Who Dares Wins - 1982

[Palmer]

Well, what can I say about this film...?!

A film that could have been much better both in general content and in terms of a springboard for Lewis Collins to go on to bigger and much better things I suppose!

Having said that, I love it as we get to see Lew' almost being James Bond which he most certainly should of been in the 1980's!!!

If only he got to get stuck into a little bit more action in this film and if only Cubby Broccoli liked him...!!!

I wish I could find a trailer for 'Who Dares Wins' but I cannot so you will just have to make do with this cracking little vid' I found on YouTube featuring that amazing Roy Budd theme...

[Sam Tyler]

I remember watching this a couple of times on the goggle-box and enjoying it. I thought it was a great film and like you was expecting much more from Lewis Collins. Such a shame that the roles really didn't materialise for him after that.

Thanks for posting the clip, I think that is another film I'm going to have to buy to watch again.

Sam.

[Arthur Pringle]

I think you might call Who Dares Wins a guilty pleasure, entertaining but with some dodgy parts in it like the rock concert with Kenneth Griffith as the vicar ( 'there are times when I'd rather listen to Metamorphosis than I would to myself' Skinhead- 'so would we mate' ) & the CND dance routine in the club. Roy Budd's score is great.

[Dirty Epic]

May 9, 2016 22:13:59 GMT Sam Tyler said:

I remember watching this a couple of times on the goggle-box and enjoying it. I thought it was a great film and like you was expecting much more from Lewis Collins. Such a shame that the roles really didn't materialise for him after that.

Thanks for posting the clip, I think that is another film I'm going to have to buy to watch again.

Sam.

Yeah I've got to get around to this one again myself... how the hell though Lewis Collins ended up in those dodgy German action flicks is mind boggling.

Shame he never became the 1980's Bond too.

[Arthur Pringle]

The director of Commando Leopard, Codename Wild Geese & Der Commander, Antonio Margheriti is famous amoungst horror film fans for making a few films in the 60's featuring Christopher Lee & Barbara Steele. Oddly enough Barbara Steele was born in Birkenhead, as was Lewis Collins. Another actor who appeared in Marghereti's action films is John Steiner who was born in nearby Chester! Rather like Collins he relocated to the US & is now an estate agent.

You do tend to see some unlikely British actors in European films. In Lewis Collins case I think it had to do with The Professionals being a hit in Germany ( Ian McCulloch who played Greg in the BBC's 'Survivors' appeared in 3 Italian gore films in the 80's as Survivors was a massive hit on Italian tv & he recalls being mobbed by fans over there ), but Margheriti had previously cast the New Zealand born David Warbeck ( he was in a 'Minder' episode buying dodgy antiques off Arthur ) in similar Rambo type films. Warbeck was another actor who was considered for James Bond & is very similar looking to Collins.

[Batgirl]

I like this film. It certainly has a gripping storyline, good actors and good production values unlike the trio of army films LC did.
I agree that the song scenes are very dated. Imagine having to sit through an afternoon of redoing the concert scene over and over again hearing that band. 

It surprised me that the plot of the book 'The Tiptoe Boys' by James Follett wasn't followed more strictly. It would have been a more hard edged SAS type portrayal if this had been done. Pity it wasn't but still a good film.

Realistically

SPOILER: Click to show

{WDW}
there would be no way that a SAS officer would risk a mission to visit his family.

I was a bit interested in the scene locations in this film so I have quite a lot in my online album still.


Holland Park location








The Australian actress, Judy Davis was an interesting choice for the female villain.

[Arthur Pringle]

Very strong actress Judy Davis, does she look or seem like the type of woman who would fall for Skellen though? Ingrid Pitt was very good I thought in a role that could've been overdone. Apparently she was in a concentration camp as a child so possibly she had first-hand experience of a similar type of pitiless person to the one she played.

[Del Boy]

I have never got round to seeing this film. Another one for the list.

[Charles Bronson]

May 12, 2016 20:03:38 GMT Del Boy said:

I have never got round to seeing this film. Another one for the list.

I seen it a long, long time ago. I can't remember too much of the plot, but I remember that I enjoyed it a lot.
Bronson.

[Peter Picard]

Although it came in for quite a lot of criticism, i've always liked Who Dares Wins. Interesting point Batgirl about the film straying from the novel, i haven't read it so must try to get hold of a copy.