The Great Game (1953 film)

The Great Game
Original British theatrical poster
Directed by	Maurice Elvey
Produced by	David Dent
Written by	Wolfgang Wilhelm
Based on	the play Shooting Star by Basil Thomas
Starring	James Hayter Thora Hird Diana Dors John Laurie
Music by	W.L. Trytel
Cinematography	Phil Grindrod
Edited by	Lito Carruthers
Distributed by	Adelphi Films
Release dates	January 1953 (1953-01) (UK)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Great Game is a 1953 British sports comedy-drama directed by Maurice Elvey and starring James Hayter, Thora Hird and Diana Dors. It was based on a play by Basil Thomas.^[1] Many of the scenes were shot at Griffin Park the home of Brentford F.C..^[2] Several professional football players made appearances in the film including Tommy Lawton.

Plot

The chairman of a top-flight English football club makes an illegal approach to a rising star of a rival club. This is discovered by the football authorities and the Chairman is ultimately suspended from the game following the ensuing scandal.^[3]

Cast

James Hayter - Joe Lawson
Thora Hird - Miss Rawlings
Diana Dors - Lulu Smith
John Laurie - 'Mac' Wells
Meredith Edwards- Skid Evans
Jack Lambert - Ralph Blake
Glyn Houston - Ned Rutter
Geoffrey Toone - Jack Bannerman
Alexander Gauge - Ben Woodhall
Frank Pettingell - Sir Julius
Tommy Lawton - Cameo
Sheila Shand-Gibbs - Mavis Pink

Critical reception

The Digital Fix found the film "largely insignificant and admittedly musters up little interest, but then it is offset with a gentle humour and plenty of broad comedy characterisation from its supporting cast; nobody could ogle Dors’ sexpot secretary quite like John Laurie does in the opening scene." ^[4]

References

↑ Hal Erickson. "The Great Game (1953) - Maurice Elvey - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
↑ malcolmgsw (1 January 1953). "The Great Game (1953)". IMDb.
↑ "The Great Game (1952)". BFI.
↑ "Film @ The Digital Fix - Miss Tulip Stays the Night / The Great Game". Film @ The Digital Fix.

Films directed by Maurice Elvey

Maria Marten (1913)
Her Luck in London (1914)
The Idol of Paris (1914)
The Loss of the Birkenhead (1914)
The Suicide Club (1914)
Honeymoon for Three (1915)
Home (1915)
A Will of Her Own (1915)
There's Good in Everyone (1915)
Charity Ann (1915)
Florence Nightingale (1915)
Gilbert Dying to Die (1915)
Gilbert Gets Tiger-It is (1915)
Love in a Wood (1915)
Her Nameless Child (1915)
From Shopgirl to Duchess (1915)
Midshipman Easy (1915)
Fine Feathers (1915)
Money for Nothing (1916)
Trouble for Nothing (1916)
Driven (1916)
Esther (1916)
When Knights Were Bold (1916)
Vice Versa (1916)
Meg the Lady (1916)
The King's Daughter (1916)
The Princess of Happy Chance (1916)
Mother Love (1916)
The Woman Who Was Nothing (1917)
The Grit of a Jew (1917)
Smith (1917)
Justice (1917)
The Gay Lord Quex (1917)
Flames (1917)
Mary Girl (1917)
Dombey and Son (1917)
The Life Story of David Lloyd George (1918)
Hindle Wakes (1918)
Nelson (1918)
The Greatest Wish in the World (1918)
Goodbye (1918)
Adam Bede (1918)
The Victory Leaders (1919)
Comradeship (1919)
God's Good Man (1919)
Mr. Wu (1919)
The Elusive Pimpernel (1919)
Quinneys (1919)
The Rocks of Valpre (1919)
Keeper of the Door (1919)
The Swindler (1919)
The Tavern Knight (1920)
A Question of Trust (1920)
At the Villa Rose (1920)
The Hundredth Chance (1920)
The Amateur Gentleman (1920)
Bleak House (1920)
A Gentleman of France (1921)
A Romance of Wastdale (1921)
Innocent (1921)
The Fruitful Vine (1921)
The Man with the Twisted Lip (1921)
Dick Turpin's Ride to York (1922)
A Debt of Honour (1922)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1922)
Running Water (1922)
Guy Fawkes (1923)
The Royal Oak (1923)
The Wandering Jew (1923)
The Sign of Four (1923)
The Passionate Friends (1923)
Don Quixote (1923)
Sally Bishop (1924)
Henry, King of Navarre (1924)
Slaves of Destiny (1924)
The Love Story of Aliette Brunton (1924)
My Husband's Wives (1924)
The Woman Tempted (1926)
The Flag Lieutenant (1926)
Mademoiselle from Armentieres (1926)
Roses of Picardy (1927)
Hindle Wakes (1927)
The Flight Commander (1927)
Quinneys (1927)
The Glad Eye (1927)
Mademoiselle Parley Voo (1928)
Balaclava (1928)
Palais de danse (1928)
You Know What Sailors Are (1928)
High Treason (1929)
The School for Scandal (1930)
Potiphar's Wife (1931)
Sally in Our Alley (1931)
A Honeymoon Adventure (1931)
Frail Women (1932)
The Marriage Bond (1932)
The Water Gipsies (1932)
Diamond Cut Diamond (1932)
The Lodger (1932)
The Lost Chord (1933)
I Lived with You (1933)
This Week of Grace (1933)
Soldiers of the King (1933)
Love, Life and Laughter (1934)
Road House (1934)
Lily of Killarney (1934)
In a Monastery Garden (1935)
The Clairvoyant (1935)
The Tunnel (1935)
Heat Wave (1935)
Spy of Napoleon (1936)
The Man in the Mirror (1936)
A Romance in Flanders (1937)
Who Killed John Savage? (1937)
Melody and Romance (1937)
Lightning Conductor (1938)
Who Goes Next? (1938)
The Return of the Frog (1938)
Sword of Honour (1939)
Sons of the Sea (1939)
Under Your Hat (1940)
The Spider (1940)
For Freedom (1940)
Room for Two (1940)
Salute John Citizen (1942)
The Lamp Still Burns (1943)
Medal for the General (1944)
Strawberry Roan (1945)
Beware of Pity (1946)
The Third Visitor (1951)
The Late Edwina Black (1951)
My Wife's Lodger (1952)
The Great Game (1953)
Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? (1953)
House of Blackmail (1953)
The Harassed Hero (1954)
What Every Woman Wants (1954)
The Gay Dog (1954)
You Lucky People (1955)
Room in the House (1955)
Fun at St. Fanny's (1956)
Dry Rot (1956)
Stars in Your Eyes (1956)
Second Fiddle (1957)

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