This film is part of Rentals
Wolcott Part 1
The gritty and ground-breaking drama debuted Britain’s first black TV cop, with George William Harris as the CID officer embroiled in a drug war.
Director: Colin Bucksey
Overview
Britain’s first ever black detective in a cop drama was the fabulously named Winston Churchill Wolcott, played by George William Harris in a gritty and ground-breaking series that deserves to better known. Newly promoted to the CID, black policeman Winston Churchill Wolcott becomes embroiled in a drug war between rival black and white gangs in London's East End.
Tabled as Britain’s answer to In the Heat of the Night, with an added dose of The Sweeney’s rough realism, Wolcott was a well-budgeted production from the stables of Lew Grade’s transatlantically minded ITC. The effective 16mm photography comes from future Oscar-winner Roger Deakins, while a fascinating cast includes Christine Lahti, Warren Clark and three up-and-coming talents spotted at the Comedy Store - Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle and Keith Allen. Despite this, Wolcott initial broadcast in January 1981 was somewhat controversial, attracting criticism from both right and left-leaning commentators. The race-related riots later that year added another dimension to the debate and the series has, to-date, never been re-broadcast.
racist language, strong bloody violenceRelated
Blackmail Blackmail
Police drama 1929 82 mins Silent Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's first sound film sees a young woman blackmailed for a murder she was forced to commit.
Dirty Harry Dirty Harry
Police drama 1971 102 mins Director: Don Siegel
An unorthodox police officer (Clint Eastwood) chases a ruthless serial killer across San Francisco in Don Siegel's violent 1970s cat-and-mouse thriller.
The Wicker Man The Wicker Man
Horror 1973 88 mins Director: Robin Hardy
Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward star in the folk horror classic about a policemen investigating an island given over to paganism.
Se7en Se7en
Crime 1995 127 mins Director: David Fincher
David Fincher's breakthrough film is a disturbing and visceral thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as detectives hunting down a meticulous serial killer.
The Blue Lamp The Blue Lamp
Police drama 1950 85 mins Director: Basil Dearden
Dirk Bogarde stars as a loose-cannon crook with Dixon of Dock Green (Jack Warner) on his tail, in the classic Ealing policier.
Loot Loot
Comedy 1971 102 mins Director: Silvio Narizzano
Silvio Narizzano adapts Joe Orton’s extraordinarily funny satire on police corruption and the conventions of detective fiction.
Chi-Raq Chi-Raq
Musical 2015 127 mins Director: Spike Lee
Spike Lee’s bold and vivacious hip-hop musical restages an ancient Greek battle-of-the-sexes in 21st-century Chicago.
Yardie Yardie
Crime 2018 102 mins Director: Idris Elba
In his thrilling directorial debut, Idris Elba brings to life Victor Headley’s cult crime novel.
Monsters and Men Monsters and Men
Drama 2018 96 mins Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Unravelling the aftermath of a police killing of a black man - and how it affects the lives of three separate individuals. With John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman).
Night Comes On Night Comes On
Drama 2018 87 mins Director: Jordana Spiro
After being released from prison, a young African American woman goes in search of her father.
Amazing Grace Amazing Grace
Documentary 2019 89 mins Director: Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack
Aretha Franklin, at the height of her powers, returns to the music which nurtured her prodigious talent.
Premature Premature
Drama 2019 90 mins Director: Rashaad Ernesto Green
Budding writer Ayanna’s life is transformed over the course of one hot Harlem summer, when a handsome and mysterious stranger walks into her life.
A Clockwork Orange A Clockwork Orange
Crime 1971 137 mins Director: Stanley Kubrick
Malcolm McDowell stars in Kubrick’s chilling, thrilling and unsettling cinematic vision of nihilistic violence and social control.
Wolcott Part 3 Wolcott Part 3
Police drama 1981 52 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
Continuing the gritty and ground-breaking drama featuring Britain’s first black TV detective.
Wolcott Part 4 Wolcott Part 4
Police drama 1981 42 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
The concluding episode of the pioneering black detective series.
Wolcott Part 2 Wolcott Part 2
Police drama 1981 50 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
Second episode of the provocative detective drama starring George William Harris.
Wolcott Part 3 Wolcott Part 3
Police drama 1981 52 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
Continuing the gritty and ground-breaking drama featuring Britain’s first black TV detective.
Wolcott Part 3 Wolcott Part 3
Police drama 1981 52 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
Continuing the gritty and ground-breaking drama featuring Britain’s first black TV detective.
Wolcott Part 4 Wolcott Part 4
Police drama 1981 42 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
The concluding episode of the pioneering black detective series.
Wolcott Part 2 Wolcott Part 2
Police drama 1981 50 mins Director: Colin Bucksey
Second episode of the provocative detective drama starring George William Harris.
Small Things Like These Small Things Like These
Drama 2024 99 mins
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as a coal merchant who discovers horrific secrets about his local convent.
Only the River Flows Only the River Flows
Crime 2023 102 mins Director: Shujun Wei
Shujun Wei's slow-burn noir draws us inexorably into its mysterious psychological journey.
The Critic The Critic
Period drama 2023 101 mins Director: Anand Tucker
Ian McKellen is in delicious form as London's most vicious critic, who strikes a Faustian pact with a struggling actor (Gemma Arterton).
Special People Special People
Comedy 2008 74 mins Director: Justin Edgar
Justin Edgar's pioneering feature comedy about a neurotic filmmaker enlisted to make a film with a class of wheelchair-users.
Timestalker Timestalker
Comedy 2024 89 mins Director: Alice Lowe
What if unrequited love spanned the centuries? Alice Lowe's time-jumping fantasy rom-com is a colourful, darkly funny treat.
South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic
Documentary 1919 81 mins Silent Director: Frank Hurley
An extraordinary story of survival in the wastes of Antarctica.