Pigskin Parade (1936)

Bessie and Winston "Slug" Winters are married coaches whose mission is to whip their college football team into shape. Just in time, they discover a hillbilly farmhand and his sister. But ... See full summary »

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

Harry Tugend (screenplay), Jack Yellen (screenplay),

Stars:

Stuart Erwin, Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stuart Erwin	...	Amos Dodd
Patsy Kelly	...	Bessie Winters
Jack Haley	...	Slug Winters
The Yacht Club Boys	...	Singing Quartette
Johnny Downs	...	Chip Carson
Betty Grable	...	Laura Watson
Arline Judge	...	Sally Saxon
Dixie Dunbar	...	Ginger Jones
Judy Garland	...	Sairy Dodd
Tony Martin	...	Tommy Barker (as Anthony Martin)
Fred Kohler Jr.	...	Biff Bentley
Grady Sutton	...	Mortimer Higgins
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Herbert Van Dyke
Edward J. Nugent	...	Sparks (as Eddie Nugent)
Julius Tannen	...	Dr. Burke

Storyline

Bessie and Winston "Slug" Winters are married coaches whose mission is to whip their college football team into shape. Just in time, they discover a hillbilly farmhand and his sister. But the hillbilly farmhand's ability to throw melons enables him to become their star passing ace.

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Plot Keywords:

american football

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Taglines:

A BAREFOOT HILLBILLY FROM TEXAS DOES HIS STUFF IN THE YALE BOWL! (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Musical | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Locuras de estudiantes

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fourteen-year-old Judy Garland made her feature-film debut as the young hillbilly Sairy Dodd. This Twentieth Century-Fox picture was Judy's one loan-out during her 15 years with MGM (1935-1950).

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Goofs

When the couples are dancing on the field at the end, Amos is wearing his socks and cleats. He would not have had time to find them by now in the snow and mud, much less put them on.

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Quotes

Slug Winters: If I only had a brain.

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Connections

Edited into Myra Breckinridge (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Football Song"
Written by The Yacht Club Boys
Performed by The Yacht Club Boys

User Reviews

The Beginnings of a Legend

MGM studio had signed Judy Garland to a contract, but didn't quite know how to use her talents, so they loaned her out to Fox for this little film. Little did they know how big an impact she would have in her first major feature-length film. (Never again would they loan her out.) Pigskin Parade concerns a invitation (by mistake) to a small college in Prairie, Texas to play Yale for charity. When they get the invitation, they're ecstatic; they're never told the truth. When their star player is injured, they're in a bind and try to get someone outside of their college to play. But in their quest, they come across Stuart Erwin who can throw a melon like no one's business. (Watch the movie to understand.) They meet him and sister Judy Garland, who are simple country people who ain't never been educated. Get the crux? Stuart Erwin apparently was so good in this film, he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. While this film stretches the viewer's imagination, it sure is fun. Its cast is a virtual who's who of early Hollywood. Jack Haley is the new football coach, who was the future costar of "The Wizard of Oz" with Judy, as the tin woodman. His wife here is played comedienne Patsy Kelly, who is a riot. Betty Grable, Tony Martin, Elisha Cook, Jr. all costar, and Alan Ladd has a bit part, which if you blink you'll miss him. And, Judy has musical numbers, which she knocks out of the park and knocks your shoes off, at the same time. They had to do a retake due to the applause and bravos of "It's Love I'm After," which she sings near the end of the film. For a great old-fashioned film and to witness the beginning of Judy Garland's rise to stardom, this is the film for you.