The Great Game is a 1953 British sports comedy-drama directed by Maurice Elvey and starring James Hayter, Thora Hird and Diana Dors. It was based on a play by Basil Thomas.[1] Many of the scenes were shot at Griffin Park the home of Brentford F.C.[2] Several professional football players made appearances in the film including Tommy Lawton.
| The Great Game | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Original British theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Maurice Elvey |
| Written by | Wolfgang Wilhelm |
| Based on | the play Shooting Star by Basil Thomas |
| Produced by | David Dent |
| Starring | James Hayter Thora Hird Diana Dors John Laurie |
| Cinematography | Phil Grindrod |
| Edited by | Lito Carruthers |
| Music by | W.L. Trytel |
Production company | Advance |
| Distributed by | Adelphi Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThe chairman of a relegation zone English football club makes an illegal approach to a rising star of a rival club. This is discovered by the football authorities and the chairman is ultimately suspended from the game following the ensuing scandal.[3]
Cast
edit- James Hayter – Joe Lawson
- Thora Hird – Miss Rawlings
- Diana Dors – Lulu Smith
- John Laurie – 'Mac' Wells
- Meredith Edwards – Skid Evans
- Jack Lambert – Ralph Blake
- Glyn Houston – Ned Rutter
- Geoffrey Toone – Jack Bannerman
- Alexander Gauge – Ben Woodhall
- Frank Pettingell – Sir Julius
- Tommy Lawton – Cameo
- Sheila Shand-Gibbs – Mavis Pink
Original play
editThe film was based on a play "Shooting Star" by Basil Thomas which premiered in 1949.[4] Thomas was a football fan who decided to write a play about the transfer system. He says managers and directors were keen to co operate. Among the people Thomas interviewed were Ted Vizard, Stan Cullis and Claude Jephcott.[5][6]
1949 TV adaptation
editThe play was filmed for TV in 1949.[7]
Cast
edit- Derek Blomfield as Ned Rutter
- Colin Douglas as Jack Bannerman
- Charmian Eyre as Mavis Pink
- Raymond Francis as Mr Blake
- Heather Gratrix as Lulu Smith
- James Hayter as Joe Lawson
- Avice Landone as Miss Rawlings
- Cameron Miller as Wells
- Robert Perceval aS Ben Woodhall
- Frank Pettitt as Skid Evans
- Ann Titheradge as Beryl Armstrong
Production
editFilm rights were bought by Adelphi who made a number of low budget comedies. They also made Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? with Dors.[8][9]
Critical reception
editPicture Show called it an "unpretentious but most enjoyable comedy."[10]
The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the humour is stale".[11]
The Digital Fix found the film "largely insignificant and admittedly musters up little interest, but then it is offset with a gentle humour and plenty of broad comedy characterisation from its supporting cast; nobody could ogle Dors’ sexpot secretary quite like John Laurie does in the opening scene."[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hal Erickson. "The Great Game (1953) - Maurice Elvey - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ malcolmgsw (1 January 1953). "The Great Game (1953)". IMDb.
- ^ "The Great Game (1952)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
- ^ shooting Star at National Archives
- ^ Thomas, Basil. "On Why I Wrote "Shooting Star" in Program for "Shooting Star" from 1949". Mercury Theatre. p. 5.
- ^ "A Sports Letter From London". The Newcastle Sun. No. 9810. New South Wales, Australia. 11 June 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 11 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Shooting Star at British Universities
- ^ David Dent obituary Dent, Jonathan. The Guardian (Online), London (UK): Guardian News & Media Limited. May 6, 2020.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 September 2020). "A Tale of Two Blondes: Diana Dors and Belinda Lee". Filmink.
- ^ THE GREAT GAME (directed by Maurice Elvey). Adelphi Hughes, Maud. Picture Show; London Vol. 60, Iss. 1571, (May 9, 1953): 2.
- ^ GREAT GAME, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 20, Iss. 228, (Jan 1, 1953): 36.
- ^ "Film @ The Digital Fix - Miss Tulip Stays the Night / The Great Game". Film @ The Digital Fix.
External links
edit- The Great Game at IMDb
- The Great Gam at BFI
- The Great Game at Letterbox DVD