Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) Eye Witness (1973) User Reviews

Great location, enjoyable story.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 30 June 2022]

A croupier, who's been fiddling his bosses is shot dead before escaping the country, his killers were unaware that an eye witness watched the events happen from a concealed spot.

This is the first episode I've seen from the 1970's, up until now I've only seen those from the 60's, as I expected, very different, a lot more gritty, it's more Z Cars, less cosy, genteel crime.

I quite enjoyed it, I liked the story, I liked the group of characters, I enjoyed the acting, particularly Stephen Greif and Gwyneth Powell.

It's perhaps a little hard to believe some of the events, they did seem to find her quite quickly, and the capture came as something of a let down, but all in all, pretty good.

Agatha Christie fans will definitely recognise the hotel location, a well known place, the setting for Evil under The Sun, and an inspiration to the great writer, it looks fantastic.

I liked Steve Plytas here, who played the Greek villain, Mr Colly, he did a line in villains, but I will forever think of him as Kurt from Fawlty Towers.

7/10.

Eye Witness

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 27 April 2024]

This episode should had come with a prior warning. Mrs McCluskey in her underwear. A generation of Grange Hill viewers were left in a state of shock!

Anne Hastings (Gwyneth Powell) saw some dodgy men kill her long term boyfriend, a dicey croupier.

Present at the murder was Mr Colly, a big time gangster who resides in France.

When the police arrive, they initially suspect Anne. That is until someone attempts to gun her down. Mr Colly got wind of a potential witness.

Sergeant George Dixon is tasked to keep this valuable witness safe. He takes her to a remote location on the west country.

Only Anne is bored cooked up in a hotel, she steals a car and makes off. When a message is sent over the police radio, Anne's safety is compromised.

Although not that action packed. The way the episode is filmed is certainly dynamic. Helicopters, sea crossings, a drive by shooting, scenes set in France and characters with Jason King moustaches.

I did like how Anne succumbed to Mr Colly's offer at the end. It had a sense of cynicism, greed and self preservation.

This episode was rather George Dixon heavy. This had not been the case with the other surviving filmed episodes. Dixon has essentially been a guest star in his own show.

Once again I have to remind myself this was made before the television series The Sweeney. Yet this period of Dixon of Dock Green has been airbrushed from television history.