Who Dares Wins (1982)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Ian Sharp

Writers:

George Markstein (original story outline)
James Follett (book)
(more)

Release Date:

26 August 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

Who Dares Wins. The Final Option.

Plot:

A trooper with the British Special Air Service (SAS) infiltrates a radical political group who are planning...

Plot Keywords:

SAS | John F Kennedy | Terrorist Plot | Reagan Era | Special Forces

Cast

Lewis Collins	...	Capt. Peter Skellen
Judy Davis	...	Frankie Leith
Richard Widmark	...	Secretary of State Arthur Currie
Edward Woodward	...	Commander Powell
Robert Webber	...	General Ira Potter
Tony Doyle	...	Colonel Hadley
John Duttine	...	Rod Walker
Kenneth Griffith	...	Bishop Crick
Rosalind Lloyd	...	Jenny Skellen
Ingrid Pitt	...	Helga
Norman Rodway	...	Ryan
Maurice Roëves	...	Maj. Steele (as Maurice Röeves)
Bob Sherman	...	Hagen
Albert Fortell	...	Freund
Mark Ryan	...	Mac
Patrick Allen	...	Police Commissioner
Aharon Ipalé	...	Malek (as Aharon Ipale)
Paul Freeman	...	Sir Richard
Briony Elliott	...	Baby Samantha
Jerry Donahue	...	Pop group
Marc Donahue	...	Pop group
Gerry Conway	...	Pop group
Dave Pegg	...	Pop group
Alan Mitchell	...	Harkness
Richard Coleman	...	Mr. Martin
Nigel Humphreys	...	Sgt. Pope
Stephen Bent	...	Neil
Martyn Jacobs	...	Policeman at Mews
Raymond Brody	...	Bank manager
Andrew MacLachlan	...	Immigration officer (as Andrew McLachlan)
Oz Clarke	...	Special Branch Man
Peter Geddis	...	Butler
Jon Morrison	...	Dennis
Trevor Byfield	...	Baker (as Ziggy Byfield)
Michael Forrest	...	Pickley
Don Fellows	...	Ambassador Franklin
Alan Gifford	...	Sen. Kohoskie (as Allan Gifford)
John Woodnutt	...	Harold Staunton
Nick Brimble	...	Williamson
Michael Godley	...	M.P.
Meg Davies	...	Mary Tinker (as Meg Davis)
Lynne Miller	...	Melissa
Christopher Muncke	...	U.S. Security Man
Anna Ford	...	Newscaster
Bill Hamilton	...	Newscaster
Alan Polonsky	...	U.S. Marine Guard
Martin Grace	...	U.S. Marine Guard
Tariq Yunus	...	Terrorist
Bruce White	...	Terrorist
Patrick Gordon	...	Terrorist
Niall Padden	...	Terrorist
Tony Osoba	...	Terrorist
Glyn Baker	...	Terrorist
Ben Howard	...	Terrorist
Alan Renwick	...	Terrorist (as Alyn Renwick)
Peter Turner	...	Terrorist
Simon Heywood	...	Terrorist
Ralph Arliss	...	Terrorist
Ewan Stewart	...	Terrorist
Billy McBain	...	Terrorist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Denning	...	SAS technician (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Ian Sharp

Writing credits
George Markstein		(original story outline)
James Follett		(book "The Tiptoe Boys")
Reginald Rose		(screenplay)

Produced by
Chris Chrisafis	....	executive producer
Euan Lloyd	....	producer
Raymond Menmuir	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Roy Budd

Cinematography by
Phil Meheux		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Grover

Casting by
Esta Charkham

Production Design by
Syd Cain

Art Direction by
Maurice Cain		(as Mo Cain)

Makeup Department
Jeanette Freeman	....	hair stylist (as Jeannette Freeman)
Eddie Knight	....	assistant makeup artist
Tommie Manderson	....	assistant makeup artist (as Tommy Manderson)
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ron Purdie	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Brock	....	third assistant director
Michael Murray	....	second assistant director
Bill Westley	....	assistant director

