The Longest Yard (1974)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Albert S. Ruddy (story)
Tracy Keenan Wynn (writer)

Release Date:

30 August 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

It's Survival of the Fiercest and Funniest

Plot:

A sadistic warden asks a former pro quarterback, now serving time in his prison, to put together a team of inmates to take on (and get pummeled by) the guards.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Warden | Prison Guard | Quarterback | Florida

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Paul Crewe
Eddie Albert	...	Warden Hazen
Ed Lauter	...	Captain Knauer
Michael Conrad	...	Nate Scarboro
James Hampton	...	Caretaker (as Jim Hampton)
Harry Caesar	...	Granville
John Steadman	...	Pop
Charles Tyner	...	Unger
Mike Henry	...	Rassmeusen
Jim Nicholson	...	Ice Man
Bernadette Peters	...	Miss Toot
Pervis Atkins	...	Mawabe
Tony Cacciotti	...	Rotka
Anitra Ford	...	Melissa Gaines
Michael Fox	...	Announcer

Also Known As:

The Mean Machine (UK)

Runtime:

121 min | Argentina:122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2005) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1995) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1975) | Netherlands:12 | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Norway:16 (1975) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Anacott Steel is the name of one of the semi-pro football teams referred to by Captain Knauer when he is talking to his guards. It is also the name of one of the companies that are in play in Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987). It is not a real company.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final drive the Mean Machine called time out after 1st and goal and there was 40 seconds on the clock. The next play the running back ran out of bounds and there was 25 seconds left. It's not possible that that play would take 15 seconds.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Melissa: How long do we have to keep watching this crap?... Only a moron can sit and watch two football games, one after the other.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Doing Time on 'The Longest Yard' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

You Gotta Be a Football Hero

Has aged well after 25+ years

After seeing this flick again last year after I don't know how long, at first I wondered why I used to really like this film. But after watching the whole thing to the end, I remember why. This is one of those films that generated a whole bunch of "copy-cat" movies, none which are even worth remembering (or seeing). Sure, it's a macho-man movie, but it works, and to see the talent (both actors and ex-pro ball players) on the screen, this is a movie you can watch over and over. By the way, it was refreshing to see the widescreen DVD version which was just released.