BBC Film - "United"; aired Easter Sunday

[Mr Angry]

I'm surprised this didn't get a thread on here, so I'll start it.

Did anyone else see the BBC drama on the Munich Air Crash aired last Sunday? It was told from the perspectives of Sir Bobby Charlton and trainer, Jimmy Smith, and covered such things as how the FA tried to stop Man Utd competing in the European Cup and refused to allow a postponement of the game on the Saturday following their game versus Red Star Belgrade which meant they had to fly their and back... and also how Jimmy Smith managed to get the club through the difficult times post-crash by cobbling together amateurs and youth team players as well as survivors to get them to the FA Cup Final that year.

Had a few glaring inaccuracies (even I as a non Man Utd fan knew that Roger Byrne was skipper rather than Mark Jones!) but still a moving and highly decent portrayal of the club, the potential of the Busby Babes and the aftermath of the disaster.

[Zammo]

Yes, watched it also. Found it engrossing. Went straight onto Wikipedia to check the 'real' facts, after it had finished. The scenes on the plane were quite chilling.

[BR2]

Didn't watch it because the review that I read spoke of numerous inaccuracies and that would have got on my nerves.
Thinking back to when it happened the shock was enormous,on a par with something like 9/11 and the amazing feat in reaching an FA Cup final with such a depleted squad meant that the country were willing them to win the cup that year.
I think there was also a groundswell in support of Man Utd across the country for the next few years but the shame is that the club has become a monster in our football to such an extent that they have become most people's favourite hate club.
They always were big spenders,I remember Albert Quixall going there as the most expensive footballer in England,but the Busby Babes were mainly homegrowns which regrettably doesn't happen any more at Man Utd nor at most Premier clubs.

[Jackson Corner]

I'm surprised this didn't get a thread on here, so I'll start it.

Did anyone else see the BBC drama on the Munich Air Crash aired last Sunday? It was told from the perspectives of Sir Bobby Charlton and trainer, Jimmy Smith, and covered such things as how the FA tried to stop Man Utd competing in the European Cup and refused to allow a postponement of the game on the Saturday following their game versus Red Star Belgrade which meant they had to fly their and back... and also how Jimmy Smith managed to get the club through the difficult times post-crash by cobbling together amateurs and youth team players as well as survivors to get them to the FA Cup Final that year.

Had a few glaring inaccuracies (even I as a non Man Utd fan knew that Roger Byrne was skipper rather than Mark Jones!) but still a moving and highly decent portrayal of the club, the potential of the Busby Babes and the aftermath of the disaster.

One glaring inaccracy by you is the trainer was JIMMY MURPHY. Who was the unsung hero post Munich. I thought the programme was well done some very good performaces from Scott and Tennant and the lad who played Bobby Charlton. But as with all retro football films you would have liked to have seen some convincing football action, rather than the team just disapearing up the tunnel. Also liked the Paul Weller tune at the end.

[blindedbythelights]

when it happened the shock was enormous,on a par with something like 9/11

[Mr Angry]

I'm surprised this didn't get a thread on here, so I'll start it.

Did anyone else see the BBC drama on the Munich Air Crash aired last Sunday? It was told from the perspectives of Sir Bobby Charlton and trainer, Jimmy Smith, and covered such things as how the FA tried to stop Man Utd competing in the European Cup and refused to allow a postponement of the game on the Saturday following their game versus Red Star Belgrade which meant they had to fly their and back... and also how Jimmy Smith managed to get the club through the difficult times post-crash by cobbling together amateurs and youth team players as well as survivors to get them to the FA Cup Final that year.

Had a few glaring inaccuracies (even I as a non Man Utd fan knew that Roger Byrne was skipper rather than Mark Jones!) but still a moving and highly decent portrayal of the club, the potential of the Busby Babes and the aftermath of the disaster.

One glaring inaccracy by you is the trainer was JIMMY MURPHY. Who was the unsung hero post Munich. I thought the programme was well done some very good performaces from Scott and Tennant and the lad who played Bobby Charlton. But as with all retro football films you would have liked to have seen some convincing football action, rather than the team just disapearing up the tunnel. Also liked the Paul Weller tune at the end.

Please, please accept my apologies for the typo.

The lad who played Charlton was in Skins wasn't he?? He is supposed to be the "next big thing" for British acting.

[Jackson Corner]

Yes it was the lad from skins.

[Stuka]

I liked it very much and think this sort of thing is what the BBC does best. It's a bit too out of my era to be able to spot too many inaccuracies but for what it's worth I thought the period detail was very good. It's quite hard to make good films about football but by using filmic devices like with the players coming out of the tunnel to a saturation of white light, the use of training sessions, dressing room banter, and managerial office scenes I reckon they done it well. The disaster itself was portrayed with stunning realism and horror. Manchester United's subsequent recovery as a team is an inspiring story. Well recommend, and still available to watch on iPlayer.

[Royal Lady]

I enjoyed it too - you just can't imagine how you'd feel if the same thing happened to your team.

I don't know how accurate the FA refusing to change the date of the game to allow them time to get back from their European game was - but contrast that with the FA dancing to SKY Tv's tune these days.

[Mr Angry]

I enjoyed it too - you just can't imagine how you'd feel if the same thing happened to your team.

I don't know how accurate the FA refusing to change the date of the game to allow them time to get back from their European game was - but contrast that with the FA dancing to SKY Tv's tune these days.

Its pretty well 100% accurate; Hardaker and the FA were totally opposed to the concept of European competition (Hardaker used the terms "wogs and dagos" when outlining his opposition) and bullyed Chelsea into not entering the European Cup after they won the League in 55.

(Some people think it was as a response to the humiliation England got from Hungary in 53, but it was more likely to be general xenophobia/racism on the FA's part).

Nowadays we wouldn't see a problem playing on a Wednesday then again on the Saturday, but back in 58 travel was less easy and add to that getting into and out of Communist Yugoslavia would have added time as well.

As for no football scenes, well, I think that was the point - it WASN'T about football, it was about how a tragedy affected the lives of a group of people, many of whom happened to be young, gifted footballers, and about how the loss united (no pun) the club, the City and - without exagerration - the Nation.

[Stuka]

As for no football scenes, well, I think that was the point - it WASN'T about football, it was about how a tragedy affected the lives of a group of people.

This is true, and how I was able to persuade my girlfriend to watch it with me (she enjoyed it very much, despite not being interested in football)

[reading_fan]

As for no football scenes, well, I think that was the point - it WASN'T about football, it was about how a tragedy affected the lives of a group of people.

This is true, and how I was able to persuade my girlfriend to watch it with me (she enjoyed it very much, despite not being interested in football)

I thought it was really very good. Tennant was excellent IMO. And as the two above have said, I think the reason it was so good was that it wasn't just a football film, it was about the wider consequences - the human tragedy, the impact on the city and country - not just the loss of some very good football players