British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

History of Football, The: The Beautiful Game (6 Parts)

Synopsis
A series with two titles per cassette, except Volume 3 which has 3 parts. Focuses on every aspect of the game from its humble beginnings to the multi-million pound industry it is today. Investigates the factors that have enabled footballers to become cultural icons and millionaires, recognised throughout the world. Through interviews filmed in 50 countries, the series explores the influence football has over our lives. Every aspect of the game is covered by current and archival footage, interviews with players past and present revealing insights into why football generates more excitement, passion and wealth across the world than any other sport. The DVD versions include additional rare and unseen footage, extended interviews and player profiles. Narrated by Terence Stamp.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2002
Year of production
2002
Subjects
Sports science
Keywords
football; history of sport

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£19.99 each part
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
104 min each first 5 parts; 156 min part 6
Year
2002

Type
VHS
Format
PAL
Price
£14.99 each part
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
104 min each first 5 parts; 156 min part 6
Year
2002

Sections

Title
Origins and Football Cultures
Synopsis
ORIGINS - Explores football’s bloody and very often fatal origins, from the earliest games and rituals in Mexico, China, Japan, to Ancient Rome and Britain. Shows how the game developed its unique rules, and how these were then exported to the modern world. Major foottball stars and social historians share their thoughts about football’s unique appeal, including Hugo Sanchez and Alfredo di Stefano.

FOOTBALL CULTURES - Follows football’s role within international cultures, and in particular the 1998 World Cup match between the US and Iran, showing how football acted as an agent for change and brought the two countries closer together. Alfredo di Stefano also reveals how he became the lynchpin of the Real Madrid team inthe 1950s, scoring a hat trick in his first game against Barcelona. Other interviews include Luis Suarez, Carles Rexach, Jose Angel Iribar, Francisco Gento, Andoni Zubizarreta, Clive Toye, Phil Woosnam, Pele, Abedi Pele, and Henry Kissinger.
Notes
The DVD contains additional archive footage of 11 games from 1897 to 1912.
Duration
104 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1453 (video)' FHED 1454

Title
Evolution and European Superpowers
Synopsis
EVOLUTION - Charts the major trends that helped shape the development of European football into the game that it is today: from early English and Scottish pioneers to the unbeatable Italians of the 1930s and the all-conquering Hungarians of the early 1950s. Includes footage from the first ‘European Cup Final’ in 1927. Sir Tom Finney and Sir Walter Winterbottom talk about England’s 1950 World Cup, and one of Europe’s greatest goal scorers of all time, Pepi Bican, talks about Italy’s controversial victory against Austria in the 1934 World Cup semi-final. Rava talks about the 1938 World Cup Final and the programme also includes rare footage of the 1934 and 1938 World Cup finals. Other interviews include Ottmar Walter, Gyula Grosics and Jeno Buzanski.

EUROPEAN SUPERPOWERS - covers Real Madrid in the 1950s, the Dutch and Germans of the 1970s, Liverpool in the 1980s, and Milan and the French national teams of the 1990s - all teams that have changed football history. Jimmy Johnstone discusses how the power of European football shifted from the southern to the northern countries, culminating in Celtic’s Lisbon Lions 1967 defeat of Inter in the European Cup final. Also includes rare footage of the early European Championships in 1960, 1964 and 1968. Other interviews include Alfredo di Stefano, Francisco Gento, Gianni Rivera, Giacinto Facchetti, Jimmy Johnstone, Sir Bobby Charlton, Phil Neal, Kenny Dalglish, Paolo Rossi, Jurgen Klinsmann, Paolo Maldini, Alan Shearer, Oliver Bierhoff, Aimé Jacquet, and Zinedine Zidane.
Notes
The DVD includes extended interviews and additional footage of historic World Cup finals.
Duration
104 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1455 (video); FHED 1456 (DVD)

Title
Brazil and South American Superpowers
Synopsis
BRAZIL - Explores Brazil’s dominance as a footballing nation in the global game, as well as the ominous violent and racist sides of Brazilian football. After losing the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay, the Brazilian public blamed the three black team players, especially goalkeeper Barbosa. Interviews discuss that game and how Barbosa was never forgiven or allowed to forget. Also includes the only known footage of Artur Friedenreich, the man reputed to have scored more goals than any other player in the history of the game. Those interviewed include Ronaldo, Zico, Didi, Pele, Zizinho, Roberto Rivelino, Cocates, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Mario Zagallo and Tele Santana.

SOUTH AMERICAN SUPERPOWERS - South American countries have won 8 World Cups and this programme focuses on how teams from there have changed the course of football history, from the dominance of the River Plate countries of Argentina and Uruguay in the early years, to the emergence of Columbia in the 1990s. Highlights include Antonio Rattin discussing his antics during the England v Argentina 1966 World Cup quarterfinal game, rare footage of the Uruguay team at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics as well as them winning the 1930 World Cup,and Diego Maradona justifying his ‘hand of God’ goal that knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup. Other interviews include Cesar Luis Menotti, Jorge Valdano, Jose Sanfilippo, Alberto Spencer, Juan Schiaffino, Roque Maspoli,Alcides Ghiggia, Rene Higuita, Leonel Sanchez, Carlos Cazely, Francisco Maturana, Antonio Carbajal, and Hugo Sanchez.
Duration
104 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1457 (video)' FHED 1458 (DVD)

