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
Running time	111 min.
Language	English
Allmovie profile
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).

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 running 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 (or other large U.S. cities). In the meantime, a contract has been put out on Brannigan's life by Larkin to prevent him from being extradited to the U.S.

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. Other roles are taken by Judy Geeson, Mel Ferrer, James Booth, Anthony Booth, Brian Glover, Don Henderson and Tony Robinson.

The film is notable for its well-executed action sequences, including a spectacular car chase featuring Brannigan jumping a yellow Ford Capri coupe across the half raised Tower Bridge. One sequence features shots of the interior and exterior of London's famous Royal Automobile Club, which has changed little since the shooting of the film.