UNITED

UK, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
David Tennant, Jack O’ Connell, Dougray Scott.
Directed by James Strong.

United is a film for British soccer fans, beloved of football. It is particularly of interest to fans of Manchester United. It is a British sports film – different from the morale-boosting sports films from the United States. This is especially the case since the centre of the film is a disastrous plane crash in which a number of the young Manchester United players were killed in 1958.

David Tennant plays the coach of the team, recruiting young players, building them up, very successful in the second half of the 1950s. They also played internationally (despite criticisms from the local football authorities) – and were killed in a plane crash returning from a match in Yugoslavia so that they would not forfeit their British game and lose points in the competition.

Tennant is particularly good as the single-minded and earnest coach. Dougray Scott is Sir Matt Busby, the manager of the team – and the players were called the Busby Babes after him.

The film also shows the rebirth of Manchester United, the recruiting of young men to continue the spirit of the game especially for the local Manchester community. (It is interesting to note the difference in celebrity of the players, and especially their salaries from later decades.)

The film also focuses on the young Bobby Charlton, played by Jack O’ Connell. It shows Charlton as a young man, his years of preparation to be in the team, his participation in the matches and his survival in the crash. It also shows his wariness about coming back to football – and in a postscript outlines his successful career over many decades after the crash.

1. The target audience, a broader audience? Soccer/football? Beyond?

2. A British sports film, the presentation of the sport, the players, teamwork, training, the coach, the manager, the details of training and play, the spirit in the locker room?

3. Manchester United in the mid-50s, Manchester as the industrial city and its history, Old Trafford, the spirit of Manchester?

4. The focus on Bobby Charlton, young, his background, his wanting to be in the team, the coach and his training, playing, surviving the crash? His re-entry into football? With the kids? Successful playing – his later career, Sir Bobby Charlton?

5. Jimmy Murphy, David Tennant’s performance? As a person, coach, the building up of the team, his earnestness, with Bobby Charlton? Discussions with Matt Busby? The discussions with the officials, especially about playing internationally? His grief at the accident? Supporting Bobby Charlton, bringing him home? The subsequent information about his life and career?

6. Matt Busby, the manager, tough, his interchanges with the authorities, the threats, playing internationally, defying the authorities, his being injured in the crash? His long convalescence? Returning to the team?

7. The disaster, the opening scene with Bobby Charlton strapped into the seat with his dead companion, in the snow? Audience knowledge of the disaster? Its effect on the families, on Manchester United? The aftermath, funerals and memorials – the coffins laid out in the room? Building up from the tragedy, the phoenix?

8. The players, their age, the training, playing, the nightclubs, dancing, their girlfriends – and the propriety of a different era? The pipe-smoking Duncan Edwards? Their opponents, looked down on – and surprising them? The success? Local matches? Old Trafford? International matches? The match in Yugoslavia? Going to Yugoslavia – going through customs, bringing their own food? The official reaction to the team?

9. Jimmy Murphy’s character, the pep talks, the encouragement, the aftermath, going to Munich?

10. The hardline official, blaming himself for the tragedy, the bureaucrat, never having played?

11. Matt Busby, the talks, the plans, his relationship with Jimmy Murphy, with Bobby Charlton, the injuries?

12. Bobby Charlton and his age, waiting for years to get into the team, kicking the ball against the wall, his home life, family? Playing? His career?

13. Harry Gregg, the tough goalkeeper, Duncan Edwards, the hero, engaged, the advertisements? His death?

14. The new recruits, young, their being tested out, playing?

15. The history of Manchester United? The foundation for the success of the team in later decades?