Damned United a hit with Charlton

Mar 29 2009 by Michael Kelly, Sunday Sun

WHO better to run the rule over the hot film of the moment, The Damned United, than Jack Charlton, one of the North’s favourite footballing sons and a man who made his name as a tough-as-teak centre back at the heart of the famous team. MIKE KELLY went to the movies with Big Jack to find out his thoughts on the controversial film about another of the North’s famous sons, Brian Clough, and his ill-fated 44 days in charge of Leeds United.

IN the space of five minutes the real and the fictional Jack Charlton appear on the screen before us.

For a bit of introductory scene setting about the “Dirty Leeds” team pre-Brian Clough, a clip of their famously combative 1970 FA Cup final replay with Chelsea is shown in which Jack is seen taking exception to a challenge and meting out his own form of justice.

A minute or so later, as the film harks back to a previous un-filmed game between Leeds United and Derby County, the fictional Jack appears.

As the real-life Chelsea player goes into orbit I glance at Jack by my side who looks on at the screen inscrutably.

However, the sight of his fictional self generates a warm smile. “He looks just like me,” he says. “Maybe a bit more hair, though.”

It is the blurring of reality and fiction which made the book The Damned United on which the movie is based so controversial.

The film makers admit they have softened the book making Clough a less tormented character. Also Leeds manager Don Revie is fleshed out to become more than just the dark brooding presence he is in the book.

And while the Leeds players, including Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles, who sued over his portrayal in the book, are still seen as hostile to Clough, it is not only out of loyalty to Revie but puzzlement at Clough’s methods as well.

This is an accurate representation of the facts, according to Jack. “If he had anything sensible to say they would have listened.”

But, as Bremner once told Jack, they went from the most prepared team in the world with Revie’s famous dossiers on their opponents, to the most un-prepared under the more off-the-cuff attitude of Clough.