Who Dares Wins (film)
- "The Final Option" redirects here. For the Hong Kong film, see The Final Option (1994 film).
| Who Dares Wins | |
|---|---|
| File:Whodareswinsdvd.jpg DVD cover for the film | |
| Directed by | Ian Sharp |
| Written by | Reginald Rose |
| Produced by | Chris Chrisafis Euan Lloyd Raymond Menmuir |
| Starring | Lewis Collins Judy Davis Richard Widmark |
| Cinematography | Phil Meheux |
| Edited by | John Grover |
| Music by | Roy Budd |
| Distributed by | MGM/UA Entertainment Company |
Release dates |  August 1982 August 26 December 3 January 12, 1983 January 18 September 23 (New York City, New York) |
Running time | 125 min. |
| Country | UK/Switzerland |
| Language | English |
Who Dares Wins (U.S. title: The Final Option) is a 1982 British film starring Lewis Collins, Judy Davis, Richard Widmark and Edward Woodward and is directed by Ian Sharp. The title is the motto of the elite Special Air Service (SAS).
The film's script was loosely adapted into James Follet's novel, The Tiptoe Boys and released to tie-in with the film. The plot is largely based on the Iranian embassy siege, in which the SAS stormed the building to rescue those being held hostage inside. Euan Lloyd the movies producer got the idea for the film after watching the S.A.S. storm the Iranian Embassy on television, after the rescue he had certain phrases copywrighted including Who Dares Wins.
Synopsis
The British security forces learn that a militant group attached to the anti-nuclear movement plans a significant act of terrorism, however their plant is unmasked and publicly killed during a protest march. To find out what is being planned, they recruit the services of the SAS. SAS officer, Capt Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins) is picked for the mission. After faking his dismissal from the SAS for beating two visiting counter-terrorist officers in a mountain training exercise, he goes under cover to infiltrate the militant group by seducing its leader. Despite his convincing efforts, he is detected meeting his wife. Knowing this, the terrorists decide they can use Skellen as a part of their plan and do not let him know that he has been found out.
The group kills the secret service go-between after tailing Skellen to a meeting and later take his wife and child hostage. Before he can report what he has learned to his superiors, the group hijacks a coach carrying a military band and use their uniforms to gain access to the American ambassador's residence. They take over the building and demand that a nuclear weapon be fired at the Holy Loch submarine base in Scotland. When it becomes clear that negotiations will not work, the SAS is sent in to deal with the terrorists. During the siege, Skellen is disarmed, but manages to send a Morse code light signal through a bathroom window. The SAS leader signals back that a raid will begin at 10 a.m., so Skellen can be prepared when the power is cut.
At the appointed time, Skellen disarms a terrorist. He kills several more in the dining room before rejoining his SAS colleagues who have now entered the house. At the end, he comes face to face with the group's leader. As he hesitates, she goes to kill him, but is killed by SAS soldiers.
The film ends with an on-screen list of notable terrorist incidents accompanied by a menacing rendition of the British Labour Party's Red Flag anthem.
Cast
- Lewis Collins - Capt. Peter Skellen
- Judy Davis - Frankie Leith
- Richard Widmark - Secretary of State Arthur Currie
- Edward Woodward - Commander Powell
- Robert Webber - General Ira Potter
- Tony Doyle - Colonel Hadley
- John Duttine - Rod Walker
- Kenneth Griffith - Bishop Crick
- Rosalind Lloyd - Jenny Skellen
- Ingrid Pitt - Helga
- Norman Rodway - Ryan
- Maurice Roëves - Maj. Steele
- Bob Sherman - Hagen
- Mark Ryan - Mac
- Patrick Allen - Police Commissioner
- Ziggy Byfield - SAS trooper "Ste" Baker
- Nick Brimble - SAS trooper Williamson
- Anna Ford - Newsreader
Critical Reception
A sequel was planned in which Capt.Skellen would lead a S.A.S. team in the Falklands conflict, but because of this film's poor box office receipts the project was scrapped.
Trivia
- Original music for the film was written by Roy Budd, who also created the famous score for Get Carter.
- The location for the fight at the rock concert is the Union Chapel in Islington. The chapel is little changed today.
Cameos
- Wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke appears as a Special Branch officer in a scene mid-way through the film
- The Pop Group seen playing in the film is Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue and Marc Donahue, a resemblance to the folk-rock band Fairport Convention.
Reviews
Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times said, "There are so many errors of judgment, strategy, behavior and simple plausibility in this movie that we just give up and wait for it to end. You know you're in trouble when the movie's audience knows more about terrorism than the terrorists do".[1]
References
- ^ Ebert, Roger (1983-10-03). "The Final Option (review)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-01-10.