Jamesfilmfan905
Minder Created by Leon Griffiths was a Crime comedy / action comedy that ran for 14 glorious years from 1979 - 1994 and starred Dennis water-man from televisions the Sweeney / and new tricks as an ex-con Terry McCann fresh out of prison seeks employment and comes across a dodgy second hand car dealer Arthur Daley played by the inimitable George Cole who toke him under his wing and each week gave the job minding some celebrity ex - con football player / or someone who,s establishment was being attacked by some local hoodlums . Minder was originally made for Dennis water-man since his success with the Sweeney was looking for his own show then he came across minder in which he was accepted instantly because of his immediate popularity as George carter in the 70s cop show The Sweeney anyway water-man lasted 10 years until 1989 then called it quits with the series i think he made the generalization that show had became to comedic and had lost some of the grittiness that made it such a joy to view every week when it was on . Anyway the series continued with Gary Webster and sadly failed to recapture the magic of the Water- man years with less action and all comedy . Overall if you liked the Sweeney then check it out its not as violent as it but can be at times and in the way of action in minder you will get most car- chases foot chases and Fight chases which overall make this excellent show a joy to view even after nearly nearly 40 years it still holds up remarkably will with the magnificent acting and exquisite script writing .
welshNick
The excellently acted Minder was made by ITV and premiered throughout the 1980's in the UK. The two central characters were Arthur Daley, a used car salesman and dodgy businessman, and Terry McCann his bodyguard and 'Minder.' The two central characters were played by George Cole and Dennis Waterman, fresh from his success in The Sweeney. The episodes had some excellent secondary characters who were regulars: Dave, the owner of the Winchester Club, Chisholm and Ryecott, the police officers who were never quite able to put Arthur away and the dimwit mechanic Arnie, played by Ray Winstone.Each week we had Arthur pulling one con or another and generally getting into trouble. Cue Terry to come in all fists flying to sort the problems out. There were some excellent episodes in each series but as time went on the mediocre episodes were far outweighing the good episodes and a general sameness started to creep in. It was being rushed out to cash in on the ratings and it really showed. Still as said there were some very good episodes. Personal favourites include Aces High and sometimes very low and Rocky 8 1/2 Once Dennis Waterman left it really went downhill. Less said on that the better.Worth seeing again but pick which episodes you watch with care. The early ones were better.
naseby
I'm trying to think offhand of a dreadful episode of this series - it should be said though, through no fault of his own, Gary Webster who played Ray after Terry left didn't quite cut the mustard as well as 'Tel'. Dennis Waterman (Terry McCann in Minder) was a popular actor at the time, following up from his success as Sergeant George Carter, tough but respected copper in police drama 'The Sweeney' with John Thaw. Obviously, in 'Minder' his associate, the spiv-like conman, 'Arfur' Daley,(George Cole) stole the show, scheming, ducking, diving and wheeler-dealing. Being able in talking his way in, let alone out, of tricky situations, with his 'spiel' (a term not used now, meaning fast-talking and lies, basically!). We're offered the reason in the opening credits if missed, that Arthur has taken Terry on to be his 'minder' - all things tough, hard, to be minded including Arthur's dodgy goods in his lock up the 'export and import' empire - (Fire damaged smoke alarms, need I say more!) he also had a car lot, with of course dodgy motors. Arthur has plenty of sidelines going involving his low-life connections and his intent to aspire to being a respected businessman means he tries also to con his way in to respectable people's lives in offering 'his services' and proclaiming he is 'one of them'. These are his 'earners', that inevitably go awry at some point leaving Terry to pick up the pieces. Terry is the lovable-rogue type, ex-con trying to go straight - but remember he works for Arthur Daley of all people - that's going to be a contradiction in itself! Terry, although working for Arthur still retains dignity and honesty, pulls the birds, is hard where it's needed only, but is constantly at Arthur's beck and call, but sometimes puts the spiv in his place! George Cole played his role like a true master - even getting himself an 'earner' by ending up portraying the same-like character in a series of commercials for a building society. He actually reprises a role from 'The St. Trinian's' films of the 1950's, as a character called 'Flash Harry' - obviously this has taken fruition even more here!Arthur often referred to the missus as " 'er indoors", who we never actually see! The duo were ably served by some great support from Glynn Edwards as 'Dave' the barman, with his sardonic comments (Arfur: "...that suit I got you was a 'steal' Dave." "Yeah," replies Dave, "And I know the bloke that stole it!"). And of course, the police were sniffing around on the duo with slimy 'Charlie' (Albert) Chisholm, brilliantly played by Patrick Malahide, ("It's you, Daley, the plot sickens.") as was Mr Rycott (Peter Childs)and their respective partners, 'Taff' Jones and 'Mellish'. They were always ahead of these four, when they thought they'd get them. Even though you knew they were crooks, you couldn't help but laugh when they got away with it. Some fine established British actors appeared in it as did ones who were going to go on to other things. Good support also from a young Ray Winstone and George Layton as very dodgy motor mechanics-cum car thieves! You always got your money's worth with this series, at least up until Terry's departure (As I've said, no fault of Gary Webster, perhaps if the roles were reversed I'd be saying it was better with him in it).
dovestones
Minder is without doubt one of the greatest TV shows produced in Britian with a topnotch double act providing its heartbeat. Cole and Waterman work so well off each other that only repeated viewing can allow you to fully appreciate their chemistry. Cole's Arthur Daley is easily the best "Wheeler Dealer" ever created, anywhere on television. Although Del Boy in "Only Fools..." is carved from the same mould he shows signs of weakness through family commitments and links to friendship, where as Daley is 100% in it for himself, drooling at the mouth at the merest sight of money or personal profit. Waterman as Terry is perfectly legit in the role as he sympathetic hardman and the fact that he doesn't get lost under the giant shadow of Cole's tour de force is a testiment to Watermans skills as an actor.I'd advise anyone who isn't familiar with the show to hunt for the early episodes and enjoy what was a very gritty and real drama, where Terry is clearly the main man whilst, at that point, Arthur is secondary in the writers minds (Not that it deminishes his screen presence, just leaves you wanting more). Another important component to its success was its grand array of support players, from Dave the barman at everyones favourite watering hole, the Winchester, to dodgy geezers like Des the mechanic and the hilarious, bumbling Police who could never catch Arthur in the act. The show did lose some of its hard edge as it veered off towards a comedic element but it always remained true to the characters, and as such the characters became the central theme. Instead of getting embroiled in incidents, they BECAME the incidents. I can't say enough good words about this programme. I have every episode on tape and watch them all the time. The only thing that you can say is that they DEFINITELY don't make 'em as good as this anymore.
