature BRANNIGAN still stands tall as an explosive, action-packed, highly entertaining and peculiarly British excursion for the legendary John Wayne.

Veteran Chicago detective Jim Brannigan (John Wayne, The Searchers) is dispatched to London to bring back notorious gangster Ben Larkin (John Vernon, Dirty Harry), and is assured that the whole operation will run smoothly. However, when things don’t go to plan, Brannigan finds himself in the crosshairs of Larkin’s thugs. Reluctantly teaming up with by-the-book Commander Swann of Scotland Yard (Richard Attenborough, The Great Escape), but determined to recapture Larkin no matter what, Brannigan tears through London, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Special features
• Presented in High Definition
• Audio commentary by Steve Mitchell and critic Nathaniel Thompson (2017)
• A Duke Out of Water (2023, 37 mins): reminiscences from the people who made Brannigan
• Frank Henson on Brannigan (2021, 4 mins): the veteran stuntman looks back on doubling the Duke
• Take It to the Bridge (1905-1956, 23 mins): historical glimpses of the Thames, Tower Bridge and other Brannigan locations
• A Policeman’s Lot (1896-1973, 35 mins): a copper’s clutch of films concerning crimefighters and crooks, proceeding from the very earliest days of cinema towards the Brannigan era
• The Guardian Interview: Richard Attenborough (1983, 88 mins, audio only): the award-winning actor and director, and John Wayne’s Brannigan co-star, reflects upon his illustrious career
• An extensive selection of location photographs, featuring cast and crew
• Original trailer
• ***First pressing only*** illustrated booklet with a new essay by Johnny Mains, a John Wayne biography by John Oliver, notes on the special features and film credits

Product details
RRP: £19.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1494 / 15
USA, UK / 1975 / colour / 111 minutes / English language with optional descriptive subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 // BD50: 1080p, 24fps, LPCM 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)

[therewillbeblus]

Curious about this one - seems more akin to Hickox's masterpiece Sitting Target than the two shrugfests I've seen of his from this period. I'm also really hoping someone releases Sitting Target...