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IMDbPro

The One Game

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1988
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
167
YOUR RATING
The One Game (1988)
Thriller

Nick Thorne, a successful businessman whose company markets games, is pulled by his former partner Magnus into a game which appears far too real - The One Game.Nick Thorne, a successful businessman whose company markets games, is pulled by his former partner Magnus into a game which appears far too real - The One Game.Nick Thorne, a successful businessman whose company markets games, is pulled by his former partner Magnus into a game which appears far too real - The One Game.

  • Stars
    • Patrick Malahide
    • Stephen Dillane
    • Pippa Haywood
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    167
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Patrick Malahide
      • Stephen Dillane
      • Pippa Haywood
    • 13User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season1988

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    Top Cast35

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    Patrick Malahide
    Patrick Malahide
    • Magnus
    • 1988
    Stephen Dillane
    Stephen Dillane
    • Nicholas Thorne
    • 1988
    Pippa Haywood
    Pippa Haywood
    • Jenny Thorne
    • 1988
    Kate McKenzie
    • Fay
    • 1988
    David Mallinson
    David Mallinson
    • Tom Darke
    • 1988
    Elaine Ford
    Elaine Ford
    • Girl in White Dress
    • 1988
    Andrew Keir
    Andrew Keir
    • Lord Maine
    • 1988
    Alex Norton
    Alex Norton
    • The Conjuror
    • 1988
    John Bowe
    John Bowe
    • Gavin
    • 1988
    James Coyle
    James Coyle
    • The Beggar
    • 1988
    Mike Kemp
    • The Comedian
    • 1988
    David English
    • Chat Show Host
    • 1988
    Peter Sadler
    • Security Guard
    • 1988
    Chris Chering
    • Punk 1
    • 1988
    Ian Halcrow
    • Punk 2
    • 1988
    Symond Lawes
    • Punk 3
    • 1988
    Gavin Watson
    • Punk 4
    • 1988
    Peter Howell
    Peter Howell
    • Professor
    • 1988
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    7.3167
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    Featured reviews

    johnsteyers

    Linkage to a later feature film

    Has no-one else noticed that the later, big-budget feature film The Game (1997), starring Michael Douglas, owes a great deal indeed to this British TV film? The main character is similar, the basic situation is nearly identical, and the raison d'etre for the Game is also similar. There is no mention of the earlier work in the credits of the latter.
    Mugwump-4

    See it again!

    Finally this has got a DVD release so we can all enjoy it again. Big up to Kult TV.

    You must forgive the ponderousness of it and the lack of technology but the DVD itself is presented very well with a short booklet and lovely title screens.
    8Craigix

    Amazing, why was this only ever shown once?

    While it is astonishing that this was never repeated on TV (I wonder why?) it does add to the attraction of obtaining it, which took me until the DVD was finally released some 18 years after the one and only broadcast.

    While 'The One Game' does have some serious plot holes (Especially regarding certain deaths which are never revisited) it is still an excellent mini-series and has not dated as much as I expected.

    I suppose it can be compared to 'The Game (1997)' and while it is almost certain that the writers of that 'borrowed' some ideas, they are not entirely the same. If anything 'The One Game' is a much better written and paced story with a lot more depth.

    If you can find the DVD get it - it only cost me £6.99 and is well worth it for a 4 hour mini series - and it includes a nice booklet with a history on the show, I guess they decided to include the booklet rather than have it as an extra on the DVD - i'm glad they did, it is much nicer to read a booklet than a screen full of text.

    But oh god - those pre-episode recaps - we could have done without those, what were they thinking!
    8tro2-1

    Highly recommended!

    I've seen this original TV movie around 1989 and even now I am wondering who can tell me where to buy this on DVD.

    For some reason the story and its cast left a solid impression and whenever I see a similar story on another movie, I always compare it with this one. The score was well chosen, the plot was brilliant. Anyone who knows where to get this, let me know! (tro2@xs4all.nl) The American version (the Game) was good, but in my opinion it lacked being convincing.

    Britsh film-making at its best, without special effects, but an exciting, thrilling story, highly recommended!
    Mugwump-4

    I'd love to see it again!

    I dimly recalled seeing this on telly years and years ago when I was pretty young - bit of a stay up late on a Friday(?) night treat - and really loving it, but thought I was going mad as no-one else remembered it. Is it available anywhere on VHS or DVD? I'd love to see it again! I can't remember much of the story now but it looked great :)

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    Related interests

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    Thriller

    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 4, 1988 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El juego único
    • Production company
      • Central Independent Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 50m
    • Color
      • Color

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