Art Department
Maurice Binder	....	graphic artist
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director
Trevor Nicol	....	carpenter
Sid Palmer	....	buyer
Michael Redding	....	construction manager
Bob Sherwood	....	dressing prop
Robin Tarsnane	....	set dresser
Arthur Wicks	....	property master

Sound Department
David Crozier	....	sound recordist
Colin Dandridge	....	boom operator
John Hayward	....	dubbing mixer
Derek Holding	....	dubbing editor
Richard Langford	....	dubbing mixer
Christopher Lloyd	....	assistant dubbing editor (as Chris Lloyd)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	chief dubbing mixer
Colin Miller	....	dubbing editor
Bob Mullen	....	assistant dubbing editor
Guido Reidy	....	sound assistant

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	special effects supervisor
John McGoldrick	....	assistant special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Nick Allder	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Terry Cade	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Forestal	....	stunts (uncredited)
Martin Grace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Denise Ryan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tip Tipping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Malcolm Weaver	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Attwood	....	still photographer
Kevin Brookner	....	video assist
John Ignatius	....	clapper loader
Peter Kernot	....	still photographer
John Payne	....	grip
Bob Smith	....	camera operator
John Tythe	....	gaffer
Derek Worley	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Barnes	....	wardrobe assistant
John Hilling	....	wardrobe assistant
David Murphy	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Peter Davies	....	assembly editor
Matthew Glen	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Simon Atherton	....	armorer
Ian Black	....	technical research advisor
Ian Black	....	technical research advisor
Peter Carter	....	location manager
Mo Coppitters	....	assistant to producer
Penny Forrester	....	assistant production accountant
Pauline Granby	....	assistant production accountant
Carolyn Hall	....	production accountant
Derek Robbins	....	publicist
Bob Simmons	....	action arranger
Helene Thejll	....	assistant to producer
Alison Thorne	....	continuity
Anthony Van Laast	....	choreographer
Kevin Westley	....	floor runner

Production Companies

• Richmond Light Horse Productions
• Varius Entertainment Trading A.G.

Distributors

• Rank Film Organization (1982) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Panavision  lenses

Also Known As:

The Final Option (USA)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK | Switzerland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Richmond Light Horse Productions

Trivia:

For publicity, cinemas were embellished with displays of Union Jacks. The original Rank Organisation Press Book provided the following instructions: "Study carefully the stills from Who Dares Wins to get an idea of what the S.A.S. uniform looks like. From this you may gauge the type of gear in which to dress your street stunt squad to support the film. Male members of your staff, as well as college students, should be approached to help in this Task Force. Have your Who Dares Wins Task Force carry out carefully-planned 'raids' on local newspaper offices and stores at peak hours to attract the maximum public attention. Their object being to 'rescue' the editor or store manager and supply him with press kits, posters, etc. on the film... A TRIBUTE TO SAS HEROES - Who Dares Wins is a film tribute to the action men of the S.A.S. Many films today are down-beat in their approach to patriotism, so let it be known far and wide that British producer Euan Lloyd is proudly waving the Union Jack for Who Dares Wins."

Goofs:

Factual errors: The television newsreader refers to 'London airport'. London has had two airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) since 1958.

Quotes:

Capt. Peter Skellen: I know more about nuclear devastation than you ever will.

Soundtrack:

Jenny's Theme

Good British Action Movie

Who Dares Wins is a top British action movie made in the early 80's. It's star Lewis Collins was very well known in the UK from the hit TV show "The Profesionals". It was certainly made to cash in on the famous Iranian Embassy siege a mere year before they released this, which was televised live in Britain as the SAS stormed the building. Who Dares Wins has certainly dated as all 80's action films have, but it has great action scenes and stunt work. Collins is good in this and perhaps would have made a good 007, I don't know if he ever tested for the role but his Bond would have been closer to Connery than any since. The story is very silly and some scenes like the "rock concert" are cringe worthy but the action makes up for it, with a superb siege at the end.