The Big Game (1936)

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
Frank Alustiza	...	Himself - Stanford All-American
Chuck Bennis	...	Himself - University of Illinois All-American
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Adair	...	Charlie - Kidnap Henchman Answering Door (uncredited)
Ward Bond	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Wade Boteler	...	Kidnap Henchman (uncredited)
Harry Bowen	...	Gambler Betting $500 (uncredited)
Lynton Brent	...	Broadcaster (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	Henchman with Blackie (uncredited)
Red Cagle	...	Himself - Football Player (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Man at Dance (uncredited)
Dick Elliott	...	Lowell (uncredited)
Billy Gilbert	...	Fisher (uncredited)
John Harrington	...	Blackie Dawson (uncredited)
Tom Kennedy	...	Fan in Stands (uncredited)
Murray Kinnell	...	The Dean (uncredited)
Arthur Loft	...	Opposing Coach (uncredited)
Edward J. Nugent	...	Drunk (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr.	...	Dave, Guarding the Door (uncredited)
Barbara Pepper	...	Lois, the Drunk's Girl (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Seeley - a Gambler (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Mother Jenkins (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Man at Dance (uncredited)
Frank M. Thomas	...	The coach (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Man Outside Hotel (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	The College Chancellor (uncredited)

Directed by
George Nichols Jr.
Edward Killy		(football sequences)

Writing credits
Francis Wallace		(story "Odds Against Honor")
Irwin Shaw		(screenplay)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harry J. Wild		(as Harry Wild)

Film Editing by
Frederic Knudtson

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doran Cox	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Howard Campbell	....	associate art director

Sound Department
James G. Stewart	....	sound recordist

Music Department
Nathaniel Shilkret	....	musical director
Max Steiner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Roy Webb	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)

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!