An Ungentlemanly Act is a 1992 BBC television film about the first days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982.
The film was written and directed by Stuart Urban, and commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Falklands War. The film was closely based on the historical record, and all of the major incidents portrayed were drawn from contemporary accounts by those who took part. Filming took place on the Falkland Islands and at Ealing Studios. Urban is a fluent Spanish-speaker, and plays an uncredited role as the Argentine radio operator.
Ian Richardson replaced Ian Holm as Falklands Governor Rex Hunt after Holm dropped out of the production at the last minute. Bob Peck plays Major Mike Norman, the commander of the Royal Marines based at Stanley, while Norman himself acted as advisor on the production, and has a small part as a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF). Don Bonner, who was Governor Hunt's chauffeur at the time of the conflict, cameos in a scene set in Stanley store where he says "Hello Don" to the actor playing himself.
The film was well-received on release and is generally considered to be an accurate and even-handed portrayal of events. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama the following year, and was later shown on television in Argentina.
BAFTA Awards 1993Won: BAFTA TV Award for Best Single Drama: Bradley Adams & Stuart UrbanNominated: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor: Ian RichardsonRoyal Television Society 1993Nominated: RTS Television Award for Best Actor (Male): Ian RichardsonIan Richardson .... Governor Rex HuntBob Peck .... Maj. Mike NormanRosemary Leach .... Mavis HuntIan McNeice .... Dick BakerJames Warrior .... Don BonnerMarc Warren .... Tony HuntElizabeth Bradley .... NannyKate Spiro .... Connie BakerHolly Barker .... Baker Girl #1Claire Slater .... Baker Girl #2Hugh Ross .... Maj. Garry NoottIan Embleton .... Cpl. 'Geordie' GillAidan Gillen .... Marine WilcoxRichard Graham .... Cpl Lou ArmourMatthew Ashforde .... Marine FarnworthRichard Long ... Marine DoreyGarry Cooper ... Colour Sgt. MuirPhil Atkinson ... Sgt. ShortChristopher Northey ... Maj. Phil Summers (FIDF)Chris Walker ... 'Ex-Marine' Jim Fairfield (as Christopher Walker)Mike Norman ... F.I.D.F. StalwartChristopher Jaffray ... F.I.D.F. Youth 1Simon Godwin ... F.I.D.F. Youth 2Jonathan Cohen ... Marine #1Lee Alliston ... Marine #2Alex Norton ... Chief of Police Ronnie LambGary Clement ... ButcherHarry Jones ... Henry HallidayTrevor Cooper ... Des KingMorag Siller ... Alison KingFlip Webster ... Mrs KingMike Grady ... Patrick WattsTom Hodgkins ... Tom OlsenAnn Reid ... Mrs. MozeleySimon Fisher-Becker ... PrisonerAdam Godley ... P.C. Anton LivermoreJanet Robertson ... SoniaHelen Blades ... Sonia's FriendAntonio Valero ... Vice-Commodore Hector GilobertFulgencio Saturno ... Vice-Adm. Carlos BüsserAlan Turner ... Maj. Patricio DowlingArturo Venegas ... Capt. Pedro GiachinoRicardo Vélez ... Lt. LugoVincent S. Boluda ... Lt. QuirogaRobert Reina ... Medic Ernesto UrbinaJuan Martinez ... MarinePaul Geoffrey ... Simon WinchesterStuart Urban ... Argentinian 'snatch squad' radio operator (uncredited)Crew of British yacht 'Creighton's Naturally' ... Argentine Marines (uncredited)