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Post by jno on Mar 1, 2016 14:36:18 GMT
Suggested by: me
Ok, it goes without saying we love all three but a super tough decision to ponder on this week - which of our favourite shows on here had the best opening titles?
Minder
The Professionals (v2)
The Sweeney (v1)
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Deleted
Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 14:38:06 GMT
I love all three but I suppose for impact it would have to be Version 2 of 'The Professionals' when the car comes crashing through a glass pane.
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Post by jno on Mar 1, 2016 14:44:29 GMT
I love all three but I suppose for impact it would have to be Version 2 of 'The Professionals' when the car comes crashing through a glass pane. This is an incredibly TOUGH one for me. They are ALL great in a different way - Minder, it's cool and tells a story - GC's face says what he thinks without even saying a word. If there was ever a way "to tell a story without dialog" this is example 1 - it's great. That bass guitar is just totally magic too. For me, Minder is probably the cleverest of the three mixing old and new with a non-spoken story. The Professionals - wow, fair play it's an absolutely killer intro and the glass smash and mega opening chord is absolutely superb. The Sweeney - fair play, I love it too, especially the snare drum on every beat and the fact "THE SWEENEY" appears right on cue for the first main hook in the tune - but of the three is probably the less "feature full" of all of them - still excellent though. I think based on music alone, I would have to go with The Professionals (the full orchestra, killer guitar sound, top drums - it's perfection on a plate for a music head like me) but this is simply too tough to call for me based on "best titles" as a whole. Too hard. |
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Post by flyingsquad on Mar 1, 2016 14:55:12 GMT
Sit on the fence for me as I like all three. I prefer the first Sweeney titles to the second Sweeney titles with the prism and awful bell over the music. I like both the Professionals 'Assault Course' and 'Car Smash' titles.
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Post by plasticpenguin on Mar 1, 2016 21:13:46 GMT
All three are really good. However, seeing that Granada smashing through the window The Pros just edge it.
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steve
Winchester Regular
Posts: 42 
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Post by steve on Mar 1, 2016 21:57:04 GMT
All three are great and will always be out standing for me, but it's Minder for me because of GC and DW faces and the camera shots cut up with the stills tell the story in a great way,
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SunRayD
Winchester Regular
In the car.
Posts: 46
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Post by SunRayD on Mar 1, 2016 21:58:44 GMT
This is the first time I see the intros of Minder and Sweeney. And I have never seen an episode of them either. So my first impression was: The Minder intro doesn’t catch my attention, I think it’s a bit boring, but I admit that I don’t have a clue what Minder is about.
The Sweeney is a nice one in colour and style and I like the music. Reminds me of James Bond coupled with Pink Panther.
So ... waiting a while ... watching again. Repeatedly.
...
No, nothing’s changed. Car through glass, the introduction of the lads, the editing, the music, the tension. The Professionals it is.
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Post by felixdeburgh on Mar 1, 2016 23:29:06 GMT
The Professionals for me although I actually prefer the 'assault course' titles.
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Post by plasticpenguin on Mar 2, 2016 0:25:02 GMT
The Professionals for me although I actually prefer the 'assault course' titles. Only have this version on series One 'When The Heat Cools Off'. Not sure how many eps had this version. |
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SunRayD
Winchester Regular
In the car.
Posts: 46
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Post by SunRayD on Mar 2, 2016 1:19:56 GMT
Only have this version on series One 'When The Heat Cools Off'. Not sure how many eps had this version. 13 - all first season episodes. At least on the Network DVDs. (And the original UK transmissions as far as I know.) |
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Post by dscarter1975 on Mar 2, 2016 1:27:38 GMT
The Professionals - action, excitement and a killer theme tune that everyone remembers. The assault course intro was awesome too but the series 2-5 one was much more sleeker, stylish and cooler. The series 4 intro of The Sweeney would have been better if there was a freeze frame on John and Dennis and there were no sound effects, including the bell and the screeching tyres.
