Double X: The Name of the Game

Double X: The Name of the Game is a 1992 British thriller film directed by Shani Grewal and starring Norman Wisdom, William Katt, Gemma Craven, Simon Ward, Bernard Hill and Chloë Annett. The screenplay was by Grewal based on the short story Vengeance by David Fleming.

Plot

Expert safecracker Arthur Clutten masterminds heists for a criminal syndicate he belongs to. But after witnessing the brutal methods of persuasion being meted out by gang leader, Ignatius Smith, Clutten decides to quit. But he realises the gang would sooner see him killed than quitting. After stealing some documents incriminating Smith and his boss, Edward Ross, Clutten then puts his family in hiding and goes on the run...but his daughter has been kidnapped by the gang and a hitman has been hired and is close to finding Clutten.

Cast

Norman Wisdom as Arthur Clutten
William Katt as Michael Cooper
Gemma Craven as Jenny Eskridge
Simon Ward as Edward Ross
Bernard Hill as Ignatious 'Iggy' Smith
Chloë Annett as Sarah Clutten
Leon Herbert as Ollie
Derren Nesbitt as the minister
Vladek Sheybal as pawnbroker

Cast notes

First film role for Norman Wisdom in 20 years.
Chloë Annett makes her feature film début.
Last film of Vladek Sheybal.

Reception

Derek Elley wrote inVariety: "Veteran Brit pratfall comic Norman Wisdom makes an ill-advised return to the big screen in Double X: The Name of the Game, an inept low-budget suspenser .... Reliable cast is double-crossed by a laughable script and clumsy helming. ... Wisdom, sadly miscast, is dramatically wobbly and looks uneasy throughout. Hill, as a comic psycho, seems out of place and Craven is wasted as a frump-turned-hardnosed-moll. Ward, looking like an overfed Christopher Walken, has fleeting moments as the org’s oily boss and Katt is solid as the Yank."

Production

It was filmed in the UK at the following locations Monkey Island, Bray, Berkshire, Portpatrick and Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

DVD release

The DVD was released onto Region 2 DVD on 25 February 2007 in the UK under "The BEST of BRITISH Collection" tag by Odeon Entertainment.