An Emotional, Really Nice Sports Film
Added 3/5/2009
You don't have to be a Notre Dame football fan to enjoy this, but, strictly as a football fan in general, this was fun to watch. It almost makes me a Fighting Irish devotee. If you can't get caught up in the emotion in this film, gridiron fan or not, you better check your pulse because this is an emotional film with some very touching scenes.
As a sports fan, I loved watching the classic footage of early college games. They had some pretty wild plays back then with a lot of laterals. They interspersed that footage with Pat O'Brien shown as head coach Knute Rockne on the sidelines and some of the players, such as George Gipp (Ronald Reagan).
Reagan gets pretty good billing in this film but his part really isn't that large. O'Brien is the only actor with a large role in here. The rest - all playing nice characters - include Gale Page as Rockne's wife "Bonnie;" Donald Crisp, as the Notre Dame's "Father John Callahan;" Albert Bassermann as chemistry professor "Father Nieuwland" and Reagan, as Gipp, perhaps Notre Dame's most talented and famous player ever.
What this film does nicely is balance the personal story with the football. Neither angle is overdone. The characters in here all people you can root for, as there are no villains. On my last look, it was interesting to discover Johnny Sheffield - Tarzan's son - playing Rockne at the age of seven and to see George Reeves, TV's Superman, as one of the players.
There have been very few football movies made in Hollywood, for some reason, and precious few good ones. Most are modern-day ones filled with profanity. This is one of the few good ones, still safe for the kids to watch.
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Inspiring - Good Football History
Added 12/12/2008
This is a great movie for all sports fans, but especially football fans. It is also a great history lesson of college football. Notre Dame has been a storied program (current times not withstanding) and it gives an insight as to why so many people in the past love Notre Dame football.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Knute Rockne
Added 12/18/2007
This is an excellent film. Fun to watch. If you like college football today and enjoy history. This is great fun. If you like Notre Dame it's a must for your library.
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Truly All American
Added 11/16/2007
This is one of the most classic american sports stories. Pride of the Yankees also makes a great view.
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Calling Jimmy Cagney!
Added 9/1/2007
It's a funny thing - I hate Football but enjoy Football *movies* - like, you know, The Longest Yard and North Dallas Forty. (Just thought I'd share...). And I enjoyed chewing on this [somewhat stale] ol' chestnut, despite aspects which might be too much even for famed Talk Show Host Sammy Maudlin.
Ronald Reagan does a terrific job as Gipp, really convincing delivering lines and punts. Can't say the same about Pat O'Brien - he's just a tad too mellow in that role which evokes childhood memories of actual newsreels with the real Knute, mesmerizing his players with his "fight! fight! fight! exhortations in a locker room meeting. Pat must have needed a cool lemonade, or a hot cup of tea (with lemon) to regain his composure after a few takes.
The fan/historian will appreciate actual Notre Dame footage (unidentified as it is as to historical placement), and perhaps even more, the useage of several period Sports legends, including Pop Warner. (When did they decide to switch to ballet tights?).
Literate dialogue helps the somewhat stilted direction. Effective editing on the athletic sequences.
Important feature has Mr. O'Brien with future President Reagan in a promotional radio spot.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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An Emotional, Really Nice Sports Film
Added 3/5/2009
You don't have to be a Notre Dame football fan to enjoy this, but, strictly as a football fan in general, this was fun to watch. It almost makes me a Fighting Irish devotee. If you can't get caught up in the emotion in this film, gridiron fan or not, you better check your pulse because this is an emotional film with some very touching scenes.
As a sports fan, I loved watching the classic footage of early college games. They had some pretty wild plays back then with a lot of laterals. They interspersed that footage with Pat O'Brien shown as head coach Knute Rockne on the sidelines and some of the players, such as George Gipp (Ronald Reagan).
Reagan gets pretty good billing in this film but his part really isn't that large. O'Brien is the only actor with a large role in here. The rest - all playing nice characters - include Gale Page as Rockne's wife "Bonnie;" Donald Crisp, as the Notre Dame's "Father John Callahan;" Albert Bassermann as chemistry professor "Father Nieuwland" and Reagan, as Gipp, perhaps Notre Dame's most talented and famous player ever.
What this film does nicely is balance the personal story with the football. Neither angle is overdone. The characters in here all people you can root for, as there are no villains. On my last look, it was interesting to discover Johnny Sheffield - Tarzan's son - playing Rockne at the age of seven and to see George Reeves, TV's Superman, as one of the players.
There have been very few football movies made in Hollywood, for some reason, and precious few good ones. Most are modern-day ones filled with profanity. This is one of the few good ones, still safe for the kids to watch.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Inspiring - Good Football History
Added 12/12/2008
This is a great movie for all sports fans, but especially football fans. It is also a great history lesson of college football. Notre Dame has been a storied program (current times not withstanding) and it gives an insight as to why so many people in the past love Notre Dame football.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Knute Rockne
Added 12/18/2007
This is an excellent film. Fun to watch. If you like college football today and enjoy history. This is great fun. If you like Notre Dame it's a must for your library.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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