Who Dares Wins [1982] [DVD]

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a b c Dawson, Andy (28 November 2013). "RIP Lewis Collins: Why Professionals star was a real, proper man". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 30 December 2021. When it came time to shoot the SAS assault on the U.S. Ambassador's residence, the crew had prepared the helicopters and stuntmen but the SAS offered to do the scene instead. [ citation needed] Sharp accepted as he thought the look they gave could not be replicated by the crew.

Myself and Debbie dealt with all the fan mail that came in for Lew and there were lots and lots. Some days there was so much, once the post bag had been emptied we could not see the floor. We all got on great and worked well together. Myself and Debbie went on

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Nonetheless, after the film's release, Collins was invited to meet the James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, who was looking for a new 007. "I was in his office for about five minutes, but it was really over for me in seconds," Collins said later. "He's expecting another Connery to walk through the door but there are few of them around. He found me too aggressive." The finale draws heavily on the Iranian Embassy siege and there is even a scene where one of the SAS troopers catches on fire as he tries to get through the window, an incident from the real siege. The director also gets some nifty POV shots through the SAS soldiers' gas masks, years before anyone had even heard of a First Person Shooter. Who Dares Wins is quite a different beast from Euan Lloyd's previous productions, even his last two films, the old geezer war adventures The Wild Geese and The Sea Wolves, despite also being a military-based action film. It's a deliberate attempt to make a more modern, gritty and relevant film, an urban thriller with plenty of swearing and violence for 1982 and, as Ben Elton would say, a little bit of politics. The SAS receives two foreigner to train with them, one American and one German. During their training the two men are tortured and accused of being spies by team leader Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins). With no authority or cause to do so, Skellen is dismissed from his regiment and out on his own. In reality this provides him cover to infiltrate the CND as a disgruntled ex-SAS officer.

The Special Air Service (SAS) was one of several British special forces units formed in the desert campaign in North Africa during World War II. Unusually, it was also one that had survived into the Cold War era, being reactivated for the Malayan Emergency of 1948-1960. The momentum is halted completely for a few minutes when the film stops for a discussion on the merits or otherwise of nuclear weapons between Davis, Widmark and Webber, but otherwise the second half of the film moves increasingly swiftly and efficiently and is lively enough that you can almost forget about the dreary first part. This is also the point where the film pulls out its trump card. Soon after the film was completed, copies of it were requested for viewing by the White House; it was seen by Ronald Reagan and his advisers at Camp David and they reportedly enjoyed the film. It was also enjoyed by Alexander Haig, Reagan's former Secretary of State, who had recently joined the board of MGM/UA. In an interview, Haig praised the film as a "terribly exciting drama... a realistic portrayal of the world in which we live." On his recommendation, MGM/UA bought the film for distribution in the U.S., retitling it The Final Option. [4] Controversy [ edit ] Ebert, Roger (3 October 1983). "The Final Option (review)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013 . Retrieved 10 January 2007. The production began in September 1981. The film had advisers who had worked in the SAS which led to some concerns from the Ministry of Defence that the film could breach the Official Secrets Act. [3] However, Lloyd said the ministry eventually gave its "tacit approval" to the film after two small changes to the story [ further explanation needed] were made, providing much wider access to defence equipment and personnel, including three military helicopters. [9]a b c d Mills, Nancy (9 May 1982). "Rescue Team Hits Screen With Force". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 153125767. a b "BBC News – Professionals star Lewis Collins dies". BBC. 28 November 2013 . Retrieved 28 November 2013. His portrayal of a hard-man in The Professionals earned him the role of Captain Peter Skellen in the film 'Who Dares Wins.'