An Ungentlemanly Act
Encyclopedia
An Ungentlemanly Act is a 1992 BBC
television film about the first days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands
in 1982.
, and commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Falklands War
. The film was closely based on the historical record, and all of the major incidents portrayed were drawn from contemporary accounts by those who took part. Filming took place on the Falkland Islands and at Ealing Studios
. Urban is a fluent Spanish-speaker, and plays an uncredited role as the Argentine radio operator.
Ian Richardson
replaced Ian Holm
as Falklands Governor Rex Hunt
after Holm dropped out of the production at the last minute. Bob Peck
plays Major Mike Norman, the commander of the Royal Marines
based at Stanley
, while Norman himself acted as advisor on the production, and has a small part as a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force
(FIDF). Don Bonner, who was Governor Hunt's chauffeur at the time of the conflict, cameos in a scene set in Stanley store where he says "Hello Don" to the actor playing himself.
television.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television film about the first days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
in 1982.
Production
The film was written and directed by Stuart UrbanStuart Urban
Stuart Urban is a British film and television director. At the age of thirteen in 1972, he became the youngest director to have a film shown at the Cannes Film Festival with his short feature The Virus of War...
, and commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. The film was closely based on the historical record, and all of the major incidents portrayed were drawn from contemporary accounts by those who took part. Filming took place on the Falkland Islands and at Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
. Urban is a fluent Spanish-speaker, and plays an uncredited role as the Argentine radio operator.
Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson
Ian William Richardson CBE was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor....
replaced Ian Holm
Ian Holm
Sir Ian Holm, CBE is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in The Homecoming and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear...
as Falklands Governor Rex Hunt
Rex Masterman Hunt
Sir Rex Masterman Hunt KCMG is a British diplomat and colonial administrator. He was Governor, Commander-in-Chief and Vice Admiral of the Falkland Islands between 1980 and September 1985.- Career :After attending Coatham School, Redcar and St Peter's College, Oxford, Rex Hunt joined the Royal...
after Holm dropped out of the production at the last minute. Bob Peck
Bob Peck
Bob Peck was an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:He went to Leeds Modern School in Lawnswood...
plays Major Mike Norman, the commander of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
based at Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
, while Norman himself acted as advisor on the production, and has a small part as a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force
Falkland Islands Defence Force
The Falkland Islands Defence Force is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The FIDF works alongside the military units supplied by the United Kingdom to ensure the security of the islands.-History:...
(FIDF). Don Bonner, who was Governor Hunt's chauffeur at the time of the conflict, cameos in a scene set in Stanley store where he says "Hello Don" to the actor playing himself.
Reception
The film was well-received on release and is generally considered to be an accurate and even-handed portrayal of events. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama the following year, and was later shown on ArgentineArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
television.
Awards
- BAFTA Awards 1993
- Won: BAFTA TV Award for Best Single Drama: Bradley Adams & Stuart Urban
- Nominated: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor: Ian Richardson
- Royal Television SocietyRoyal Television SocietyThe Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
1993- Nominated: RTS Television Award for Best Actor (Male): Ian Richardson
Cast
- Ian RichardsonIan RichardsonIan William Richardson CBE was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor....
.... Governor Rex HuntRex Masterman HuntSir Rex Masterman Hunt KCMG is a British diplomat and colonial administrator. He was Governor, Commander-in-Chief and Vice Admiral of the Falkland Islands between 1980 and September 1985.- Career :After attending Coatham School, Redcar and St Peter's College, Oxford, Rex Hunt joined the Royal... - Bob PeckBob PeckBob Peck was an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:He went to Leeds Modern School in Lawnswood...
.... Maj. Mike Norman - Rosemary LeachRosemary LeachRosemary Leach is a British stage, television and film actress.She was born at Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Her parents were teachers related to Edmund Leach. She attended grammar school and RADA...
.... Mavis Hunt - Ian McNeiceIan McNeiceIan McNeice is a prolific English screen, stage, and television character actor.-Early life:McNeice was born in Basingstoke in Hampshire. McNeice's acting training started at the Taunton School in Somerset, followed by two years at the Salisbury Playhouse...
.... Dick Baker - James Warrior .... Don Bonner
- Marc WarrenMarc WarrenMarc Warren is an English actor, known for his British television roles as Danny Blue in Hustle, Dougie Raymond in The Vice and Dominic Foy in State of Play.-Career:...
.... Tony Hunt - Elizabeth BradleyElizabeth BradleyElizabeth Bradley was an English actress, perhaps most famous for playing battle-axe Maud Grimes in the fictional soap Coronation Street....
.... Nanny - Kate Spiro .... Connie Baker
- Holly Barker .... Baker Girl #1
- Claire SlaterClaire SlaterClaire Slater is a British actress. She attended Hertfordshire schools St. Francis' College in Letchworth Garden City and the Knights Templar School in Baldock...
.... Baker Girl #2 - Hugh Ross .... Maj. Garry Noott
- Ian Embleton .... Cpl. 'Geordie' Gill
- Aidan GillenAidan GillenAidan Gillen is an Irish stage and screen actor and television presenter. He is known in Ireland for his role in Love/Hate, in the UK for his role in Queer as Folk and in the US for his role in HBO's television series The Wire in which he plays Tommy Carcetti and for his role in Game of Thrones as...
.... Marine Wilcox - Richard GrahamRichard Graham (actor)Richard Graham is an actor. He is mostly known for his roles opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic and Gangs Of New York , as well as playing Trevor in the football hooligan film I.D. .He has appeared in many television series, including all 12 episodes of Maisie Raine as D.S...
