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The Damned United

  • 2009
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
45K
YOUR RATING
Michael Sheen in The Damned United (2009)
A look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United.
Play trailer2:09
16 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaSport

The story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.The story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.The story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.

  • Director
    • Tom Hooper
  • Writers
    • Peter Morgan
    • David Peace
  • Stars
    • Colm Meaney
    • Henry Goodman
    • David Roper
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    45K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Hooper
    • Writers
      • Peter Morgan
      • David Peace
    • Stars
      • Colm Meaney
      • Henry Goodman
      • David Roper
    • 98User reviews
    • 153Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos16

    The Damned United -- U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 2:09
    Watch The Damned United -- U.S. Trailer
    The Damned United - UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch The Damned United - UK Trailer
    The Damned United - The Dossier
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Damned United - The Dossier
    The Damned United - Team Talk
    Clip 1:39
    Watch The Damned United - Team Talk
    The Damned United - On the road
    Clip 0:51
    Watch The Damned United - On the road
    The Damned United - Management
    Clip 0:58
    Watch The Damned United - Management
    The Damned United - Mallorca
    Clip 0:50
    Watch The Damned United - Mallorca
    The Damned United - Game Plan
    Clip 2:02
    Watch The Damned United - Game Plan
    The Damned United - FA Cup  Draw
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The Damned United - FA Cup Draw
    The Damned United: TV Interview
    Clip 1:00
    Watch The Damned United: TV Interview
    The Damned United - New Players
    Clip 1:20
    Watch The Damned United - New Players
    The Damned United: Don Revie
    Clip 1:04
    Watch The Damned United: Don Revie

    Photos117

    Michael Sheen in The Damned United (2009)
    Colm Meaney in The Damned United (2009)
    Mark Cameron and Stephen Graham in The Damned United (2009)
    Michael Sheen in The Damned United (2009)
    Colm Meaney in The Damned United (2009)
    Michael Sheen in The Damned United (2009)
    Michael Sheen and Colin Harris in The Damned United (2009)
    Mark Cameron, Stephen Graham, and Maurice Roëves in The Damned United (2009)
    The Damned United (2009)
    Michael Sheen in The Damned United (2009)
    Timothy Spall and Maurice Roëves in The Damned United (2009)
    Stephen Graham, Michael Sheen, and Ross Donnelly in The Damned United (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Don Revie
    Henry Goodman
    Henry Goodman
    • Manny Cussins
    David Roper
    • Sam Bolton
    Jimmy Reddington
    • Keith Archer
    Oliver Stokes
    • Nigel Clough
    Ryan Day
    • Simon Clough
    Michael Sheen
    Michael Sheen
    • Brian Clough
    Mark Bazeley
    Mark Bazeley
    • Austin Mitchell
    Timothy Spall
    Timothy Spall
    • Peter Taylor
    Maurice Roëves
    Maurice Roëves
    • Jimmy Gordon
    Stephen Graham
    Stephen Graham
    • Billy Bremner
    Peter McDonald
    Peter McDonald
    • Johnny Giles
    Mark Cameron
    Mark Cameron
    • Norman Hunter
    Frank Skillin
    • Younger Nigel Clough
    Dylan Van Hoof
    • Younger Simon Clough
    Sydney Wade
    Sydney Wade
    • Younger Elizabeth Clough
    Elizabeth Carling
    Elizabeth Carling
    • Barbara Clough
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Sam Longson
    • Director
      • Tom Hooper
    • Writers
      • Peter Morgan
      • David Peace
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film has been criticized by the Clough family as they state it was not a true story of events.
    • Goofs
      The tie against Leeds shows Derby being so badly fouled by the Leeds players they have to field reserves against Juventus. While Derby did suffer some injuries in the tie against Leeds that year, it actually came before their quarter-final match against Spartak Trnava, which Derby still won despite missing some key players. Moreover, the injuries were not as serious as implied in the film, and all the injured players had recovered by the time of the eventual 3-1 defeat by Juventus which was with a near full-strength Derby squad minus two players who were suspended.
    • Quotes

      Brian Clough: [to the assembled Leeds players] Well, I might as well tell you now. You lot may all be internationals and have won all the domestic honours there are to win under Don Revie. But as far as I'm concerned, the first thing you can do for me is to chuck all your medals and all your caps and all your pots and all your pans into the biggest fucking dustbin you can find, because you've never won any of them fairly. You've done it all by bloody cheating.

    • Connections
      Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #4.124 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Leeds, Leeds, Leeds (Marching On Together)
      Performed by Leeds United A.F.C. (as Leeds United Team) and Supporters

      Written by Les Reed / Barry Mason

      Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd / Dick James Music Ltd / Barry Mason Music Ltd / MCS Music Ltd

      Licensed from Chapter One Records Ltd

    User reviews98

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    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.
    helpful•42
    9
    • chrismartonuk-1
    • Mar 28, 2009

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Damned United?Powered by Alexa
    • Who was managing Derby in the match that Brian Clough snuck into, if Dave Mackay hadn't been appointed yet?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 27, 2009 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Sony Pictures (France)
      • Sony Pictures (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Đội Bóng Chết Dẫm
    • Filming locations
      • Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK(Assistant manager, Peter Taylor's home)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • BBC Films
      • Screen Yorkshire
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $449,865
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $32,065
      • Oct 11, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,091,378
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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