THE YOUNGEST. THE MOST TALENTED. THE HOPE OF A NATION.
In 1956, Bobby Charlton (Jack O’Connell) joins Manchester United as one of the “Busby Babes”; when the team travels to Germany to play in the European Cup, a plane crash changes everything. The story of how Manchester United and its surviving players and management rebuilt the team after the 1958 Munich disaster gets a compelling (and visually attractive) treatment in this TV movie that focuses on Charlton’s mental journey and assistant manager Jimmy Murphy’s dogged attempts to save the team. A moving story with good performances, especially by David Tennant, and an eerie, very convincing reenactment of events before, during and after the snowy crash.
2011-Britain. Made for TV. 90 min. Color. Produced by Julia Stannard. Directed by James Strong. Teleplay: Chris Chibnall. Cast: David Tennant (Jimmy Murphy), Jack O’Connell (Bobby Charlton), Sam Claflin (Duncan Edwards), Dougray Scott, Dean Andrews, Kate Ashfield.
Last word: “I was struck by Jimmy’s integral role in the development of the youth players and harnessing their raw talent – many of whom went on to become known as the Busby Babes and then his key part in ensuring the team and the club would survive the disaster. His selfless work and determination to honour those who had been lost I felt was an amazing and untold story.” (Strong, ManUtd24)
ABOVE AVERAGE