Slap Shot (1977)

A failing ice hockey team finds success using constant fighting and violence during games.

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer:

Nancy Dowd

Stars:

Paul Newman, Strother Martin, Michael Ontkean

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Reggie 'Reg' Dunlop
Strother Martin	...	Joe McGrath
Michael Ontkean	...	Ned Braden
Jennifer Warren	...	Francine Dunlop
Lindsay Crouse	...	Lily Braden
Jerry Houser	...	Dave 'Killer' Carlson
Andrew Duncan	...	Jim Carr
Jeff Carlson	...	Jeff Hanson
Steve Carlson	...	Steve Hanson
David Hanson	...	Jack Hanson
Yvon Barrette	...	Denis Lemieux
Allan F. Nicholls	...	Johnny Upton (as Allan Nicholls)
Brad Sullivan	...	Morris 'Mo' Wanchuk
Stephen Mendillo	...	Jim Ahern
Yvan Ponton	...	Jean-Guy Drouin

Storyline

Located in the US Rust Belt, Charlestown is home of the hapless Chiefs, a losing Federal League hockey team whose games are poorly attended. To make money, the team's unknown owner makes its manager, Joe McGrath, do cheesy publicity much to the players' chagrin. Rumors abound among the players that if the local mill closes, the team will fold. Just before the official announcement is made, the team's aging player/coach, Reggie Dunlop, does get wind that the mill is indeed closing and that this season will be the team's last. Beyond efforts to reconcile with his wife Francine, who loves Reggie but doesn't love his career, Reggie begins to focus on how to renew interest in the team for a possible sale as he knows if the team folds, his hockey career is over. Without telling anyone of his plan, he begins a rumor that the owner is negotiating a sale with a city in Florida. He also decides that "goon" hockey - most especially using the untapped talents of the recently acquired childlike ...

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Plot Keywords:

ice hockey | small town | violence | team owner | siren | 

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Taglines:

you'll see Paul Newman doing things you'd never expect him to do... saying things you'd never expect him to say!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schlappschuß

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$28,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kings Road Entertainment, Pan Arts, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Susan Kendall Newman, who appears briefly as a drug store clerk and is later seen in the stands at one of the games, is Paul Newman's daughter.

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Goofs

In the scene where the goalie is being interviewed, he talks about going to the penalty box. Some have mistaken that he is talking about himself, as goalies never go to the penalty box, but he is in fact simply discussing the different kinds of penalties a hockey player can go into the penalty box for committing.

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Quotes

Tim McCracken: Hundred bucks says you're gonna crack my skull.
Ned Braden: I wouldn't crack your knuckles for a hundred bucks.
Tim McCracken: So, he's bluffing.
Ned Braden: Somebody's gonna kill you, ya dumb son of a bitch, but it's not gonna be me.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to John Mitchell and his Johnstown Jets.

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Connections

Referenced in Veronica Mars: Meet John Smith (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Rhiannon"
Fleetwood Mac
Reprise Records
Written by Stevie Nicks (uncredited)

User Reviews

My favorite sports movie

I liked this movie when I first saw it over twenty years ago, and its still great! The swinging 70's get perfectly captured, by the music, hair styles and especially the awful clothes. All the actors do their own skating, so you aren't distracted looking for body doubles the entire movie. The screenplay is priceless and if anyone thinks its sexist - a woman wrote this movie! This is the only hockey movie worth anything - hopefully "Mystery, Alaska" can join it.