The Big Game (1936)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Directors:

George Nichols Jr.
Edward Killy

Writers:

Francis Wallace (story)
Irwin Shaw (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 October 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Boxer | False Accusation | American Football | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Phillip Huston	...	Clark Jenkins (as Philip Huston)
James Gleason	...	George Scott
June Travis	...	Margaret Anthony
Bruce Cabot	...	Cal Calhoun
Andy Devine	...	Pop Andrews
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Peter 'Pete' Jenkins (as Guinn Williams)
John Arledge	...	Spike Adams
C. Henry Gordon	...	Brad Anthony
Jay Berwanger	...	Himself - University of Chicago All-American
William Shakespeare	...	Himself - Notre Dame All-American
Robert 'Bobby' Wilson	...	Himself - Southern Methodist All-American
James 'Monk' Moscrip	...	Himself - Stanford All-American
Irwin 'King Kong' Klein	...	Himself - New York University All-American
Gomer Jones	...	Himself - Ohio State All-American
Robert 'Bones' Hamilton	...	Himself - Stanford All-American

Runtime:

USA:74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2484)

Filming Locations:

Rose Bowl - 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The novel "Big Game" by Francis Wallace was first published as a serial entitled "Odds Against Honor" in Collier's magazine in 1935. The idea for the riot scene came from an actual riot at a New York University-Fordham University football game. RKO bought 1000 feet of the 1935 Rose Bowl game footage for use in the film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) (TV)

Dull second feature

I don't care for (American) football, but it generally seems to entertain in movie format. From The Longest Yard to Rudy, there's something about the sport that translates well to celluloid. The Big Game, sadly, is not up to the standards of those other films, as it can't seem to decide whether it's a comedy, a crime drama, or an indictment of college football (which apparently was already controversial in the mid-30s!). James Gleason is wasted and only Bruce Cabot really draws any attention as the heel with a heart of gold. Andy Devine is particularly annoying in this one--be sure to turn the sound off whenever he's in an onscreen telephone conversation!