Publius Ovidius
Well-known member
drama about the Munich Air crash and also the Busby babes at the time.
Just a sublime piece of drama.
brilliant acting!
Just a sublime piece of drama.
brilliant acting!
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United on BBC2
- Thread starter Publius Ovidius
- Start date
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
I thought Busby was a bit poor, but agree with the rest. I expected great things of Jack O'Connell (Charlton) as he was excellent in Skins and he didn't fail to deliver.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
Interesting that the Busby family are "disgusted" with the portayal of Sir Matt.
BBC News - Sir Matt Busby son at Munich air crash film
BBC News - Sir Matt Busby at United TV film
Sir Matt Busby's son 'disgusted' at United TV film
The son of Manchester United legend Sir Matt Busby has criticised a television drama about the Munich air disaster.
The film United tells the story of the aftermath of the 1958 crash which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight of the team's players.
Sandy Busby said he was "disgusted" with the portrayal of his father, who was seriously injured in the crash.
A BBC spokesman said the film, due to be shown on BBC Two on Sunday, was "a drama not a documentary".
The drama focuses on Manchester United coach Jimmy Murphy, played by David Tennant, and how he rebuilt the team while Sir Matt, played by Dougray Scott, recuperated from his injuries.
Mr Busby said: "I can't understand it, it's called United, all about the Busby Babes. You think they'd contact the Busby family wouldn't you?
"I was disgusted with the portrayal of my father. He had this camel coat on, and a fedora, and all through the film he was never seen in a tracksuit. He was known as probably the first tracksuit manager at that time. I was disgusted."
He said there were some terrible "stupid accusations" in the 90-minute film, and some omissions.
"Why didn't they include other players that died and were injured in the crash? If I was one of their family I would be very upset.
"There was about eight players never mentioned. They never mentioned Tom Curry, who was a trainer at the time. He was the trainer in the dressing room, he was like a second dad to the lads."
Mr Busby said he had spoken to the film-makers over his concerns and that he thought it was "very poorly done."
A BBC spokesman said: "It was a dramatic choice to focus on the stories of Jimmy Murphy and Bobby Charlton but the same story could have been told in many ways as all are equally important.
"The film was researched using biographies, testimonies, documentaries, personal accounts, first-hand interviews and Manchester United FC Museum.
"The story of the Busby Babes is of huge social and cultural significance in this country and this film is a respectful and fitting portrayal of the spirit of the club and community as they fought to overcome this tragedy.
"As soon as the film was finished, a private screening was arranged in Manchester for the survivors of the film and the relatives of those who lost their lives. No one came forward to object."
BBC News - Sir Matt Busby son at Munich air crash film
BBC News - Sir Matt Busby at United TV film
Sir Matt Busby's son 'disgusted' at United TV film
The son of Manchester United legend Sir Matt Busby has criticised a television drama about the Munich air disaster.
The film United tells the story of the aftermath of the 1958 crash which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight of the team's players.
Sandy Busby said he was "disgusted" with the portrayal of his father, who was seriously injured in the crash.
A BBC spokesman said the film, due to be shown on BBC Two on Sunday, was "a drama not a documentary".
The drama focuses on Manchester United coach Jimmy Murphy, played by David Tennant, and how he rebuilt the team while Sir Matt, played by Dougray Scott, recuperated from his injuries.
Mr Busby said: "I can't understand it, it's called United, all about the Busby Babes. You think they'd contact the Busby family wouldn't you?
"I was disgusted with the portrayal of my father. He had this camel coat on, and a fedora, and all through the film he was never seen in a tracksuit. He was known as probably the first tracksuit manager at that time. I was disgusted."
He said there were some terrible "stupid accusations" in the 90-minute film, and some omissions.
"Why didn't they include other players that died and were injured in the crash? If I was one of their family I would be very upset.
"There was about eight players never mentioned. They never mentioned Tom Curry, who was a trainer at the time. He was the trainer in the dressing room, he was like a second dad to the lads."
Mr Busby said he had spoken to the film-makers over his concerns and that he thought it was "very poorly done."
A BBC spokesman said: "It was a dramatic choice to focus on the stories of Jimmy Murphy and Bobby Charlton but the same story could have been told in many ways as all are equally important.
"The film was researched using biographies, testimonies, documentaries, personal accounts, first-hand interviews and Manchester United FC Museum.
"The story of the Busby Babes is of huge social and cultural significance in this country and this film is a respectful and fitting portrayal of the spirit of the club and community as they fought to overcome this tragedy.
