Saturday's Hero (1951)

A star high school football player goes through the ups and downs of 'big-time' college athletics in the 1950's.

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Sidney Buchman (screenplay), Millard Lampell (novel),

Stars:

John Derek, Donna Reed, Sidney Blackmer

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Derek	...	Steve Novak
Donna Reed	...	Melissa
Sidney Blackmer	...	T. C. McCabe
Alexander Knox	...	Professor Megroth
Elliott Lewis	...	Eddie Abrams
Otto Hulett	...	Coach 'Preacher' Tennant
Howard St. John	...	Belfrage
Aldo Ray	...	Gene Hausler (as Aldo DaRe)
Alvin Baldock	...	Francis 'Clay' Clayborne
Wilbur Robertson	...	Bob Whittier
Charles Barnes	...	Moose Wagner (as Charles Mercer Barnes)
Bill Martin	...	Joe Mestrovic
Mickey Knox	...	Joey Novak
Sandro Giglio	...	Poppa Jan Novak
Tito Vuolo	...	Manuel

Storyline

High school football hero Steve Novak finds himself caught up in the world of big-time college athletics at Jackson University in the 1950's. He must balance his desire to get an education with the high expectations of his coach and "benefactor," by whose grace he is attending Jackson. Still applicable today, the movie shows that the problems of college athletics are not just a new phenomenon.

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Plot Keywords:

college | education | scholarship | college football | pressure | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hero

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Early 50's look at college sports dark side.

This movie was shown on a cable film channel a few years back. Most films made during this time period that dealt with sports either were humorous or light hearted with a little bit of drama thrown in. Saturday's Hero looks at a local high school football star played by John Derek who comes somewhat from the wrong side of the tracks so to speak. The local college successfully recruits him to play for them on a scholarship. He accepts their offer and begins playing and the team soars with him as its star then something happens which changes everything.

Although the film came out in 1951 it surprisingly is not dated in its subject matter. When movies about football are thought of The Longest Yard, M*A*S*H, SemiTough, North Dallas Forty, Knute Rockne All American, The Program, All the Right Moves, Everybody's All American are some which come to mind. Don't however over look this early 50's film about college football and the sometimes-nasty business behind it.