• Source: The Great Game (1953 film)

      • 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. Many of the scenes were shot at Griffin Park the home of Brentford F.C. Several professional football players made appearances in the film including Tommy Lawton.


      Plot


      The 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.


      Cast


      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


      The film was based on a play "Shooting Star" by Basil Thomas which premiered in 1949. 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.


      1949 TV adaptation


      The play was filmed for TV in 1949.


      = Cast

      =
      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


      Film rights were bought by Adelphi who made a number of low budget comedies. They also made Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? with Dors.


      Critical reception


      Picture Show called it an "unpretentious but most enjoyable comedy."
      The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the humour is stale".
      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."


      See also


      List of association football films


      References




      External links


      The Great Game at IMDb
      The Great Gam at BFI
      The Great Game at Letterbox DVD

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