The Capone Investment

The Capone Investment is one of those British TV dramas that feels like a hidden gem, and its re-showing on Talking Pictures TV in June 2024 brought it back into the spotlight after spending decades in relative obscurity. Originally broadcast in 1974, the series runs for just six half-hour episodes, but it manages to pack in a surprising amount of intrigue, murder, and financial conspiracy, all centred around the legendary missing fortune of none other than Al Capone.

The story kicks off with a mysterious sniper killing an American named Milland. Chief Inspector Reaygo, played with quiet authority by Glyn Owen (Howards' Way / The Brothers), is assigned to the case and soon finds himself teamed up with Wheatfield (Peter Sallis – Last of the Summer Wine), a civil servant from an enigmatic government outfit known as DI6. When another body turns up, killed in exactly the same way, it’s clear this is no ordinary murder investigation. Things escalate quickly after the death of George Hunter, a well-off local businessman whose lifestyle doesn't seem to match his supposed means. That’s where his son, Tom, (John Thaw), steps in and begins digging into his father’s murky past. What he uncovers is a network of secrets involving dodgy business dealings, an American stranger named Anderson, and a long-buried investment linked to Capone’s bootlegging empire.

What makes the series compelling is the way it mixes classic detective work with broader themes of government secrecy and financial corruption. There’s an air of Cold War-era paranoia woven through the whole thing, but it's grounded in a very British setting; pubs, cricket matches, quiet villages hiding dangerous secrets. As more of George Hunter’s associates turn up dead it becomes clear that someone is systematically cleaning house to protect the truth about the Capone money.

The performances really carry the show. Owen gives Reaygo a thoughtful, unshowy presence, the kind of detective who listens more than he talks but always seems one step ahead. Sallis, far from the warm, familiar roles many might associate him with, plays Wheatfield with an unsettling calmness. There’s a growing tension between him and Reaygo as the series progresses, and it pays off brilliantly in the final episode. John Thaw shows the quiet intensity that he would later bring to Inspector Morse.

The storytelling is tight, and although each episode is only thirty minutes, the pacing never feels rushed. If anything, the brevity adds to the suspense, there’s no time for filler, and every scene counts. Director Alan Gibson keeps the tone serious and grounded, avoiding flashy set pieces in favour of slow-building tension. The climax, set at a village cricket match, is a strangely perfect setting for the final showdown, contrasting the gentility of English tradition with the sudden violence of Wheatfield’s final act.

There are a few rough edges. Some of the minor characters could’ve used a bit more development, and a couple of the plot twists do stretch credibility just a little. And while the idea of Al Capone’s fortune turning up in the English countryside is a great hook, the American elements occasionally feel like they're just there to give the story a bit of international flair.

Still, these are small quibbles in what’s otherwise a gripping and original drama. The Capone Investment stands out not just for its intriguing premise but for how well it executes it. It’s a sharp, thoughtful thriller that holds up remarkably well, especially considering how much TV crime drama has evolved since the 1970s. If you're into classic British mysteries with a twist of international intrigue, it’s absolutely worth tracking down.