Saturday's Hero (1951)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Sidney Buchman (screenplay)
Millard Lampell (novel)

Release Date:

10 September 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

College | Education | Scholarship | American Football | Pressure

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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 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

Also Known As:

Idols in the Dust (UK)
The Hero (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

A sobering movie

I saw this film in 1951 when I was in high school. It was really depressing to some extent. It showed how the players were recruited and used only for the sake of football. I can somewhat remember how Steve was injured and how they gerry rigged a shoulder pad so he could play while injured. I also remember how he was rather a bright student in the class room. I only wish I could purchase the DVD or the VHS of this movie. I am not sure if it has ever been put out in that format. I think the movie when seen will seem like it just happened yesterday in that the situation in college football hasn't changed much over the last fifty years.