Title
Superstars and Media
Synopsis
SUPERSTARS - looks at the careers of players such as Billy Meredith, Mattias Sindelar, Pelé, Alfredo di Stefano, Garrincha, Maradona and Zidane who have risen above the rest and left their lasting mark on the history of football. Since its inception, two players have won the World Cup single-handedly - Maradonna in 1986 and Garrincha in 1962. However, their personal lives tell different stories. Garrincha died from alcohol abuse and those who knew him tell his story, and Maradona reveals how hard it is to kick his drug addiction. Other interviews include Aldredo di Stefano, Pelé. Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Pepi Bican, George Best, and Antonio Rava. DVD extras include extended interviews.

THE MEDIA - first newspaper reports of football relied on pigeon-post delivering updates from the football ground to newspaper offices. By the 1990s, television was fuelling the growing wealth of the game and this programme looks at how the media’s role has changed over the past century. In interviews George Best, Jurgen Klinsmann and Ronaldo all talk about how they have been treated by the press and how much it has hurt them in the past. Other interviews include Sir Alex Ferguson, David Hill, João Havelange, Diego Maradona, Pelé and Ronaldo. DVD extras include extended interviews with Pelé, Paolo Rossi, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Shearer and Zico, and 1998 World Cup highlights.
Duration
104 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1461 (video)' FHEV 1462 (DVD)

Title
Game for All, Africa and Futures
Synopsis
AFRICA - Pelé had said that an African country would win a World Cup by the turn of the 21st century. From colonial intervention, poverty and segregation to independence and dictatorship, this programme measures Africa’s huge potential against its continued failure to succeed at an international level. Charts the spectacular rise then fall of the 1974 Zaire World Cup Final team through the eyes of its surviving members, and tells the story of the Cameroon’s memorable 1990 World Cup campaign, when a 38-year-old became Africa’s first football superstar. Interviews include Roger Milla, Abedi Pele, Thomas N’kono, Neil Tovey, Pierre Kalala and Issa Hayatou DVD extras include the history of the African Nations Cup 1957 - 2000.

A GAME FOR ALL - follows the battle for the soul of football as it becomes increasingly a global game. Also focuses on the history of FIFA and other powerbrokers that influence the spread of the game culturally as well as commercially. From relatively modest beginnings, FIFA became a multi-billion dollar organisation. Looks at where FIFA’s money came from and how it was spent, and researches Germany’s award to the the 2006 World Cup host nation. Interviews include João Havelange, Lennart Johnanson, Pelé, Jack Warner and Charles Dempsey. DVD extras include the story of the Golden Age of the World Club Championship 1960 - 1970.

FUTURES - looks to the past to learn the lessons that will help shape the future of football as it enters its third century. 2002 World Cup co-hosts Japan and South Korea provide the focus to predictions about the future of the game. Reveals how the phenomenal 1990s success of the Japanese League can be attributed to three people - Zico, Kazu Miura and cartoon character Captain Tsubasa - and how South Korea triumphed through war and oppression to become Asia’s most successful football nation. Interviews include Zico, Kazu Miura, Bhuria Kinishige, Kamamoto and Hong Deok-young. DVD extras include the Asian Cup 1960 - 2000 and an extended interview with Kaxu Miura.
Duration
156 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1483 (video); FHEV 1464 (DVD)

Title
For Club and Country and The Dark Side
Synopsis
FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY - charts the trials and tribulations of French football, how it developed over the years and how winning France ‘98 and Euro 2000 has helped the country to finds its own footballing identity. Also examines the evolution of Juventus into one of the world’s ‘superclubs’. Dwight Yorke talks about balancing the requirements of Manchester United with Trinidad, and Sir Alex Ferguson discussed the changes he’s seen at Manchester United, the first billion pound club. Interviews include the first ever World Cup goal scorer Lucien Laurent, Michel Platini, Just Fontaine, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer, Fernando Hierro, Zinedine Zidane, Aimé Jacquet, Roberto Bettega, and Dino Zoff. DVD extras include highlights of the 1960, 1964, 1972, 1076 European Championship finals.

THE DARK SIDE - draws together events and stories that have made headline news. Tragedies that have brought communities together; a war sparked off by a match, and hooliganism that has threatened the very existence of the game. Includes an interview with Sauro Toma, whose life was saved through injury when he didn’t travel to Lisbon with his Torino team mates, and the infamous World War II ‘Death March’ in which players were asked to choose between victory or execution. Interviews include relatives of the Hillsborough victims, Munich air disaster survivor Bill Foulkes, and relatives of the Zambian aircrash team. DVD extras include Hillsborough, Heysel remembered and trouble on the terraces.
Duration
104 mins
Technical information
Colour
Distributors ref
FHEV 1459 ( video); FEV 1460 (DVD)

Production Company

Name

Fremantle Media Enterprises Ltd

Email
videodvd@fremantlemedia.com
Web
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/ External site opens in new window

Distributor

Name

FremantleMedia Home Entertainment

Email
videodvd@fremantlemedia.com
Web
http://www.fremantlehomeentertainment.com/ External site opens in new window
 

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