This movie was made in the small town of Woodland California at our High School Football field. The story line was great and even though I was 13 at the time this was filmed, I believe they got their point across. This was a great experience to be a part of the crowd, and to be behind the scenes to see just how a movie is made. It was privilege to sit next to Ben Johnson, who is a wonderful person and explained to us how we needed to watch the game as if this were real and to not watch the camera! He was even very gracious in giving out his autograph and taking a picture with us. They had door prizes in which my sister won a Danny Thomas record and my Mom won the grand prize of a trip for 2 to Las Vegas for 3 days and 2 nights to see Danny Thomas perform live.
6 Reviews
The story of a 29 year-old high school quarterback!
planktonrules9 March 2017
Gary Busey plays a star football player who is in high school...which is pretty odd since he was 29 when the movie was made. In fact, MANY of the players in the film look to be that age...a major problem with an otherwise excellent made for TV movie.
The story is about the senior year of high school quarterback David Lee Birdsong (Busey). He is incredibly successful and things are going very well. He has colleges offering him scholarships and there's every reason to believe he'll soon be off to make himself a bright future. However, he has two things working against him--a win at all cost coach (Larry Hagman) and an unrelenting father (Ben Johnson) for whom David cannot do enough when he plays. Even if his team easily wins and he has a great game, the nitpicking father has lots of criticism. And, late in the film when David Lee crosses his father, the man slaps the crap out of him! So much for love and respect. Unless something changes, David Lee is about ready to crack.
This is a pretty good film about the absurdity of high school sports and the pressure placed on kids. Had the players actually LOOKED like kids, the film would have no doubt been better. Still, it's worth seeing and is reasonably well made and interesting.
The story is about the senior year of high school quarterback David Lee Birdsong (Busey). He is incredibly successful and things are going very well. He has colleges offering him scholarships and there's every reason to believe he'll soon be off to make himself a bright future. However, he has two things working against him--a win at all cost coach (Larry Hagman) and an unrelenting father (Ben Johnson) for whom David cannot do enough when he plays. Even if his team easily wins and he has a great game, the nitpicking father has lots of criticism. And, late in the film when David Lee crosses his father, the man slaps the crap out of him! So much for love and respect. Unless something changes, David Lee is about ready to crack.
This is a pretty good film about the absurdity of high school sports and the pressure placed on kids. Had the players actually LOOKED like kids, the film would have no doubt been better. Still, it's worth seeing and is reasonably well made and interesting.
A dark look at high school football.
yenlo29 October 1999
A small town where the local High School football team is the center of attention is the basis of this made for TV movie from the early 70's. Gary Busey is the teams star player who has been groomed and molded by his father played by Ben Johnson. The end result of his years of turning his son into the ultimate football player hopefully will be a scholarship to a big school followed by a pro career. Larry Hagman is the teams' coach who will essentially stop at nothing to have a winning season.
A number of topics are touched on in this film. A schools obsession with their sports programs. A parents obsession with their child achieving athletic stardom. The pressures of a high school athlete faced with having to win and be the best. Other films that had these same issues i.e. All The Right Moves, The Program were more in depth but this early 70's picture however does a pretty good job for a made for TV film. Hagmans performance gives the viewer a glimpse of what his famous "Dallas" character JR, which would emerge a few years later, would be like. Another sports film that has topics similar to this one is "Fear Strikes Out" with Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden
A number of topics are touched on in this film. A schools obsession with their sports programs. A parents obsession with their child achieving athletic stardom. The pressures of a high school athlete faced with having to win and be the best. Other films that had these same issues i.e. All The Right Moves, The Program were more in depth but this early 70's picture however does a pretty good job for a made for TV film. Hagmans performance gives the viewer a glimpse of what his famous "Dallas" character JR, which would emerge a few years later, would be like. Another sports film that has topics similar to this one is "Fear Strikes Out" with Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden
The script that fumbled.
mark.waltz7 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I really don't know that I want to continue playing football let alone go to see another game if I had seen this movie when it first aired. Gary Busey, a little long in the tooth, plays a high school football player in his senior year, debating on what he's going to do after graduation. He has to deal with father Ben Johnson always pushing, coach Larry Hagman, pushing until he drops, and recruiters from colleges sending out feelers, creating more confusion, as they hope to get the best players in the area. Outside of Busey and a few fellow players, very few of the characters are likable in any way even though they represent a realistic viewpoint of the worthlessness and behind the college recruiting procedures.
Unless you are really a fan of the sport, this could be a real bore and the characters far too hideous to even have fun hissing at. Hagman, sounding like he sniffed helium, gives a really cartoonish performance, one dimensional and without charm. Johnson may be realistically playing a father wishing for his son to achieve all he can, but he's just as bad even if his performance isn't as one note. I found the pacing slow and individual characters irritating, and thus I really can't recommend this simply for just being an unpleasant viewing experience.
Unless you are really a fan of the sport, this could be a real bore and the characters far too hideous to even have fun hissing at. Hagman, sounding like he sniffed helium, gives a really cartoonish performance, one dimensional and without charm. Johnson may be realistically playing a father wishing for his son to achieve all he can, but he's just as bad even if his performance isn't as one note. I found the pacing slow and individual characters irritating, and thus I really can't recommend this simply for just being an unpleasant viewing experience.
Excellent Character Study
epcthree4 April 2006
Given the time this was made, the limitations of Television in the areas of profanity and violence, this made for TV film is outstanding.
Excellent performances by Busey, Hagman and Johnson are highlights and the story itself is terrific as well.
I was 13 when it came out, but had already been exposed to coaches not dissimilar to the one portrayed by Hagman.
As the father, Ben Johnson gives a true-to-life performance of a "little league" father, living through his son, instead of for him.
Finally, Busey does a great job portraying a star HS QB. He has always been an inconsistent actor, but when he is "on" there are few that can beat him.
I have been looking for a copy of this film for YEARS!!! If anyone had a lead or anyone or anywhere I might contact, please let me know. Thanks!
Excellent performances by Busey, Hagman and Johnson are highlights and the story itself is terrific as well.
I was 13 when it came out, but had already been exposed to coaches not dissimilar to the one portrayed by Hagman.
As the father, Ben Johnson gives a true-to-life performance of a "little league" father, living through his son, instead of for him.
Finally, Busey does a great job portraying a star HS QB. He has always been an inconsistent actor, but when he is "on" there are few that can beat him.
I have been looking for a copy of this film for YEARS!!! If anyone had a lead or anyone or anywhere I might contact, please let me know. Thanks!
How can I get a copy of this movie?
ttprize11 June 2005
If anyone can help me I would be most grateful! It's my favorite sports movie of all time and I have been trying to obtain a copy for years. I think the depiction of the importance of high school sports in small town America is well done in this film. Also, Ben Johnson was just so believable as the meddling, intrusive father who wants the dream of a college football scholarship more than his son, played by Gary Busey. Larry (JR Ewing) Hagman was also quite convincing as the callous, self-serving coach who puts winning above any real concern for his players. This movie is filled with very believable characters and common truths about the spoiling of sports as they become under the control of selfish and obsessed parents and coaches.
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