Our Winning Season (1978)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writer:

Nicholas Niciphor (writer)

Release Date:

May 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It's your story.

Plot Keywords:

Track Meet | 1960s | High School Athletics | Friendship | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Scott Jacoby	...	David Wakefield
Deborah Benson	...	Alice Baker
Dennis Quaid	...	Paul Morelli
Robert Wahler	...	Burton Fleishauer
Randy Hermann	...	Jerry McDuffy (as Randy Herman)
Joe Penny	...	Dean Berger
Jan Smithers	...	Cathy Wakefield
P.J. Soles	...	Cindy Hawkins
Wendy Rastattar	...	Susie Wilson (as Wendy Rastatter)
Damon Douglas	...	Miller (as Damom Douglas)
Joanna Cassidy	...	Sheila
J. Don Ferguson	...	Coach Michael Murphy
Jeff Soracco	...	Eddie Rice
Ted Henning	...	Mr. Wetzle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Earleen Carey	...	Waitress at Snack Bar

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Griffin, Georgia, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dean lowers David by rope to the bridge span below, David paints "Cathy" with a "C" in the close-up shot, but a moment later in the wider shot, it appears to be spelled "Kathy" with a "K". When the police car leaves and Dean in seen in a wide shot pulling David back up on the bridge, the bridge span is clean with no paint at all.

Movie Connections:

Edited into 42nd Street Forever Part 4 (2009) (V)

Soundtrack:

So Much For Dreams

Well Done Formula that has since grown cold.

Before there was a "Chariots of Fire" or a film that dealt with the pressures of winning for oneself, there was this little gem of a film. "Our Winning Season" is a film about David Wakefield (portrayed well by little known Scott Jacoby) who is not quite the star runner of Griffin High School. He has his friends who

encourage him (Played by Randy Hermann and a then unknown Dennis Quaid)

and his sister and her boyfriend (Jan Smithers and Joe Penny) who face

difficulties with the Vietnam war. Then you have a cast of remarkable youngsters (including a very energetic and sexy P.J. Soles) who support David in his final hour of running. Taking place in the sixties, if you want to make a film that is both coming of age and psychological in the eyes of young male adolescents, this is the way to do it. The star of this film is a runner, which alot of people can relate to. As I said, this came before "Chariots of Fire" so it is definitely worth a look. Produced by big man Samuel Z. Arkoff, and Joe Roth, and released by

American International Pictures, the same company that released Wes Craven's

"Last House on the Left", and directed by future acclaimed director Joseph

Ruben, this film was made to look good, and does on several levels. The only

stars on this film that ever made it into any bigger than this were Dennis Quaid and P.J. Soles(whom were both married after this, as I am told.) Film with this subject matter have since grown very banal, and tiring, and don't sell anymore. This film was one of the first, and is the most unknown of the bunch. Ensemble cast film is hard driving and very dramatic, with some comic touches to be seen. And of course, anyone who has ever wanted to win for themselves will get the

message of this one. Good music by Charles Fox, and cinematography by

Steven M. Katz. 7.5/10