The Damned United (2009)
Biography, Drama, Sport |.
The Damned United is a British sports drama film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace’s bestselling 2006 novel The Damned Utd, a largely fictional book based on the author’s interpretation of Brian Clough’s ill-fated tenure as football manager of Leeds United in 1974. It was produced by BBC Films and Left Bank Pictures with additional funding from Screen Yorkshire and Columbia Pictures. Sony Pictures Releasing International distributed the film.
The film was originally proposed by Stephen Frears, but he pulled out of the project in November 2007. Hooper took his place and film was shot from May to July 2008. The film marks the fifth collaboration between screenwriter Peter Morgan and actor Michael Sheen who plays Clough.
After failing to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, England manager Alf Ramsey is replaced by Don Revie, the highly successful manager of Leeds United. Revie’s replacement at Leeds is Brian Clough, the former manager of Derby County and a fierce critic of Leeds because of their violent and physical style of play under Revie’s management. Furthermore, Clough’s longtime assistant, Peter Taylor, has not joined him.
The roots of Clough’s conflict with Leeds are depicted as happening in a 1968 FA Cup match between Leeds, the leaders of the First Division and Derby, who were struggling near the bottom of the Second Division. Clough assumed Revie to be a similar man to himself, as they grew up in the same part of Middlesbrough and both played for Sunderland, and made many preparations for the match. However, on the day of the match, Revie failed to even acknowledge Clough upon entering the Baseball Ground. Derby eventually lost 2–0. Although Clough initially blames the brutality of the Leeds players, he and Taylor recognise that their side are not good on a technical level.
Director: Tom Hooper
Writers: Peter Morgan (screenplay), David Peace (novel)
Stars: Colm Meaney, Henry Goodman, David Roper, Jimmy Reddington, Oliver Stokes, Ryan Day, Michael Sheen
►Cast:
| Colm Meaney | … | Don Revie |
| Henry Goodman | … | Manny Cussins |
| David Roper | … | Sam Bolton |
| Jimmy Reddington | … | Keith Archer |
| Oliver Stokes | … | Nigel Clough |
| Ryan Day | … | Simon Clough |
| Michael Sheen | … | Brian Clough |
| Mark Bazeley | … | Austin Mitchell |
| Timothy Spall | … | Peter Taylor |
| Maurice Roëves | … | Jimmy Gordon |
| Stephen Graham | … | Billy Bremner |
| Peter McDonald | … | Johnny Giles |
| Mark Cameron | … | Norman Hunter |
| Frank Skillin | … | Younger Nigel Clough |
| Dylan Van Hoof | … | Younger Simon Clough |
| Sydney Wade | … | Younger Elizabeth Clough |
| Elizabeth Carling | … | Barbara Clough |
| Jim Broadbent | … | Sam Longson |
| Mark Jameson | … | Groundsman |
| Liam Thomas | … | Les Cocker |
| Glenn Cunningham | … | Syd Owen |
| Tony Gubba | … | Commentator |
| Gillian Waugh | … | Lillian Taylor |
| Brian McCardie | … | Dave Mackay |
| Martin Compston | … | John O’Hare |
| Colin Harris | … | John McGovern |
| Giles Alderson | … | Colin Todd |
| Stewart Robertson | … | Archie Gemmill |
| Laurie Rea | … | Terry Hennessey |
| Michael Parkinson | … | Sir Michael Parkinson |
| Ralph Ineson | … | Journalist |
| Philip Childs | … | Commentator (Wembley) |
| Terence Harvey | … | FA Committee Chairman |
| Gordon Hall | … | FA White Haired Elder |
| John Craven | … | John Craven |
| Isabella Eades-Jones | … | Elizabeth Clough |
| Joe Dempsie | … | Duncan McKenzie |
| Paul Bown | … | Mike Bamber |
| Christopher Chilton | … | Floor Manager |
| Tomasz Aleksander | … | Roy McFarland |
| Muhammad Ali | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Christopher Anderton | … | Barker |
| David Aspinall | … | Cameraman |
| Bax Baxter | … | Committee Member |
| Matt Blackhall | … | Extra |
| Brian Clough | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Ross Donnelly | … | Football Supporter |
| Alex Harker | … | Allan Clarke |
| Nathan Head | … | Photographer |
| Jimmy Hill | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Tobias James-Samuels | … | Football player |
| Kevin Keegan | … | Self (archive footage) |
| James MacColl | … | Luton Town Player |
| James Mansell | … | Man in crowd |
| Mark Mathieson | … | Football Supporter |
| Chris Moore | … | Paul Madeley |
| Stephen Nicholas | … | Alan Durban |
| Paul O’Brien | … | Phil Thompson |
| Don Revie | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Alexander Rogerson | … | Football Player |
| John Savage | … | Gordon McQueen |
| Brendon Selley | … | Dugout Football Fan |
| David Stevenson | … | (uncredited) |
| Elliot Stroud | … | Solicitor |
| Peter Taylor | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Danny Tomlinson | … | David Harvey |
| Craig Williams | … | Joe Jordan |
| Chris Wilson | … | FA Disciplinary Board Member |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia