The Final Option

I saw this movie when it was titled, "The Final Option". I was an avid reader of Soldier of Fortune (SOF) magazine and it was recommended as a must see movie. It was noted for its realism. In addition, it was felt the peace movement was actually supported by Russia because by having the "West" disarm, it would allow Russia to get stronger while the West got weaker. You see this in the movie when the bankers help funnel money to the peace movement.

The main reason for seeing the movie was the action by the Special Air Service (SAS). SOF magazine said the SAS cooperated in the making of the movie. I thought the movie was a little long but the action parts were first rate. The final part was the best part. The best part was when the camera was filming through the gas mask and you could hear and see what it is really like to be on the inside. I remember the huffing and puffing and the words, "One terrorist down, one terrorist down" as each one got shot. SOF magazine said when the SAS goes in, there are no prisoners taken-only dead terrorists. As a real law enforcement person I am always complaining how the public has no idea of what really happens during police actions. The public always seems to ask why did the police not shoot the gun out of a persons hand or why did the police shoot or didn't shoot. Split second decisions have to be made and it is so easy to to be a "Monday morning quarterback" They never see the confusion. I think every person who thinks the cops are always wrong should see this movie.

Who Dares Wins is a top British action movie made in the early 80's. It's star Lewis Collins was very well known in the UK from the hit TV show "The Profesionals". It was certainly made to cash in on the famous Iranian Embassy siege a mere year before they released this, which was televised live in Britain as the SAS stormed the building. Who Dares Wins has certainly dated as all 80's action films have, but it has great action scenes and stunt work. Collins is good in this and perhaps would have made a good 007, I don't know if he ever tested for the role but his Bond would have been closer to Connery than any since. The story is very silly and some scenes like the "rock concert" are cringe worthy but the action makes up for it, with a superb siege at the end.

Very entertaining movie, this one. Saw it upon it´s initial release here in Sweden (1982). It has a 007-feeling and Bond-ish quality about it, which I love. Lots of crew members from 007-productions behind the camera.

It is also very suspenseful and it´s got solid action scenes combined with good acting and snappy directing. What´s not to like?!:/

I can very well imagine that the S. A. S. Operates with a similar modus operandi. Since they (of course) doesn´t reveal anything one can only speculate and read books on the subject matter (S. A. S.) It looks and seems real enough (yes, I know it´s a movie).

It´s a pity and very strange that some films doesn´t get the attention and respect they deserve?! Instead loads of crap (WOKE, PC, man-hating - etc.) finds an audience.

Highly recommended film!++++

One of the more remarkable aspects about director Ian Sharp's garrote-taut hostage thriller is not only how well the gritty, flint-edged film holds up, but in today's divided world of political ferment, with clearly so little altered in the higher echelon's continued abuses of power, the crass media obfuscation, 'Who Dares Wins' (1982) continued relevance is additionally damning. Reginald Rose's lean, perfectly paced screenplay places our uncommonly heroic he-man Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins) at the fulminating center of a well-funded, far from slumbering anti-nuclear terrorist cell, imperiously masterminded by intractable zealot Frankie Leith (Judy Collins) the unrelenting tension increases as Skellen embeds himself ever deeper into this murderous conspiracy, his covert solo mission fraught with myriad dangers, not only to himself, his lovely wife Jenny (Rosalind Lloyd) and new born baby Samantha but, perhaps, the continued peace of the western world. All too few action thrillers are both intelligent and unflinchingly bellicose, the exciting action is breathlessly swift and brutal, no slow-motion languor, precise, surgical, expeditious, kill or be killed, every retaliatory action timed to the millisecond and it is this coolly pragmatic take on violence that is so frequently fetishized today which not only proves immediately striking but exhilarating, while you are well aware this is merely splendidly made escapist entertainment, there is a glacial verisimilitude to the characters steadfast actions, and the morally 'grey' areas of both parties are expertly factored in, this isn't merely just another prosaic, spoon-fed, unquestionably good surmounting Evil, as both protagonist's relentless appropriation of extreme measures to justify their disparate means expose where such terrible power can be abused to suit secret, destructive agendas. 'Who Dares Wins' is a genuinely thrilling film and its classic status is greatly deserved, enlivened by a magnificently propulsive score by the inimitable genius Roy Budd, and never again will we enjoy such an exemplary cast assembled for our sublime cinematic edification: Judy Davis, Edward Woodward, Richard Widmark, with especially refined work by Tony Doyle as bluff, no nonsense Colonel Hadley (SAS), Ingrid Pitt as the terrifyingly tenacious Helga and a truly commanding performance by Lewis Collins who is extraordinarily vivid as indomitable SAS Captain Peter Skellen, effortlessly exuding the fascinating kind of steely integrity one only rarely sees today.

I have given this a 8 not because of the acting or the film its self,it was full of goofs,but the story was bang on the mark. How people forget how it was back in 1983 when the film came out if you get yourself along to a disused nuclear shelter like the one in Fife,Scotland (Secret Bunker)and take a look at the posters of all the CND marches,ban the bomb,etc you begin to remember how it was back then and the fear the cold war had on people,it was also a time of extreme Right,and left wing politics in the UK (Skinheads,Anarchists,National Front,and Communist party's) The SAS were also in the news,and the footage was almost like the Iranain Embassy footage at the time complete with Anna Ford news reading for ITN

From an army point of view,there was some good Accuracys amongst the goofs,the SAS train with live ammo,not blanks,the HQ was correct,the train in the Welsh hills,and they founded the flash bang grenade,the Hotel entry was also correct,blowing the hinges of the front door,with a shot gun,and the SAS train with other international army's (deemed friendly to the UK)

the funding for the terrorists was not too far from the real life truth,and it was a time of mercenaries,everybody was hiring everyone who was special op trained

I found the Film'looked' a bit like the Proffesionals TV series at the time in places,and the Music also conveyed this,this was deliberate on Sir Lew Grades part as to make a smooth transition from small screen to Big for Mr Collins

the real hero in the film is the Scottish actor who plays a fellow solider (of Collins) in the film,who plays it straight and realistic throughout

I have had this film since it came out (2 tapes,and a DVD),not in my all time top 10,but comes out from time to time,to bring back memory's of a forgotten time,and a time of Cold War fear

Donald Suttie