The Deadliest Season (1977)

Gerry Miller, a professional hockey player, gives in to internal and outside pressures and adopts a more aggressive style on the ice. During one particularly violent game a player on an ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Markowitz

Writers:

Tom King (story), Ernest Kinoy (screenplay),

Stars:

Michael Moriarty, Kevin Conway, Meryl Streep

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Moriarty	...	Gerry Miller
Kevin Conway	...	George Graff
Meryl Streep	...	Sharon Miller
Sully Boyar	...	Tom Feeney
Jill Eikenberry	...	Carole Eskanazi
Walter McGinn	...	District Attorney Horace Meade
Mason Adams	...	Bill Cavins
Paul D'Amato	...	Dave Eskanazi
Ron Weyand	...	Judge Reinhardt
Frank Bongiorno	...	Rene Beauvois
Mel Boudrot	...	Coach Bryant
Rudy Hornish	...	Walters
Dino Narizzano	...	Referee Merritt
Alan North	...	Detective Forscher
George Petrie	...	President MacCloud

Storyline

Gerry Miller, a professional hockey player, gives in to internal and outside pressures and adopts a more aggressive style on the ice. During one particularly violent game a player on an opposing team dies, and the authorities charge Miller with manslaughter.

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Plot Keywords:

hockey | courtroom

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blutiges Eis

Filming Locations:

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Titus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Unusual excellence in a TV movie

In "The Deadliest Season", we have yet another example of a fine film which is sadly missing from the home video market. Made-for-TV movies are so often under-rehearsed, undistinguished productions wherein the characters portrayed are rarely striking or memorable. All the lead players in this film deliver standout performances which give their characterizations the feel of real, highly distinctive individuals. The cinematography, lacking the slick, glossy quality of so many big-budget features, is nonetheless effective in conveying an almost "documentary" feeling which seems to add to the feeling that one is viewing a slice of reality. Michael Moriarty digs deep for his scenes of high emotion which climax the film, far deeper than one ever expects in the TV-movie genre. One is mesmerized by the fine details of his portrayal of a hockey player, without much education, a simple kind of guy but with much decency and no will to harm anyone. The central issue of violence in professional sports remains an important concern today. Such films as this one intensify my frustration that there is no way to ferret out information as to who holds the rights to such titles. One wants so badly to appeal directly to such parties, begging them to release a decent DVD version of the movie.