The Longest Yard (1974)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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:

Native American | Crossdresser | Cheerleader | Brass Knuckles | Quarterback

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
Joe Kapp	...	Walking Boss
Richard Kiel	...	Samson (as Dick Kiel)
Pepper Martin	...	Shop Steward
Mort Marshall	...	Assistant Warden
Ray Nitschke	...	Bogdanski
Tony Reese	...	Levitt
Sonny Sixkiller	...	The Indian
Robert Tessier	...	Shokner
Dino Washington	...	Mason
Ernie Wheelwright	...	Spooner
Joe Dorsey	...	Bartender (as Joseph Dorsey)
Gus Carlucci	...	Team Doctor (as Dr. Gus Carlucci)
Jack Rockwell	...	Trainer
Sonny Shroyer	...	Tannen
Ray Ogden	...	Schmidt
Don Ferguson	...	Referee
Chuck Hayward	...	Trooper I
Alfie Wise	...	Trooper II
Steve Wilder	...	J.J.
George Jones	...	Big George
Wilbur Gillian	...	Big Wilbur
Wilson Warren	...	Buttercup
Joe Jackson	...	Little Joe
Howard Silverstein	...	Howie
Donald Hixon	...	Donny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lance Fuller
J. Don Ferguson	...	Football Referee (uncredited)
Harold Morris	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Aldrich

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Albert S. Ruddy		story
Tracy Keenan Wynn		writer

Produced by
Alan P. Horowitz	....	associate producer
Albert S. Ruddy	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank De Vol

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc

Film Editing by
Michael Luciano

Casting by
Joyce Selznick
Steven R. Stevens

Production Design by
James Dowell Vance

Set Decoration by
Raphael Bretton		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Tom Ellingwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Russell Saunders	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director
Hal Needham	....	second unit director: car chase sequence
Ron Wright	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Horst Grandt	....	property master

Sound Department
Howard Beals	....	sound editor
Gordon Daniel	....	sound editor
Jim Foglesong	....	recordings supervisor
James Fritch	....	sound editor (as Jim Fritch)
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Caruso	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (uncredited)
James M. Halty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary McLarty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Pat Studstill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Oscar Barber	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Orville Hallberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Sherman Kunkel	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles E. James	....	wardrobe (as Charles James)

Editorial Department
Frank Capacchione	....	associate editor: football sequences
George Hively	....	associate editor: football sequences
Allan Jacobs	....	associate editor: football sequences
Steve Orfanos	....	montage: Modern Film Effects
Roy E. Peterson	....	assistant editor (as Roy Peterson)
Dennis Wooley	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Walter Blake	....	title designer
Dave Davies	....	unit publicist
Alvin Greenman	....	script supervisor
Bettye McCartt	....	assistant to producers
Robert Sherman	....	dialogue supervisor
Patrick Studstill	....	technical advisor

Thanks
Jimmy Carter	....	acknowledgment (as Governor Jimmy Carter)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Albert S. Ruddy Productions
• Long Road Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (UK) (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• CIC (1975) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Freedom Service Company  production services
• Glen Glenn Sound  sound
• Opticals West/N.J.S.  titles

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:

A number of the actors had previously played professional football. Burt Reynolds played for Florida State University and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. Mike Henry (Rasmussen) played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams. Joe Kapp (Walking Boss) played quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Ray Nitschke (Bodanski) was a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, and Pervis Atkins (Mawabe) played for the Los Angeles Rams, the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Paul backs the car off of the rising drawbridge, the rear end is smashed, and the trunk lid is flapping up and down. When he drives it down to the bay to dunk it in the water, the trunk lid is securely closed.

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:

Referenced in Huo shao dao (1990)

Soundtrack:

Born Free

Real men; no schtick

"The Longest Yard" does not depend on the tiresome innocent-man-behind-bars schtick to evoke the inmates' humanity. Crew, Caretaker, et al are not men because they have been falsely accused, but because they maintain their manhood under conditions of mental and physical cruelty. Their humanity isn't a plot or script convention, but the core of their character. It's refreshing to discover that you're cheering for criminals despite their unapologetic bravado. IMHO, the best "prison" film ever made.