This week on the podcast, I’m recommending four sports movies from the 1970s. These aren’t the usual titles you hear brought up. Some are a bit strange, some are just overlooked. All of them are worth checking out.
Slap Shot (1977)
Directed by George Roy Hill, who also did The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Paul Newman plays the player-coach of a struggling minor league hockey team. The film is known for its rough humor and violence on the ice. It was written by Nancy Dowd, based on her brother’s experience in the minors. The Hanson Brothers, who steal most of their scenes, were played by real hockey players. The film didn’t do well at first but built a strong following over the years.
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
This one is about astrology and basketball. A Pittsburgh team becomes good after aligning its players' zodiac signs. It stars Julius Erving, who was still playing in the NBA at the time. The movie was shot in actual basketball arenas and features real NBA footage. The soundtrack was put together by Thom Bell, known for his work with The Spinners and The Stylistics. It’s not a typical sports movie, and it’s not serious, but that’s part of the appeal.
One on One (1977)
Robbie Benson stars as a small-town high school basketball player who gets a scholarship to a big college. Benson co-wrote the script. The film was directed by Lamont Johnson, who worked mostly in television but had a few feature films. The music is by Seals and Crofts. It’s more grounded than the other films in this group. The basketball scenes are decent, and the story focuses on the pressure college athletes face.
The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
A Disney comedy with John Amos and Tim Conway. They go to Africa to find a new track star and bring back a Tarzan-type athlete played by Jan-Michael Vincent. Vincent did some of his own stunts, including a few track scenes. The film mixes broad humor with some light sports moments. It’s not realistic, and it wasn’t supposed to be. Worth a look if you want something lighter.
All four of these were made during a time when studios were trying different things with sports movies. None of them are exactly like the others. If you’re looking for something off the usual path, any of these would work. This is probably the first in a series of episodes I will eventually do about sports movies from this decade, I hope you enjoy them.
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