Steve Novak's (Derek) a good kid from a factory town, making a local splash in high school football. Now he's got a chance at scholarships everywhere and at being his family's first college man. But instead of going to a big-time football school, he chooses a socially elite one.
Those scenes of getting acquainted with the other jocks are especially well done. Steve quickly fits in and drives the team to unexpected wins, catching the eye of high-powered businessman and alumnus Mc Cabe (Blackmer) who quickly sees an opportunity to build a big-time team around Steve. But doing that means bribing other key players including Steve into joining the big-time program. Now Steve's faced with a moral dilemma and we wonder how well his good down-home sense of right and wrong will stand up.
With his light camaraderie and banter, Aldo Ray (Hausler) shows he's a natural and darn near steals the movie. Derek however underplays throughout. As a result, I don't think we get the needed sense of inner conflict that his character must go through. Derek looks the part, but to me understating weakens the overall impact. Then too, Reed appears miscast (too old) as the spoiled rich girl in a rather poorly written part (the car scene with Derek, especially). Looks to me as if the writers weren't sure what to do with her part. Note too, that the movie ends with them hoping to be reunited and not in a conventional clinch, perhaps a compromise between studio and writers.
Nonetheless, the movie pulls few punches in showing the corruptive influence of big-time college football as it turns a game into a business and players into employees. I also like the way McCabe dangles important business-world contacts before Steve. Now Steve can not only leave his factory town behind, but leave it far behind. Perhaps the most corruptive influence, however, is easily overlooked. Note how grades are adjusted to keep players eligible even when their academic side is suffering. Thus, the corruption spreads even to the academic department.
1951 was the last year for "problem" movies before the hammer of McCarthy hearings fell on Hollywood and social-conscience screenwriters like Buchman went into exile. With few exceptions, films would cease to be socially relevant for at least a decade as Hollywood geared up to fight the Cold War. Nonetheless, this little "problem" film is as relevant now as it was then, maybe more so. And definitely merits a look-see.
(In passing—A similar expose with Van Heflin was made in 1937 with a similar title, viz., Saturday's Heroes.)
Those scenes of getting acquainted with the other jocks are especially well done. Steve quickly fits in and drives the team to unexpected wins, catching the eye of high-powered businessman and alumnus Mc Cabe (Blackmer) who quickly sees an opportunity to build a big-time team around Steve. But doing that means bribing other key players including Steve into joining the big-time program. Now Steve's faced with a moral dilemma and we wonder how well his good down-home sense of right and wrong will stand up.
With his light camaraderie and banter, Aldo Ray (Hausler) shows he's a natural and darn near steals the movie. Derek however underplays throughout. As a result, I don't think we get the needed sense of inner conflict that his character must go through. Derek looks the part, but to me understating weakens the overall impact. Then too, Reed appears miscast (too old) as the spoiled rich girl in a rather poorly written part (the car scene with Derek, especially). Looks to me as if the writers weren't sure what to do with her part. Note too, that the movie ends with them hoping to be reunited and not in a conventional clinch, perhaps a compromise between studio and writers.
Nonetheless, the movie pulls few punches in showing the corruptive influence of big-time college football as it turns a game into a business and players into employees. I also like the way McCabe dangles important business-world contacts before Steve. Now Steve can not only leave his factory town behind, but leave it far behind. Perhaps the most corruptive influence, however, is easily overlooked. Note how grades are adjusted to keep players eligible even when their academic side is suffering. Thus, the corruption spreads even to the academic department.
1951 was the last year for "problem" movies before the hammer of McCarthy hearings fell on Hollywood and social-conscience screenwriters like Buchman went into exile. With few exceptions, films would cease to be socially relevant for at least a decade as Hollywood geared up to fight the Cold War. Nonetheless, this little "problem" film is as relevant now as it was then, maybe more so. And definitely merits a look-see.
(In passing—A similar expose with Van Heflin was made in 1937 with a similar title, viz., Saturday's Heroes.)