An Ungentlemanly Act (1992) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Stuart Urban

Writer:

Stuart Urban (screenplay)

Genre:

History | War

Plot:

Royal Marines defend Government House from Argentine invaders during the events that triggered the Falklands War.

Plot Keywords:

Falklands | Island | Falklands War | Royal Marines | Argentina

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Ian Richardson	...	His Excellency, Gov. Rex Hunt
Rosemary Leach	...	Mavis Hunt
Ian McNeice	...	Dick Baker
James Warrior	...	Don Bonner
Marc Warren	...	Tony Hunt
Elizabeth Bradley	...	Nanny
Kate Spiro	...	Connie Baker
Holly Barker	...	Baker Girl #1
Claire Slater	...	Baker Girl #2
Hugh Ross	...	Maj. Garry Noott
Bob Peck	...	Maj. Mike Norman
Ian Embleton	...	Cpl. 'Geordie' Gill
Aidan Gillen	...	Marine Wilcox
Richard Graham	...	Cpl. Armour
Matthew Ashforde	...	Marine Farnworth

Runtime:

UK:130 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Ian Holm was originally cast as Rex Hunt, but dropped out of the production as filming began.

Quotes:

Mavis Hunt: [on the Falklands invasion] Why would anyone bother over half a million sheep and some seaweed?

Movie Connections:

References Zulu (1964)

If Ealing Studios had made a Falklands War movie

This was a very well made TV movie about the Falklands War. Up until that time, the war was depicted in very negative and anti-British terms with efforts like "Sink The Belgrano" (the British as war-mongers) and "Tumbledown" (the British army treats its men with contempt). This is a more balanced effort, and is all the better for it. The Falkland Islands and its people are depicted as a quaint, small town British community, almost like a corner of Somerset or Yorkshire. They live a life that almost embodies an earlier, stereotypical 1950's way far removed from cosmopolitan London. The theme of the film is that of violation. When the Argentinians threaten to invade, the locals close ranks and prepare for the worst; even though they're not sure what that will entail. The Royal Marines, professional to the last, won't give in that easily; they don't want their honour violated. The DJ refuses to have his station violated, the defenders of Government house don't even want the vegetable patch violated. The Argentinians are not the focus of the story and their point of view isn't really delved into; suffice to say General Mendoza comes across as a reasonable person, but a few of his officers are shown as brutal thugs who can't wait to impose their ways on the islanders.

The film came out when anti-Thatcher bias in the British media was high, and it's not an anti-Thatcher piece at all. It goes a little into the British seeming to reduce their commitment to the islands at the beginning, but the impression I was left with was that the islanders were absolutely horrified to be taken over by Argentina. It pits the olde-worlde British village life against the Banana Republic army boot. The acting is first rate (have Ian Richardson or the late lamented Bob Peck ever put in a bad performance?) and the production values are very good.