Productions

CI5 - The New Professionals

The Professionals return in this dynamic series starring Edward Woodward as CI5 boss Harry Malone, Colin Wells (Curtis), Kal Weber (Keel) and Lexa Doig (Tina Backus). With a respectful nod to Cowley, Bodie and Doyle of the series’ previous incarnation, this updated team of fearless and resourceful CI5 agents take on international criminals in this slick new series.

Shot on location in the UK, the US and South Africa, CI5 – The New Professionals has a confident, exotic look - maybe a slight swagger. With tightly written storylines and punchy direction each new episode is a mini-movie: action-packed, atmospheric and humorous. It’s James Bond for television.

David Wickes Television produced 13 x 1 hour episodes and the series was sold to over 40 countries worldwide including Sky One in the UK, TF1 in France and RDF in Germany.

“If you didn’t hear about it on the morning news, CI5 dealt with it last night.”

A proper bit of gun-toting, ass-kicking, wise cracking mayhem - FRONT MAGAZINE

The New Professionals . . . is awash with the kind of exotica you’d normally find in
the pit lane at Le Mans - TOP GEAR

It’s all-action telly with fighter jets, multinational villains . . . Woodward is very much the hard-but-fair boss in the Gordon Jackson vein. In fact, he’s much better - DAILY EXPRESS

The series is soon to be available on dvd.

$North Carolina \"First Strike\"$

$North Carolina \"Glory Days\"$

North Carolina "First Strike"David Wickes (Producer) and Edward Woodward (Malone) in conversation in the swamps.

<< 01/31 >>

Jekyll and Hyde

David Wickes followed Jack the Ripper with ABC’s acclaimed JEKYLL & HYDE in which Michael Caine (playing both title roles) returns to Victorian London for this chilling tale of dual personality.

Also starring Cheryl Ladd and Lionel Jeffries, this is the ultimate screen adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story and features astounding transformational effects created by Image Animation.

Michael Caine’s electrifying central performance earned him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

“New Jekyll & Hyde is good, bad, expertly ugly” – USA TODAY

“Michael Caine brings credibility and depth to the dual roles . . . Stylishly produced and directed by David Wickes” – TV GUIDE

Jack the Ripper

David Wickes is best known for his landmark mini-series Jack the Ripper in which Michael Caine and Lewis Collins unmask this infamous serial killer in an outstanding dramatization of the most complex manhunt in British history.

This 4-hour television event for CBS, also starring Jane Seymour and Susan George, topped ratings around the world. It gained 1 Emmy nomination, 2 Golden Globe nominations (1 won) and many other awards. Jack the Ripper is now available on dvd with a director’s commentary from David.

“A perfect whodunit”. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

“Jack the Ripper lashes the viewer with the insistent thrust of a Dickensian epic.” HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“This carefully wrought, brightly scripted movie manages the near impossible”. SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER

Sweeney!

Following the success of the popular TV action series The Sweeney, David Wickes directed the feature film SWEENEY! for EMI starring John Thaw (as Jack Regan) and Dennis Waterman (as George Carter) as the two maverick cops from Scotland Yard’s elite Flying Squad (the film’s title comes from Cockney rhyming slang: Flying Squad = Sweeney Todd).

This theatrical spin-off was a risk worth taking as it topped box office charts on its release. With a budget of £1.4 million, Sweeney! captured the essence of the tv show but cranked up the action, the violence, and by escaping the constraints of episodic television stormed into a world of corrupt politicians, ruthless villains, high-class call girls and international OPEC delegates.

Sweeney! broke box office records in several countries and is now available on dvd.

“The best crime movie since Peter Yates’ Robbery” - THE DAILY MAIL

Frankenstein

David Wickes’ classic film ‘Frankenstein’ for Turner Pictures stars Patrick Bergin, Randy Quaid and the late Sir John Mills.

This definitive version of Mary Shelley’s classic novel tells the story of Dr Frankenstein (Patrick Bergin), an ingenious but misguided scientist, who creates a monstrous version of new human being (Randy Quaid).

‘Frankenstein’ gained the highest ever audience ratings for TNT in the USA (72% cable audience share) and received 3 ACE nominations and 1 ACE Award.

“Nobody has ever done a Frankenstein like this one. And nobody’s ever done a better one.” CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“None of the previous Frankenstein films was as frightening as this.” WALL STREET JOURNAL

On location PolandDavid Wickes (Director) gets there quickly.

<< 01/16 >>

Philip Marlowe - Private Eye

David Wickes Television’s series of Raymond Chandler classics, PHILIP MARLOWE – PRIVATE EYE starring Powers Boothe, won huge audiences worldwide and several ACE awards.

After successfully negotiating the rights to re-create Raymond Chandler’s classic short stories for television and securing network backing (HBO in the US and LWT in the UK), David Wickes produced a classy, glossy series set in quintessential film noir territory - 1930s Los Angeles.

The taut scripts by expert Hollywood writers such as Jo Eisinger and Jesse L Lasky Jr authentically recreate the unmistakable voice of Raymond Chandler and are enhanced by the big screen talents of directors Peter Hunt, Sidney Hayers and Bryan Forbes and David Wickes. The evocative score, the casual, wise-cracking narration of Powers Boothe and the sparkling ripostes of his favourite girl Annie Riordan (Kathryn Leigh Scott) make an authentic and exhilarating combination.

Now available on dvd.

“It takes no more than a few minutes to know that we’re in authentic Raymond Chandler country” – NEW YORK TIMES

“The greatest TV detective show of modern time” – NEWSDAY

“The beautifully produced and acted homage to the Bogie and Raymond Chandler era.” DAILY NEWS

“Sit back and enjoy . . . what fun! What sleuthing ! What tailoring ! . . . Boothe may be the best Marlowe since Bogie.” LOS ANGELES TIMES

Silver Dream Racer

Starring singer David Essex as a motor bike racer and Beau Bridges as his American rival, the $5 million film was shot – largely on location – in 1980. With Clarke Peters as Essex’s buddy and Cristina Raines as his love interest, Silver Dream Racer is a classic tale of enthusiastic amateur becoming a courageous winner through sheer determination.

Based on an idea by actor Michael Billington, and directed with David Wickes’ usual style and visual flair, Silver Dream Racer remains a popular television staple.