The Damned United (2009)

A look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United.

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay), David Peace (novel)

Stars:

Colm Meaney, Henry Goodman, David Roper

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colm Meaney	...	Don Revie
Henry Goodman	...	Manny Cussins
David Roper	...	Sam Bolton
Jimmy Reddington	...	Keith Archer
Oliver Stokes	...	Nigel Clough
Ryan Day	...	Simon Clough
Michael Sheen	...	Brian Clough
Mark Bazeley	...	Austin Mitchell
Timothy Spall	...	Peter Taylor
Maurice Roëves	...	Jimmy Gordon
Stephen Graham	...	Billy Bremner
Peter McDonald	...	Johnny Giles
Mark Cameron	...	Norman Hunter
Frank Skillin	...	Younger Nigel Clough
Dylan Van Hoof	...	Younger Simon Clough

Storyline

Taking over England's top football club Leeds United, previously successful manager Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor who has loyally stayed with Brighton & Hove Albion.

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Plot Keywords:

leeds united | football | brighton | cup | flashback | 

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Taglines:

"They love me for what I'm not... ...they hate me for what I am."

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [fr] Sony Pictures [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az elátkozott Leeds United

Filming Locations:

Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$32,065 (USA) (9 October 2009)

Gross:

$449,558 (USA) (5 February 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, BBC Films, Screen Yorkshire

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes in the film set at the Derby County training ground were actually filmed in Leeds at a football pitch ironically overlooking the Leeds United stadium.

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Goofs

As Derby are seen to rise up the table when they overtake Hull City, Hull's points total decreases. Hull have never had points deducted so this would be impossible.

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Quotes

Manny Cussins: Let's be honest, Brian. It's not working, is it? The players aren't happy. We're not happy. In truth, we should probably never have hired you without Peter Taylor.
Brian Clough: So... what do you want to do about it?
Manny Cussins: It's not working. We have to part company.
Brian Clough: Fine, it'll cost you twenty-five grand.
Manny Cussins: What? For six weeks' work?
Brian Clough: Plus three-and-a-half grand for Jimmy Gordon. And an agreement that Leeds United will pay both our income taxes for the next three years.
Manny Cussins: That is bloody criminal!
Brian Clough: You can throw in the ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Clough (2009)

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Soundtracks

"The Stars and Stripes"
Written by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

Not bad, young man.

The life of the egocentric one gets the big screen treatment - another feather in his cap, and one to put over Shanks, Busby, Mercer, Allison, Paisley etc. The fact he shares the spotlight with Don Revie would be his only disappointment. One may find the numerous anachronisms and inaccuracies distracting, i.e. Dave Mackay had left Derby before Clough and Taylor's resignation, and that 5-0 Leeds triumph came the year after County's championship triumph (or robbery as devout Geldard Enders would maintain) - I know, I was there that great day wallowing in revenge for the previous year's injustices.

Without resorting to caricature, Sheen effortlessly conveys Clough's rampant narcissism and hubris. His obsession with Revie is portrayed as something he needs to work out of his system before getting his life back on keel. Revie is depicted as such a cartoon villain that one is almost disappointed that he doesn't appear clad in top hat and black cloak, chuckling evilly as he twirls his moustache and ties Cloughs' two sons to the railway line. Colm Meaney is uncanny in his depiction of the Elland Road supremo and his face captures the haunted look of the man who must have felt the fates were against him at times. Spall seems physically miscast as Taylor but puts across the fact that Pete was Clough's often unheeded moral conscience - a fact illustrated by how Clough went to the bad in his later years at Forest when Taylor wasn't around. Jim Broadbent is every provincial businessman made good as Sam Longson who must have needed the patience of a saint in his latter years at Derby.

Occasionally, the script's pace works against it. Clough and Taylor have barely signed the contract with Mike Bamber when they're off to Majorca. It might have been better to have a scene or two showing their tribulations at Brighton which increased Clough's desire to snatch at the first decent offer that came his way. I still remember hearing the humiliating defeat they suffered at home to Bristol Rovers on the coach back from Elland Road on the radio - and the ensuing hysterical laughter. To think, one year later, we were laughing the other side of our faces.