Plot
A high school footballer desperate for a scholarship and his headstrong coach clash in a dying Pennsylvania steel town.
Release Year: 1983
Rating: 5.7/10 (7,017 voted)
Critic's Score: 62/100
Director:
Michael Chapman
Stars: Tom Cruise, Lea Thompson, Craig T. Nelson
Storyline Sensitive study of a headstrong high school football star who dreams of getting out of his small Western Pennsylvania steel town with a football scholarship. His equally ambitious coach aims at a college position, resulting in a clash which could crush the player's dreams.
Writers: Pat Jordan, Michael Kane
Cast: Tom Cruise
-
Stefen Djordjevic
Craig T. Nelson
-
Nickerson
Lea Thompson
-
Lisa
Charles Cioffi
-
Pop
Gary Graham
-
Greg
Paul Carafotes
-
Salvucci
Chris Penn
-
Brian
(as Christopher Penn)
Sandy Faison
-
Suzie
James A. Baffico
-
Bosko
Mel Winkler
-
Jess Covington
Walter Briggs
-
Rifleman
George Betor
-
Tank
Leon
-
Shadow
(as Leon Robinson)
Jonas Chaka
-
Mouse
(as Jonas C. Miller)
Keith Diamond
-
Fox
(as Keith Ford)
Taglines:
Tom Cruise and Craig T. Nelson Discover Winning Is the Only Way Out.
Release Date: 21 October 1983
Filming Locations: Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, USA
Opening Weekend: $1,625,486
(USA)
(23 October 1983)
(442 Screens)
Gross: $17,233,166
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
When Djorjavic and a few teammates are sitting around in the auditorium watching Lisa and the choir practice, one guys asks Stef if he heard from Syracuse yet. Although the school was never mentioned when the recruiter was in Stef's house prior to the Walnut Heights game, at this point we can infer that he was from Syracuse because the man said they'd "always have a place for him" if Stef changed his mind. Presumably, Stef is attempting to take him up on the alleged promise.
Goofs:
Continuity:
Stefan takes his plaid shirt off twice in the locker room before practice.
Quotes: Steff:
We didn't quit, you quit!
User Review
THis is western Pa!
Rating:
Great movie! one of my favorites. All may not like it but for a regional
boy
this is exactly what western pa is. Small steel towns that have nothing
left
except their sporting pride. Kids wanting to escape and western Pa's
beloved
football is the only way out for many. These are the Western Pa.
Archeotypes
:
Some kids love it but feel they can't make it any other way.
Salvuchi
Some kids have the talent but need that extra exposure. But it all depends
on how individuals in power like you. Stef
Kids with enough talent to get out of the town without added exposure. the
receiver who went to West Virginia
The coach who thinks he is God of town if he has some success.
Nelson
the disgruntled band student,"why do they get athletes deserve scholarship
attitudes" Lea.
The movie nailed the sights and sounds. It showed how whole towns close on
friday nights. The football scenes were great! Even besides the football
it
showed the tough steelman, the guys in towm that slave all day and go to
the
watering hole right after work before going home for the evening. It
showed
how serious we Western Pa's take our local sports, We really would trash a
coaches yard and fight seventeen year olds if we think they cost the game.
Gritty reality to small town life. An under appreciated film that captures
a
regions attitude and feel in our great Nation! Ampipe is
Aliquippa,Duquesne,
Johnstown, beaver falls clairton, McKeesport,monesson and the rest of the
Mon and beaver Valleys that were created by the US Steel, J&L and
Bethleham
steel
0