Just a Boys' Game

"Just a Boys' Game"
Play for Today episode
Episode no.Series 10
Episode 1
Directed byJohn Mackenzie
Written byPeter McDougall
Cinematography byElmer Cossey
Editing byGraham Walker
Original air date8 November 1979 (1979-11-08)
Running time71 minutes
Starring

"Just a Boys' Game" is an episode of Play for Today written by Peter McDougall and directed by John Mackenzie.[1][2][3][4] "Just a Boys' Game" aired on 8 November 1979.[5]

It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher, Ken Hutchison, Hector Nicol, Jean Taylor Smith, Katherine Stark, Barry Malone, Michael Malone and band The Cuban Heels.[1]

The plot revolves around the life of Jake McQuillan, who lives in the shadow of his dying grandfather, who used to be Greenock's hardest man.[6]

The play was filmed in and around Greenock and Port Glasgow.[7]

Frankie Miller's song "Rules of the Game" is featured over the closing credits.[8]

Cast

  • Jake McQuillen - Frankie Miller
  • Dancer Dunnichy - Ken Hutchison
  • Grannie - Jean Taylor-Smith
  • Granda - Hector Nicol
  • Tanza - Gregor Fisher
  • Jane - Katherine Stark
  • Bella - Jan Wilson
  • Mental Dan - Jim Byars
  • At the pub - Gaylie Runciman, James Morrison, Bill Riddock, Sandy West, Irene Sunters, Martin Cochrane, Elaine Collins, Freddie Boardley
  • Young Team Boys - Billy Greenleas, Michael Malone, Hamish Taylor, Eddie Kane, David Fulton, Billy Faulds, Douglas Sannachan, Andrew Burns, Jimmy Fisher
  • Group in Pub - The Cuban Heels
  • Outside the Pub - James Kennedy, Myra Forsyth, David Voss, Peter Davidson
  • Couple in Close - Katy Gardiner, Jimmy Martin
  • Woman in Grocer's - Mairhi Russel
  • At the Shipyard - Jackie Farrell, Campbell Morrison, John Butterly, Ken Henderson, James Boyce
  • At Bella's Close - Barry Malone, Billy Jeffrey, John Murtagh, Johnny Adam
  • Man at Snooker Hall - Ray Jeffries
  • At the Garage - Eileen McCallum, David Anderson
  • Jake's Family - Shenagh Douglas, Ivy Val, Ron Paterson

Critical reception

Screenonline wrote "stunningly photographed by Elmer Cossey and featured McDougall's most crackling dialogue and richest characterisations, all brilliantly evoked by a cast headed by blues singer Frankie Miller in a performance that melts the camera in its intensity."[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Just a Boy's Game (1979)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018.
  2. ↑ "Play For Today - Series 10: 1. Just a Boys' Game". BBC.
  3. ↑ "Just A Boy's Game | Film | The Guardian". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ "Just A Boy's Game (1979) | The List". film.list.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index". Archived from the original on 24 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Play for Today Season 10". Radio Times.
  7. ↑ "Just a Boys' Game and the work of Peter McDougall". 11 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Frankie Miller - Rules of the Game - Just A Boys Game OST Chords - Chordify". chordify.net.
  9. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: McDougall, Peter (1947-) Biography". screenonline.org.uk.
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