By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
It is often
said that sport doesn’t work in the box office. Many companies have tried and
not managed to make it a success with this genre in the movies. However, the
studio that brought the epic movie documentary three years ago about the
Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna in ‘Senna,’ have produced another
cracking title about one of British football’s most dynamic and young
generations that changed the microscope of the beautiful game.
Next week
sees the launch of ‘The Class of 92,’ a story which follows six 14-year-old
working class youngsters as they embark on a tale that takes Manchester United
from the depths of despair to reaching the promise land. Charting their rise to
the top of the newly formed Premier League in 1992 to the historic treble of
1999, the story follows the fortunes of six of United’s young ‘class of 92’ –
Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky
Butt.
Giggs (pictured), who is
the only one of these six to still be playing at Old Trafford said in a recent
press release: “When we were approached
to do this film, it gave me the chance to think back over all the events in not
only my career but all of the lads involved. Hopefully you’ll see how personal
it is to us all. We’re still great mates and who would turn down the chance to
make a movie with your best mates.”
Phil Neville,
who is now on the coaching staff at the club after ending his playing career at
the end of last season added: “Making
this film was a great experience, it’s got us all together, as we don’t often
get a chance to these days to revisit old haunts and reflect over the past. I
am really looking forward to seeing the film complete.”
The movie
begins at a time where Manchester United were experiencing their longest
drought for a league title in England, stretching back to the 1960s. Alex
Ferguson was in his sixth year in the hotseat at the Theatre of Dreams and
although there had been recent triumphs in the FA Cup in 1990 and the European
Cup Winners’ Cup a year later, the ultimate prize had continued to elude the
Red Devils.
This movie
shows how the talented six moved through the ranks of a strong youth team to
the core of United’s conquering team of the 1990s, leading to five Premier
League titles in seven years, three FA Cup wins and end a 31-year wait for
landing the European Cup back in the trophy cabinet at Old Trafford with the
unforgettable victory over Bayern Munich in the closing stages of the 1999 UEFA
Champions League final in the Nou Camp.
The
production follows the six on their journey and through the various highs and
lows of their footballing careers between 1992 and 1999 with unprecedented
access to all six players. ‘The Class of 92’ also dovetails the changes that
were occurring in Britain at the time within the political spectrum, the rise
of Britpop on the music industry and the radical overhaul football underwent on
the launch of the Premier League. Included in ‘The Class of 92’ are
contributions from Danny Boyle, talismanic Frenchman Eric Cantona and former
Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Directed by
Ben and Gave Turner, who have worked on ‘In the Hands of the Gods’ and ‘Freddie
Flintoff: Hidden Side of Sport,’ ‘The Class of 92’ has the makings to be a
great hit at the start of this festive season.
The Class of 92 is
out in selected cinemas from the 1st December and DVD from the 2nd December.
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