Just a Boys' Game

"Just a Boys' Game"
Play for Today episode
Episode no.	Series 10 Episode 1
Directed by	John Mackenzie
Written by	Peter McDougall
Featured music	Frankie Miller
Cinematography by	Elmer Cossey
Editing by	Graham Walker
Original air date	8 November 1979 (1979-11-08)
Running time	71 minutes

"Just a Boys' Game" is an episode of Play for Today written by Peter McDougall and directed by John Mackenzie. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} "Just a Boys' Game" aired on 8 November 1979. ^[5]

It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher, Ken Hutchison, Hector Nicol, Jean Taylor Smith, Katherine Stark, Barry Malone, Michael Malone and band The Cuban Heels. ^[1]

The plot revolves around the life of Jake McQuillan, who lives in the shadow of his dying grandfather, who used to be Greenock's hardest man. ^[6]

The play was filmed in and around Greenock and Port Glasgow. ^[7]

Frankie Miller's song "Rules of the Game" is featured over the closing credits. ^[8]

Cast

• Jake McQuillen - Frankie Miller
• Dancer Dunnichy - Ken Hutchison
• Grannie - Jean Taylor-Smith
• Granda - Hector Nicol
• Tanza - Gregor Fisher
• Jane - Katherine Stark
• Bella - Jan Wilson
• Mental Dan - Jim Byars
• At the pub - Gaylie Runciman, James Morrison, Bill Riddock, Sandy West, Irene Sunters, Martin Cochrane, Elaine Collins, Freddie Boardley
• Young Team Boys - Billy Greenleas, Michael Malone, Hamish Taylor, Eddie Kane, David Fulton, Billy Faulds, Douglas Sannachan, Andrew Burns, Jimmy Fisher
• Group in Pub - The Cuban Heels
• Outside the Pub - James Kennedy, Myra Forsyth, David Voss, Peter Davidson
• Couple in Close - Katy Gardiner, Jimmy Martin
• Woman in Grocer's - Mairhi Russel
• At the Shipyard - Jackie Farrell, Campbell Morrison, John Butterly, Ken Henderson, James Boyce
• At Bella's Close - Barry Malone, Billy Jeffrey, John Murtagh, Johnny Adam
• Man at Snooker Hall - Ray Jeffries
• At the Garage - Eileen McCallum, David Anderson
• Jake's Family - Shenagh Douglas, Ivy Val, Ron Paterson

Critical reception

Screenonline wrote "stunningly photographed by Elmer Cossey and featured McDougall's most crackling dialogue and richest characterisations, all brilliantly evoked by a cast headed by blues singer Frankie Miller in a performance that melts the camera in its intensity." ^[9]

References

1. "Just a Boy's Game (1979)". BFI. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018.
2. "Play For Today - Series 10: 1. Just a Boys' Game" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
3. "Just A Boy's Game | Film | The Guardian". www.theguardian.com.
4. "Just A Boy's Game (1979) | The List". film.list.co.uk.
5. "Broadcast - BBC Programme Index".
6. "Play for Today Season 10". Radio Times.
7. "Just a Boys' Game and the work of Peter McDougall". 11 November 2020.
8. "Frankie Miller - Rules Of The Game - Just A Boys Game OST Chords - Chordify". chordify.net.
9. "BFI Screenonline: McDougall, Peter (1947-) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.

External links

• "Just a Boys' Game" at IMDb