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Post by jno on Mar 2, 2016 4:41:14 GMT
The Professionals - action, excitement and a killer theme tune that everyone remembers. The assault course intro was awesome too but the series 2-5 one was much more sleeker, stylish and cooler. Myself and dscarter1975 separated at birth I'm sure - the amount of stuff we agree about on here is phenomenal, this is the next one! Those assault course titles just don't do it for me. Cowley in a roller and the lads hamming it up to look like the super-fit is just a step too far for me. v2 of The Professionals is the sleek more special agent type title for me. The green branding is all part of CI5 and was so as I was growning up. For me the scenes in v2 are far more representative of what the episodes are like - tension, action, a bit of suspense thrown in there, Doyle pretending to be super cool in his trainers while Bodie is really IS cool because he's rock. The music also matches the twists and turns in the titles perfectly I think. Compared to the other two, agreed Minder is much slower but let's not forget that Minder isn't an action show, more comedy/drama with a bit of action thrown in like salt and vinegar on top of your fish'n'chips to add the necessary when called for. As mentioned above, for me Minder is the cleverest of the three titles as you arguably take more from it in terms of what it's about in general - bloke buys a car from someone who is clearly up to something, they have history, bloke was a boxer and done a bit of porridge along the way. General question - 'What are the main aims and objectives of ANY opening titles?' - just to introduce the characters and performers? - stimulate interest? - brand the show in some way? - help those who might have missed a few previous eps? Also I wonder how much of an effect such opening titles have on the success of a show generally? Certainly as most would agree these three are very good here, how much of these shows being so fondly remembered is because of great opening sequences? |
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Deleted
Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 8:16:08 GMT
Only have this version on series One 'When The Heat Cools Off'. Not sure how many eps had this version. 13 - all first season episodes. At least on the Network DVDs. (And the original UK transmissions as far as I know.) Yes, all S1 episodes were first shown with the original "assault course" titles. LWT then re-edited them with the S2 title sequence. |
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Post by Portland Road on Mar 2, 2016 9:03:02 GMT
They were all excellent title sequences. Regarding 'The Sweeney', retrospectively I think the blue-tinged photo sequence of seasons 1-3 works better than the fish-eye lens of season 4, though the latter was cutting-edge at the time.
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Post by Arch Stanton on Mar 2, 2016 14:17:57 GMT
The Pros is the best opening. The music is the funkiest and it completely grabs your attention..
I do agree about the others with what's been said. But I'd also add that the downbeat end credits to The Sweeney, are great.
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Deleted
Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 14:40:59 GMT
I think the Series 4 end credits of 'The Sweeney' top the lot with JT and DW strolling down the London streets. Superb.
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Post by daz on Mar 2, 2016 20:03:11 GMT
Well said MIAS. I love the end music and credits from The Sweeney,superb. AFter the exitement of a Sweeney episode, the end tune has a calming influence.
The Profs is my favourite opening credits, Laurie Johnsons composition is timeless.
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Post by mrschisholm on Mar 2, 2016 20:27:21 GMT
Easily The Professionals. Sweeney is pretty good too because of the music, but Professionals is the dynamic one. Shocking but true: I don't really like Minder's credits  |
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Post by flyingsquad on Mar 2, 2016 20:34:06 GMT
Easily The Professionals. Sweeney is pretty good too because of the music, but Professionals is the dynamic one. Shocking but true: I don't really like Minder's credits I like Minder's titles as it shows what the programme is about but it doesn't have the impact of Professionals and Sweeney titles as they are action shows whereas Minder is comedy/drama. |
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Post by ace5150 on Mar 3, 2016 19:05:24 GMT
Graphics......Professionals.
Music.........Sweeney
I had the music to The Sweeney as my ringtone for a few years as well before finally settling on London Calling.
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Post by gustav on Mar 4, 2016 0:24:15 GMT
The Sweeney music is so distinctive for me.
