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Dick Turpin - Swiftnick
episode 1.1
UK 1979
produced by Sidney Cole, Paul Knight for Gatetarn, Seacastle, London Weekend Television/ITV
directed by Charles Crichton
starring Richard O'Sullivan, Christopher Benjamin, David Daker, Michael Deeks, Jo Rowbottom, Alex McCrindle, Billy Dean
written by Richard Carpenter, series created by Richard Carpenter, Sidney Cole, Paul Knight, music by Denis King
TV-series Dick Turpin, Dick Turpin (Richard O'Sullivan)
review by Mike Haberfelner
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England, the 1700s: It's common knowledge that Dick Turpin, highwayman,
has been hanged - only Captain Spiker (David Daker), Turpin's
arch-nemesis, believes they've only hanged an impostor, much to the
ridicule of the local Sheriff, Sir Glutton (Christopher Benjamin). Mary
Smith (Jo Rowbottom) is running a pub, with the place being on rent from
Sir Glutton, but wants her out so he has deliberately raised the rent she
can't dream of paying. So her son, Nick (Michael Deeks), decides to rob a
rich merchant dressing up as Dick Turpin - only the man whom he robs turns
out to be the real Dick Turpin in disguise, and he only just lets him
escape with his life. However, he then does put up the money for Sir
Glutton, with the intention of robbing the man again on his way home - but
it's a trap set up by Captain Spiker, and Turpin almost falls for it, if
it wasn't for Nick, who lures Spiker and company onto a false track - and
is captured and convicted to the gallows for it. And now it's up to Turpin
to free Nick again ... Swashbucklers haven't all done equally
well on the small screen in serialized form but Dick Turpin
sure's up there with the best of them, and this first episode already
shows why: It's told in a light-footed way with plenty of stuff happening
at all times, the characters are fleshed out and likeable (even the
heavies), it doesn't try to be bigger than the budget and format would
allow, and it does always have a wink in the eye to it without becoming a
pure parody let alone moronic. And above all, it's just a really good
watch.
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