.... Cpl. Armour - Matthew AshfordeMatthew AshfordeMatthew Ashforde is an English actor, known for his appearances in EastEnders, Press Gang and Is It Legal?.Ashforde started his professional acting career at the age of ten. He currently lives in North London with his wife and son....
.... Marine Farnworth - Richard LongRichard Long-English political figures:*Richard Long , Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Henry VIII; knighted in 1537; MP for Southwark...
... Marine Dorey - Garry Cooper ... Colour Sgt. Muir
- Phil Atkinson ... Sgt. Short
- Christopher Northey ... Maj. Phil Summers (FIDF)
- Chris WalkerChris WalkerChris Walker may refer to:*Chris Walker , English motorcycle racer*Chris Walker , Australian rugby league footballer*Chris Walker , English squash player...
... 'Ex-Marine' Jim Fairfield (as Christopher Walker) - Mike Norman ... F.I.D.F. Stalwart
- Christopher Jaffray ... F.I.D.F. Youth 1
- Simon GodwinSimon GodwinSimon Godwin is a British theatre director based in London where he is currently an Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre and Bristol Old Vic...
... F.I.D.F. Youth 2 - Jonathan CohenJonathan CohenJonathan Cohen may refer to:* Laurence Jonathan Cohen, British philosopher* Jonathan Cohen , British conductor and cellist currently on staff with Les Arts Florissants...
... Marine #1 - Lee Alliston ... Marine #2
- Alex NortonAlex NortonAlexander Hugh "Alex" Norton is a Scottish actor. He is probably best known for his roles as DCI Matt Burke in Taggart, and Eddie in the Renford Rejects....
... Chief of Police Ronnie Lamb - Gary Clement ... Butcher
- Harry Jones ... Henry Halliday
- Trevor CooperTrevor CooperTrevor "Trev" Cooper is an English actor.-Background:Cooper studied law at Kingston Polytechnic and graduated with a masters degree in law from the University of Warwick...
... Des King - Morag SillerMorag SillerMorag Siller , is a Scottish TV & film actress, voice-over artist and radio presenter.-Early life and education:Siller was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was adopted at the age of three with her twin brother...
... Alison King - Flip Webster ... Mrs King
- Mike Grady ... Patrick Watts
- Tom Hodgkins ... Tom Olsen
- Ann Reid ... Mrs. Mozeley
- Simon Fisher-BeckerSimon Fisher-BeckerSimon Fisher-Becker is a British stage, television and film actor, specialising in comedy and character parts. His more notable roles include The Fat Friar in the Harry Potter film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and Dorium Maldovar in series 5 and 6 of Doctor Who.-Background:He was...
... Prisoner - Adam GodleyAdam GodleyAdam Godley is an English actor.-Biography:Adam Godley has appeared in numerous movies including Love Actually, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ....
... P.C. Anton Livermore - Janet RobertsonJanet RobertsonJanet Robertson is an Argentine-born Falkland Islands politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Stanley constituency from 2005 until 2009...
... Sonia - Helen Blades ... Sonia's Friend
- Antonio ValeroAntonio ValeroAntonio Valero born Antonio Valero Osma , is a Spanish actor.-Career:He began his career as actor in the theater in Catalan with the directors Fabia Puigserver, Albert Boadella and Pere Planella. He made his film debut with La Mitad del Cielo directed by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon...
... Vice-Commodore Hector Gilobert - Fulgencio Saturno ... Vice-Adm. Carlos Busser
- Alan TurnerAlan TurnerAlan Turner is a former Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests and 6 ODIs from 1975 to 1977....
... Maj. Patricio Dowling - Arturo Venegas ... Capt. Pedro GiachinoPedro Giachinothumb|300px|Captain Giachino portrait Capitan de Corbeta Pedro Edgardo Giachino, Mendoza, 28 May 1947 - 2 April 1982, Port Stanley was an Argentine Navy officer who became the first serviceman killed in action during the Falklands War .He was the leader of a platoon of Comandos anfibios and died...
- Ricardo Vélez ... Lt. Lugo
- Vincent S. Boluda ... Lt. Quiroga
- Robert Reina ... Medic Ernesto Urbina
- Juan MartinezJuan MartínezJuan Martínez Brito is a retired discus thrower from Cuba, who represented his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics. His personal best is 70.00 metres, thrown on May 21, 1983 in Havana, Cuba....
... Marine - Paul Geoffrey ... Simon WinchesterSimon WinchesterSimon Winchester, OBE , is a British-American author and journalist who resides mostly in the United States. Through his career at The Guardian, Winchester covered numerous significant events including Bloody Sunday and the Watergate Scandal...
- Stuart UrbanStuart UrbanStuart Urban is a British film and television director. At the age of thirteen in 1972, he became the youngest director to have a film shown at the Cannes Film Festival with his short feature The Virus of War...
... Argentinian 'snatch squadSnatch squadA snatch squad refers to two tactics used by police in riot control and crowd control.-Snatch squad in riot control:The snatch squad in riot control involves several police officers, usually in protective riot gear, rushing forwards, occasionally in flying wedge formation to break through the front...
' radio operator (uncredited)
See also
- Cultural impact of the Falklands WarCultural impact of the Falklands WarThe cultural impact of the Falklands War spanned several media in both Britain and Argentina.-Non-fiction:The war provided a wealth of material for writers, and many dozens of books came from it; in the United Kingdom the definitive account became Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins' The Battle for the...
- The Falklands PlayThe Falklands PlayThe 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...
- TumbledownTumbledownTumbledown is a 1988 BBC Television drama film set during the Falklands War.-Synopsis:The film centres on the experiences of Robert Lawrence MC , an officer of the Scots Guards during the Falklands Campaign of 1982. While fighting at the Battle of Mount Tumbledown, Lawrence is shot in the head by...