The Arsenal Stadium Mystery

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The Arsenal Stadium Mystery

George Allison, the real-life Arsenal manager had no real background in football - indeed seems to have got the Highbury job largely by chance, and being around at the opportune time. Apart from that, I don't see any massive differences in the game then and now. If you ignore the fag smoke, of course. The stuff around it - stadiums, money, demographics etc - has changed enormously though. It's hardly the people's game at the Arsenal level anymore. Charming period piece with a very late glimpse of pre-war England.

Very good film but very difficult to follow via a one-time view. You need to get to know the characters. I watched it a second time and constantly pressed the rewind button to understand what was going on. I also wrote down the names of the key characters to make things a bit easier for myself. From what I could tell, the murder victim pricked himself on a sharp point on the ring, which contained poison. Towards the end, the murderer deliberately jabbed himself with the same ring when he realised that the game was up and would have died had the film continued a bit longer Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC, is seen at the beginning of the film

A football player becomes unwell during a match, requiring immediate medical attention. In spite of his youth and strength he dies shortly afterwards. The police soon discover that the deceased had his share of enemies... With a sure touch, "The Arsenal Stadium Mystery" deftly combines suspense, mystery and wit. The whole is pretty entertaining. The story is set against a background of football and football matches, meaning that it will be of particular interest to lovers of The Beautiful Game. The evocation of life within a football team (with its camaraderie, its horseplay, its rivalries) is both vivid and atmospheric. Am I right in thinking that the footballers of the late 1930's looked different from our current crop ? To me these 1930's players looked less muscle-bound, but more mature and adult. Exterior circumstances have given this 1939 movie an additional poignancy. We viewers are looking at a society about to be decimated and impoverished by years of war...

If you live within striking distance of London you can see the film free at the National Film Theatre on the South Bank by Waterloo. It's one of the hundreds of films in their permanent 'Mediatheque' suite, which you can turn up and view for free on one of the video consoles. Phoning up to book a slot is a good idea though. Amusing and interesting stuff for anyone interested in footy history, or who remembers the Harry Enfield spoofs with affection. I recall that George Allison's book 'Allison Calling' (?1948) discusses the making of the film, though I don't have my copy to hand. Not much to add the other comments here, but don't a lot of the footy players in this film look so damn old? Not so much a dressing room as a Masonic Lodge.

As an Arsenal fan I enjoyed this film. These days you wouldn't get members of any top football team to appear together and be apart of the plot, couldn't afford them. Decent plot and it had good pace. Lesley Banks as the Detective in charge was the star of the film along with those hats!

Did you know that the game played at Highbury (The Arsenal Stadium,) before the outbreak of World War II, wasn't a big League match, an important FA Cup tie or even an International, it was in fact the game that was played in the film!!! Not alot of people know that! (But they do know now!)

No I was not born when this film was made but I was a season ticket holder there between 1961 and 2006.I can confirm that this film faithfully reproduces the dressing room areas of the ground.I would like to correct factual errors by other reviewers.Firstly this was not the last game at the stadium before the outbreak of war.This was the game v Sunderland played on September 1939 when Arsenal beat Sunderland 3-1.However the game does not count in the records as the league season was abandoned with the outbreak of war.Secondly it did not take 25 years for Arsenal return to glory.They won the league in 1947 and 1953 and the cup in 1950.This is an a very enjoyable film,which is very nostalgic for Arsenal supporters who fondly remember Highbury.