Brannigan (1975)
Chicago detective Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) is sent to London to extradite a wanted American criminal, Ben Larkin (John Vernon). However, Larkin is kidnapped before Brannigan can apprehend him, igniting a manhunt throughout the city.
John Wayne strides about this thriller like Godzilla rampages through Tokyo, leaving rubble in his wake, even with one or two comical touches - the riotous Leadenhall Market pub fight and the car chase around London resulting in the coolest jump across an opening Tower Bridge you'll see - A fine British support cast lead by Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Standing and a couple of Booths valiantly try and keep up. Geeson in particular appears to have genuine screen chemistry with Wayne and they genuinely come over as friends.
Brannigan is an effortlessly entertaining film with superb London location work which at times gives it the feel of a tourism film presented by John Wayne. (How cool would that be?) This along with McQ (1974) was the Duke's take on Dirty Harry and Coogan's Bluff and he's perfectly suited, albeit by this time a little too old, for the role.
The recent Blu-ray from the BFI looks splendid and initial copies have a very informative booklet on the film.
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