"As soon as the film was finished, a private screening was arranged in Manchester for the survivors of the film and the relatives of those who lost their lives. No one came forward to object."
JJB
New member
Being based in Bristol for university, and knowing a couple of people, I got to know the skin cast of both the 1st and 2nd and 3rd and 4th series quite well. Jack is a great lad and will no doubt become a massive massive star in teh future. Just like Nick Hoult will.
Jambo Seagull
Well-known member
I thought it was pretty flawless apart from Dougray Scott's ludicrously OTT portrayal of Busby as Vito Corleone. Tennant was magnificent as were the lads who played Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards. The crash scene was incredibly harrowing. I hadn't appreciated that Edwards actually regained consciousness after the crash and before he died.
The Weller track at the end topped it off. Great stuff.
The Weller track at the end topped it off. Great stuff.
Art Vs Science
Banned
- Sep 1, 2010
- 6,419
Have to agree about the portrayal of Busby, really poor on what was otherwise a good dramatisation
WeAreTheAlbion
New member
Very good watch,
thought guy who played charlton was very good and tennant was great,
the only thing is that i think they could have made the crash more intense but that might just be me.
but good show.
thought guy who played charlton was very good and tennant was great,
the only thing is that i think they could have made the crash more intense but that might just be me.
but good show.
brakespear
Doctor Worm
I really liked it, apart from (as others have noted) the portrayal of Sir Matt, Having read Bobby Charlton's autobiography (pretty much the best football book I've ever read) there seemed to be a few bits of artistic license being taken though.
Dick Knights Mumm
Take me Home Falmer Road
The blame for the crash was laid firmly at the door of Alan Hardaker.
Great drama. Sad, sad story. I would love to have seen the Busby Babes - and what a loss to the English game Duncan Edwards must have been.
Great drama. Sad, sad story. I would love to have seen the Busby Babes - and what a loss to the English game Duncan Edwards must have been.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
One of the best football dramas I've seen
I found it a little odd.
I knew it was good, with some good performances, and I was watching better TV than the usual fair.
But I just wasn't emotional involved in it. It seemed very one dimensional, I couldn't feel it or connect with it.
I knew it was good, with some good performances, and I was watching better TV than the usual fair.
But I just wasn't emotional involved in it. It seemed very one dimensional, I couldn't feel it or connect with it.
bhaexpress
New member
Sounds rather like 'The Damned United', artistic license in overdrive. Mind you for all we know Busby may have been as portrayed, I'm sure he was a bit more subtle with his public face than Sir Alex.
Dick Knights Mumm
Take me Home Falmer Road
Yes - I can see that. I felt it was a bit Bobby Charlton-centric. And great player though he was - he has never had a personality you could warm to. It was not a documentary I know - but I would like to have seen more about other players, like Bill Foulkes.
Yes, I wonder how much of that was artistic licence. I'm sure there must have been commercial pressure on the pilot to get the plane back too ( you still see these days, Ryanair's whole business model is based on fast turnaround). Hardaker was right bastard (and it was a brilliant portrayal by Neil Dudgeon) but I can't help feeling that it was a bit glib blaming it all on him.
Thought it was a fantastic piece of drama, even Tennant's terrible Welsh accent couldn't spoil it.
Unfortunately, Hardaker was symbolic of the FA at the time. There was no flexibility and there was a guarantee that England were above Europeans in terms of footballing class and Eurpoean football was frowned upon as "muddying" English football.
I also doubt that the decision was that of one man sitting on top of a heirarchy getting his own back...
Also, thought Tennants welsh accent was rather good.
Jambo Seagull - The Busby / Vito Corleone comparison is spot on!
I also doubt that the decision was that of one man sitting on top of a heirarchy getting his own back...
Also, thought Tennants welsh accent was rather good.
Jambo Seagull - The Busby / Vito Corleone comparison is spot on!
I though it was 'ok' but overall a bit of a curate's egg. Parts of it were brilliant but parts of it were a bit weak and obvious. Also it was a bit 'jumpy' and they seemed to concentrate on random elements of the story both before and after the crash. And like others I never knew it was all the fault of Alan Hardaker.
It's always hard to do these things well as you either have to try and tell the whole story or focus on an individual character. This seemed to fall a bit between two stools. Also with the exception of Murphy all the characters (including Charlton) seemed a bit two-dimensional.
Five out of ten from me, I've seen the story told better.
It's always hard to do these things well as you either have to try and tell the whole story or focus on an individual character. This seemed to fall a bit between two stools. Also with the exception of Murphy all the characters (including Charlton) seemed a bit two-dimensional.
Five out of ten from me, I've seen the story told better.