The Falklands Play

The Falklands Play

1h 30m 7.3/10

Overview

The Falklands Play is a dramatic account of the political events leading up to, and including, the 1982 Falklands War. The play was written by Ian Curteis, an experienced writer who had started his television career in drama, but had increasingly come to specialise in dramatic reconstructions of history. It was originally commissioned by the BBC in 1983, for production and broadcast in 1986, but was subsequently shelved by Controller of BBC One Michael Grade due to its alleged pro-Margaret Thatcher stance and jingoistic tone. This prompted a press furore over media bias and censorship.The play was not staged until 2002, when it was broadcast in separate adaptations on BBC Television and Radio.

Director

Michael Samuels

Top Billed Cast

James Fox

James Fox

Rt Hon Peter, 6th Baron Carrington KCMG MC (Foreign Secretary)

Colin Stinton

Colin Stinton

Alexander Haig (US Secretary of State)

Patricia Hodge

Patricia Hodge

Rt. Hon Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister)

John Standing

John Standing

Rt Hon William Whitelaw CH MC MP (Home Secretary)

Michael Cochrane

Michael Cochrane

Rt Hon Nicholas Ridley MP (Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

Anthony Calf

Anthony Calf

Robin Fearn (Head of Falkland Islands Department, Foreign Office)

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

9/3/2023

7/10

Recently, there have been a spate of singularly poor dramas about historical figures from the British Isles - "Mary, Queen of Scots" (2018), "Robert, the Bruce" (2019) being two of the least agreeable - but this takes that low benchmark and throws it under the bus (or chariot). Anyone expecting a battle-fest featuring this famously brave and courageous Queen leading loads of people in woad fighting off the fearsome Roman Legions is in for an huge disappointment. You will possibly have seen bloodier battles on a rugby field - indeed, what action there is seemed more about whether our as yet only teenage Boudica was going to be seduced by a deserting Roman legionnaire impersonating, well, who really cares. I'm afraid that this is just dreadful - the sort of film you would be proud of your kids making at college, but deserving of no more than that. The production quality is adequate, and actually the technical aspects - costumes, wattle huts etc., are adequate too - but the acting, dialogue and the whole pace of the thing makes you ever grateful that it's just 80 minutes long... Avoid, you know you want to.

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