The Great Game

About the film

Football as a true British institution; The Great Game starts with schoolboys being taught by famous footballers, followed by extended footage of the Football League War Cup Finals from 1945.

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Details

• Release year - 1945
• Production company - Verity Films
• Producer - Reg Groves
• Screenplay - Reg Groves
• Cinematographers - Jo Jago, Alvin Willis
• Narration - Raymond Glendenning, Geoffrey Sumner, J.R. Whitty
• Editor - C. Beaumont
• Sound recording - Edgar Law
• Running time (minutes) - 28 mins 24 secs

Original description

British Association Football

'A famous footballer tells how boys learn football at school and describes the part the game plays in British life. Most towns have their teams, and matches are played every Saturday. Almost everyone takes an interest in these matches, and at the end of the winter the best two teams play in the 'Cup Final' for 'the Cup', a silver trophy kept by the winners until the next year.''

(Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1946)

Did you know?

• The film features appearances from famous footballers, and is narrated by Raymond Glendenning, a sports commentator.
• As with Cricket the British Council were keen for authenticity in their sports films.
• The Cup Final featured in the film was part of the Football League War Cup. This tournament replaced the regular FA Cup during wartime.

All films are subject to the Creative Commons licence guidelines.

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