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Post by KarinB on Mar 4, 2016 10:48:30 GMT
I've thought and discussed this before so I know my answer. I prefer 'Minder' as the best opening titles.  I like that it is a little story with Terry buying the Capri from Arthur. It makes me think about whether this is their first meeting or not. The black/white pics give interesting little hints about Terry and Arthur.  I also like that Dennis sings the theme song.  It is one of few programs that I won't fastforward past the opening credits if I am watching it on dvd.  |
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Post by ltd on Mar 4, 2016 19:37:23 GMT
The Sweeney for me - conveys the essence of the show in a brilliantly minimalist fashion. Likewise the music (plus you can sing along to it at home).
The series 4 titles were a step backwards I thought, especially the Police Squad style shaky poses by John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, occasionally supplemented by an unflattering freeze frame of Garfield Morgan. Quite liked the Kaleidoscope effect but prefer the old school blue tinted pics from series 1-3.
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Post by wayne2467 on Mar 8, 2016 16:26:03 GMT
All great tunes. Think I prefer the Sweeneys closing music over the opening one though.
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Post by I used to think I was a parrot on Apr 17, 2016 23:04:54 GMT
I have to say The Professionals. Brilliant music, great graphics and shots, and it always make me laugh when it has Lewis's credits with him punching that punchbag!
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arnie
Winchester Regular
"My word is my bond - stand on me"
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Post by arnie on Apr 20, 2016 12:57:43 GMT
Nightmare one for me as I don't like sitting on the fence!!
Minder - for all the obvious reasons.
Professionals - the car (Cortina??) through the window kicking off a decent theme tune and exciting intro.
Sweeney - the ultimate 70's intro of a proper old fashioned car chase. Love the Granada (Consul?) chasing the Jag over a superb iconic theme tune.
I'm going with the Sweeney for the raw imagery of old school cops and robbers, the 70's shoes.... and closing credits with the moody, almost haunting tune and sobering, retrospective imagery of the descent to a weary normality at the end of the day.
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Post by Zimbo on Jun 26, 2016 15:06:50 GMT
They are all great. No mention of the Minder end titles with the b/w photos of Terry and Arthur plus THAT theme.tune.
It was a good try to change the Sweeney titles, even if they aren't as preferable to the original ones. Theme tune highlight is the key change (on Dennis Waterman's credit s1 to 3)
I like both Professionals titles. LWT should never have replaced the first series ones, leaving them as they are. They both work with the opening chime of the theme tune.
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larchlapriley
On Wages
"Larchlap Riley is not a fence. He is an honest businessman" Arthur E Daley
Posts: 64
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Post by larchlapriley on Jul 12, 2016 21:17:02 GMT
Obviously I'm sitting on the fence (I'm not called Larchlap Riley for nothing you know). I loved both versions of the Sweeney titles but I can't vote against the greatest show ever on British TV!
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Post by fordcapri on Jun 24, 2017 14:12:45 GMT
THE SWEENEY. Without a doubt. The perfect mix of music and picture. Never bettered.
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Post by McCann on Feb 9, 2018 21:20:17 GMT
The Professionals it has to be. But all three are excellent and will often come up today when people discuss the best intros of all time.
I like the series 1-3 Sweeney closing credits with the soothing theme music fitting in perfectly as the three make their way out of the office. A bit weary after another day figuring out the villains.
It's a mark I Granada that quickly breaks through that plate glass in the Professionals. I always see it as several floors up in the building, rather than ground level. Must be the sky reflecting in the glass right before the Granada bursts through. Makes you wonder what the hell was going on in that building to lead to that. But probably the most effective opening to any title sequence anywhere.
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I like that it is a little story with Terry buying the Capri from Arthur. It makes me think about whether this is their first meeting or not. The black/white pics give interesting little hints about Terry and Arthur. 
It is one of few programs that I won't fastforward past the opening credits if I am watching it on dvd. 
