Stephen Graham’s jaw-droppingly brilliant dramas keep on coming and thanks to the BBC, there’s another one you can – and should - watch immediately. The Adolescence star gives an impeccable performance in The Damned United, the 2009 film that portrays the rocky (that’s an understatement) 44 days that Brian Clough (played by Michael Sheen) spent as manager of Leeds United. And who could possibly play Leeds United captain, Billy Bremner, better than Stephen?
Set in the 1960s and 70s, the drama portrays what happened behind the scenes during Brian’s challenging tenure, including his difficult relationship with the team and how it all came crashing down one fateful day. With the likes of Martin Compston. Peter McDonald and Timothy Spall also i the cast, it’s a story that’s brought to life in brilliantly compelling fashion - so much so that its fan have declared it "better than 10/10".
Before you dive into the film, here’s everything you need to know about The Damned United, including the plot, cast, trailer and how to watch it.
What is The Damned United about?
Adapted for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Crown) and first released in 2009, the film is a biopic of legendary English football manager Brian Clough. Set in 1960s and 1970s England, Michael Sheen leads the cast as the egotistical and outspoken Clough, whose times as manager of Leeds United FC was short-lived… it lasted 44 days, to be precise.
The film tells the story of the ill-fated stint, with Stephen Graham playing Leeds United captain Billy Bremner, Clough’s chief nemesis, and Peter McDonald and Martin Compston stepping into the shoes of fellow players Johnny Giles and John O’Hare.
While Clough had previously had huge success as manager of Hartlepool and Derby County, alongside his trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor (played by Timothy Spall), working with reigning champs Leeds United was a different kettle of fish altogether. His fractious relationship with the players would eventually lead to him being sacked on 12 September 1974.
Who’s in the cast of The Damned United?
The cast of The Damned United includes:
- Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
- Martin Compston (Line of Duty)
- Peter McDonald (When Brendan Met Trudy)
- Mark Cameron
- Colin Harris
- Joe Dempsie
- Giles Anderson
- Brian McCardie
- Stewart Robertson
- Laurie Rea
- Liz Carling
- Henry Goodman
- Maurice Roeves
- Jim Broadbent
- Timothy Spall
- Colm Meaneys
Is there a trailer for The Damned United?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Damned United below:
Is The Damned United any good?
Yes – it’s a fantastic film with brilliant performances from both Stephen Graham and Michael Sheen. It really captures the spirit of the 70s and what a character the late Brian Clough was. Viewers have called the film “perfect”, “a joy to watch”, "better than 10/100" and “damned good”. If you’re looking for something easy to spend an evening watching, you can’t go wrong with The Damned United.
How can I watch The Damned United?
The Damned United is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
What other Stephen Graham dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, they don’t get much better than Stephen Graham's A Patch of Fog. The British film, which was first released in 2015, stars Conleth Hill as Sandy, a celebrated novelist turned university lecturer and TV personality. Life is good, until security guard Robert (played by Stephen), catches Sandy shoplifting and it marks the beginning of a creepy infatuation. You can watch A Patch of Fog on Disney+. We’d also recommend his Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows. The drama is based on the true story of a Jamaican boxer, Hezekiah Moscow (played by Small Axe’s Malachi Kirby), who came to live in London’s East End in the 1880s. Stephen plays the fearsome Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), a dangerous pub owner and boxer, who'd rather see his opponents dead that lose a match to them. You can catch up on series 1 and 2 here. For more great performances from Stephen, check out our pick of his best roles here.
