The Damned United

The Damned United is a film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace's bestselling novel The Damned Utd about Brian Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United. It was produced by BBC Films and Left Bank Pictures, with additional funding from Screen Yorkshire and Columbia Pictures. Sony Pictures Entertainment distributes the film. The film was originally proposed by Stephen Frears but he pulled out of the project in November 2007. Tom Hooper took his place and film was shot from May to July 2008. It will be released in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2009.

The publishers of the novel on which the film is based were successfully sued by Irish midfielder Johnny Giles who wrote, "Many of the things Peace talks about in the book never happened and for that reason, I felt it necessary to go to the Courts to establish that this was fiction based on fact and nothing more."

However, most people portrayed in the book had died by the time of the book's release and were unable to take similar action. The book includes a scene with Brian Clough in the Leeds management office burning Don Revie's desk. There is no factual basis for this. The Clough family have expressed disappointment at the publication of the book. The film has already been criticised by Clough's widow, Barbara.

Check out the clip below ...