The Sweeney: Loving Arms (ITV 6 Dec 1976, with Roy Stone)

In Loving Arms someone is selling replica Cowboy style guns that are being used in a series of robberies. The Sweeney need to track them down before somebody gets killed. The guns themselves are not made from proper material and are just as likely to blow up in the firer’s face as actually hit a target.

Jack is initially warned off the case because a division squad are already involved but when it becomes obvious that there are more than a few of the guns around the higher ups bring him in.

The guns are being made to order by Fred Booth who thinks they are for the export replica market. The buyer is small time villain Arthur Ward who is selling them in pubs to other small time villains. The trouble starts to ramp up when big time villain Blakeney gets wind of the scam and wants to take it to the next level.

There is a subplot involving Fred Booth’s sick wife who needs medical attention but is relying on the work of faith healers.

A very young Ray Winstone makes an appearance as one of the youths who get their hands on a gun and future Blake’s 7 star Steven Pacey plays a young cop who ends up dead after tackling Winstone and his fellow troublemaker.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 6 December 1976 at 9.00pm

Writer: Robert Wales / Director: Tom Clegg

Series: The Sweeney Season 3 Episode 11

cast
John Thaw as Jack Regan
Dennis Waterman as George Carter
Garfield Morgan as Frank Haskins
Roy Stone as Arthur Ward
Clifford Kershaw as Fred Booth
Anne Dyson as Lilly Booth
Alan David as Blakeney
Mona Hammond as Ann Robson
George Tovey as Len Watters
Julian Littman as Jeremy Clarke
Steven Pacey as P.C. McKenna
Max Mason as P.C. Adler
Douglas Anderson as Faith healer
Perry Balfour as 1st Youth
Angela Phillips as 1st Girl Robber
Ray Winstone as 2nd Youth