Watch Now: THE SQUEEZE

In 1974, Welsh novelist James Tucker wrote a novel Whose Little Girl Are You? under the pseudonym of David Craig. Two years later, under the wings of Warner Bros. Pictures, director Michael Apted (Coal Miner’s Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, The World Is Not Enough) started shooting a film adaptation called The Squeeze, with a screenplay written by comedy-drama Minder creator Leon Griffiths. This “informed look at the British underworld”, as Apted later described it, introduces us to a depressed Scotland Yard detective with a drinking problem, who must get his act together if he wants to save a colleague’s kidnapped wife and daughter. What makes the stakes even higher is the fact that the abducted woman is also his ex-wife.

With a great cast led by Stacy Keach, Edward Fox and David Hemmings, The Squeeze is a nail-biting crime thriller that juxtaposes explosive action with a thoughtful character study of the protagonist and his state of mind, all accompanied by David Hentschel’s progressive score. The air of authenticity penetrates from the screen, as the film makes great use of shooting exclusively on location in rough parts of London. A strong recommendation for anyone looking for a tough British crime flick.

Watch Now: THE SQUEEZE