''Just a Boys' Game'' is a 1979 ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

'' written by

Peter McDougall Peter McDougall (born 1947, Greenock, Scotland) is a Scottish television playwright whose major success was in the 1970s. McDougall claims to have had very little schooling and to rarely read books, He began his working life at the age of fourteen ...

and directed by John Mackenzie. It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher,

Ken Hutchison Aitken Hutchison (24 November 1948 – 9 August 2021) was a Scottish actor. Life and career Hutchison played roles in many episodes of ''Play for Today'' from 1970 to 1980, such as in "Just a Boys' Game". Hutchison played Norman Scutt in the S ...

Hector Nicol Hector Nicol (9 November 1920 – 2 July 1985) was a Scottish comedian, singer and actor. Acting career Nicol starred in few shows during his career. His most notable role was that of a dying gangster in the BBC Television play ''Just a Boys' ...

, Jean Taylor Smith, Katherine Stark, Barry Malone, Michael Malone and band The Cuban Heels. The plot revolves around the life of Jake McQuillan who lives in the shadow of his dying grandfather, who used to be

Greenock Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...

's hardest man. The play was filmed in and around

Drumchapel Drumchapel ( gd, Druim a' Chapaill), known locally as 'The Drum', is a district in the north-west of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It borders Bearsden (in East Dunbartonshire) to the north-east and Drumry (part of Clydebank, in West Dunbartons ...

and

Port Glasgow Port Glasgow ( gd, Port Ghlaschu, ) is the second-largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19,426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16,617 persons. The most recen ...

. Frankie Miller's song ''

Rules of the Game ''The Rules of the Game'' (original French title: ''La règle du jeu'') is a 1939 French Satire, satirical comedy-drama film directed by Jean Renoir. The ensemble cast includes Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, Mila Parély, Marcel Dalio, Julien ...

'' is featured over the closing credits.

Cast

*Jake McQuillen - Frankie Miller *Dancer Dunnichy -

*Grannie - Jean Taylor Smith *Granda -

*Tanza - Gregor Fisher *Jane -

Katherine Stark Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Chris ...

*Bella -

Jan Wilson Jan Wilson CBE (1944 – 2 August 2010) was a Labour councillor in Sheffield and formerly the leader of Sheffield City Council. Her career outside politics saw her volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau in 1975, and she joined the staff in 19 ...

*Mental Dan - Jim Byars *At the pub -

Irene Sunters Irene Sunters (29 February 1928 – September 2005) was a Scottish actress who was best known for playing Maggie Ferguson the bus driver in ''Take the High Road'' from the first episode in 1980 and appeared as a regular character until 1982 wi ...

Martin Cochrane Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

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."

References

External links

* BBC television dramas Play for Today Scottish plays Plays set in Scotland 1979 television films 1979 films British television films Greenock Scots-language films Scottish television films Films directed by John Mackenzie (film director) English-language Scottish films {{Scotland-tv-film-stub