| The Great Game | |
| Director: | Maurice Elvey |
| Producer: | David Dent |
| Based On: | the play Shooting Star by Basil Thomas |
| Starring: | James Hayter Thora Hird Diana Dors John Laurie |
| Cinematography: | Phil Grindrod |
| Music: | W.L. Trytel |
| Editing: | Lito Carruthers |
| Studio: | Advance |
| Distributor: | Adelphi Films |
| Released: | (UK) |
| Runtime: | 80 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
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 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]
The 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]
The play was filmed for TV in 1949.[7]
Film 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]
Picture 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]