- Actors: Lewis Collins, Judy Davis, Richard Widmark, Edward Woodward, Robert Webber
- Directors: Ian Sharp
- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Prism Leisure Corporation
- DVD Release Date: 6 Jan 2003
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00009PAFA
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 11,405 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
In an uncanny piece of art imitating life, Who Dares Wins came out in 1982 just after the infamous storming of the Iranian Embassy by the legendary British Special Air Services (SAS) unit. The plot builds up to that unshakeable image of black-clad troops abseiling the front of a stately home and smashing through the windows, and pays off expectations with a thrilling finale. Anyone expecting two hours of military instruction will be disappointed however. After the opening 10 minutes with the troops, the almost James-Bond-like story follows Lewis Collins (riding high in those days after TV's The Professionals) as he infiltrates a radical anti-Nuclear society. Operation: Destroy requires him to go undercover with their potentially insane leader Frankie (Judy Davis), ignoring his wife and child. The period detail is often the film's most entertaining feature as Collins tours across 1980s London constantly eluding spies on his tail. Apart from the endless permed hairdos and the fact that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament hasn't got much to demonstrate about these days, there's the fashions and low-tech gadgetry to enjoy. In the US the film was called The Final Option.
The DVD includes a photo gallery, and a history of the SAS. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
Lewis Collins, Edward Woodward A new candidate is needed to infiltrate the 'The People's Lobby' - a radical band of terrorists following the assassination of a British undercover agent. Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins) is welcomed into the group by its fanatical leader Frankie Leith (Judy Davis) and he gets closer to uncovering her plan to attack a major political target. When the terrorists storm the American Embassy in London it is down to Skellen to save the lives of the high-ranking hostages. Special Features Chapter/Scene Selection
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrorism Never Sleeps,
By A Customer
This review is from: Who Dares Wins [VHS] [1982] (VHS Tape)
Who Dares Wins.Inspired by the SAS rescue of hostages at the besieged Iranian Embassy in May 1980 (itself the subject of a recent BBC2 documentary), this film received sniffy reviews at the time of its release, presumably out of some kind of inverted snobbery about "Good Guys" winning by force (why was this OK in The Magnificent Seven?) or in reaction to an alleged glamorisation of gratuitous violence. In truth, though undoubtedly violent, it is a very good action movie that has dated little, revolving about the incredible capabilities of 22 Regiment, the Special Air Service, to carry out what it calls Counter-Revolutionary Warfare. And, if this movie is remotely authentic (and it probably is), how incredible their tactics are. In fact, the military expertise shown here is told in an almost understated, typically British way. The innumerable comic-book-style Delta Force movies are not in even a neighbouring league. It also touches on some very serious issues - witness, for example, the argument between captor Judy Davis and hostage American Secretary of State Richard Widmark about the rights and wrongs of countries having nuclear weapons in the name of peace and defence of democracy. Who, you might ask, are the real terrorists? Lewis Collins stars as the cool but deadly SAS officer who has to infiltrate the terrorist anti-nuclear gang, Judy Davis as the gang's leader, John Duttine as her Marxist-revolutionary sidekick, Tony Doyle as the SAS chief and Edward Woodward, particularly fine as the calm but authoritative police commander. The nature of rescuing hostages with ultimate force is debated briefly but importantly by the latter two. Who knows when we will next be faced with this issue again? But the real star of the movie is the reputation of the SAS itself. The climax of the movie is a jaw-dropping tour-de-force. Should you ever need them, you'll be grateful they're on your side. In a sense, considering the global political climate today, we need them all the time.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Underated Film - Mediocre DVD,
By A Customer
This review is from: Who Dares Wins [DVD] [1982] (DVD)
Who Dares Wins is a vastly underated film. The action sequences and the soundtrack are superb and it features a great cast of British character actors. Some of the script and acting is dodgy, but it's hardly unique in that respect. It's a shame Universal simply used the old Polygram video master as their source as a new remaster with an interview etc. would have done this film justice.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't take it too seriously!,
By Rob (Bolton UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Who Dares Wins [DVD] [1982] (DVD)
The whole thing about the film is not to take it too seriously. I enjoyed the action pieces in the movie, especially the rescue of Skellerns wife at the mews. I always disapprove of love interests in this kind of film, to me it smacks of trying to appeal to too many types of viewer. At the end of the day this is a good guy versus bad guy military action movie. But again don't take the whole thing too seriously. Its just a shoot em up flick with the good guys winning. I enjoyed it!
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