North Dallas Forty (1979)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

Peter Gent (novel)
Peter Gent (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

3 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

"Wait till you see the weird part." [USA Theatrical]

Plot:

A semi-fictional account of life as a professional Football (American-style) player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s.

Plot Keywords:

Football | Flashback Sequence | American Football | Sports Team | Corruption

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Phillip Elliott
Mac Davis	...	Seth Maxwell
Charles Durning	...	Coach Johnson
Dayle Haddon	...	Charlotte Caulder
Bo Svenson	...	Jo Bob Priddy
John Matuszak	...	O. W. Shaddock
Steve Forrest	...	Conrad Hunter
G.D. Spradlin	...	B. A. Strothers
Dabney Coleman	...	Emmett Hunter
Savannah Smith Boucher	...	Joanne Rodney (as Savannah Smith)
Marshall Colt	...	Art Hartman
Guich Koock	...	Eddie Rand
Deborah Benson	...	Mrs. Hartman
Jim Boeke	...	Stallings (as James F. Boeke)
John Bottoms	...	Vip
Walter Brooke	...	Doctor
Alan Autry	...	Balford (as Carlos Brown)
Danny J. Bunz	...	Tony Douglas
Jane Daly	...	Ruth
Rad Daly	...	Conrad
Cliff Frazier	...	Monroe
Stanley Grover	...	March
Glenn-Michael Jones	...	Locker Boy (as Glenn Michael Jones)
Frank O'Neill	...	Assistant Trainer
Tommy Reamon	...	WR Delma Huddle
Tom Reese	...	Coach Waddy
Jeffrey Severson	...	Partridge
Grant Kilpatrick	...	Monsignor
Kevin Cooney	...	Pete Peterson
Tony Frank	...	Rindquist
Doug France	...	Alcie Weeks
Garrie Kelly	...	Party Guest
Debbie Turner	...	Party Guest
Michele Turner	...	Party Guest
Jasmine Gagnier	...	Party Guest
Sharyn Lee	...	Party Guest
Joe Portaro	...	Party Guest
Lauren Jennifer Downing	...	Party Guest
Nanci Roberts	...	Bunny Girl
Kathleen Mary Larken	...	Peggy
Don J. Berberet	...	Referee
Randall Braxtan	...	Billy Fitch
Kory Olson	...	Salesman
Louie Kelcher	...	Football Player
Harold Jackson	...	Football Player
Michael Ballew	...	Football Player (as Mike Ballew)
Martin Imhof	...	Football Player
Ronnie L. Coleman	...	Football Player
Boyd Matson	...	TV Announcer
Ross Porter	...	TV Announcer

Directed by
Ted Kotcheff

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nancy Dowd		uncredited
Rich Eustis		uncredited
Peter Gent		novel
Peter Gent		screenplay
Ted Kotcheff		writer
Frank Yablans		writer

Produced by
Frank Baur	....	associate producer
Jack B. Bernstein	....	executive producer
Frank Yablans	....	producer

Original Music by
John Scott

Cinematography by
Paul Lohmann

Film Editing by
Jay Kamen

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Alfred Sweeney

Set Decoration by
Arthur Jeph Parker		(as Art Parker)

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Robert Dawn	....	makeup artist (as Bob Dawn)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist (as Eddie Henriques)
Gladys Witten	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Frank Baur	....	unit production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victor Hsu	....	assistant director
Kalai Strode	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Terry E. Lewis	....	property master (as Terry Lewis)
Gunnar Mattson	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Bub Asman	....	sound effects editor
Pierre Jalbert	....	dialogue editor
Larry Jost	....	sound mixer
Alan Robert Murray	....	sound effects editor (as Alan Murray)
Alan L. Nineberg	....	dialogue editor (as Alan Nineberg)
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Keene Wilkinson)

Special Effects by
Joseph P. Mercurio	....	special effects (as Joe Mercurio)

Stunts
Debby Porter	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Genne	....	first assistant camera
Wally Hice	....	dolly grip
J. Michael Marlett	....	gaffer (as Mike Marlett)
Guy Polzel	....	key grip
Timothy E. Wade	....	camera operator (as Tim Wade)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza	....	costume supervisor: men (as Norman Burza)
Betsy Cox	....	costume supervisor: women
James P. Cullen	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Christopher Koefoed	....	apprentice editor (as Christopher Lucien Koefoed)
Jack Michon	....	assistant editor
Thom Noble	....	editorial consultant

Music Department
John Mick	....	music editor
John Scott	....	conductor

Transportation Department
James Thornsberry	....	transportation coordinator (as Jim Thornsberry)

Other crew
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist
Tom Fears	....	football coach
Tom Fears	....	football coordinator
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Doug Grossman	....	technical advisor
Wanda Mull	....	secretary to unit production manager (as Wanda R. Mull)
Dickey Nesenger	....	script supervisor
Frank O'Neill	....	football coordinator
Frank O'Neill	....	football trainer
Jette Sorensen	....	location auditor

Thanks
Ron Chapman	....	special thanks: Radio Station KVIL Dallas-Fort Worth
Robert H. Kovoloff	....	special thanks: Associated Film Promotions, Inc.

Production Companies

• Frank Yablans Presentations
• Paramount Pictures
• Regina Associates

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Video GmbH (1980) (West Germany) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sportsrobe  costumes

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:R

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: There are several lip-synch problems throughout, probably due to re-dubbing lines.

Quotes:

Phil Elliott: Joe Bob's Fine Foods - Eat Here, or I'll Kill Ya!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Incredible Melting Man (#8.4)" (1996)

Makes a point that has been made better elsewhere

Phillip Elliot is a wide receiver for the North Dallas Bulls. He is approaching the end of his career and ravaged with injuries, which he needs medication to cover the pain enough to play. The coaches want 100% to win games and win the season, but do the owners see the people inside the uniforms?

Written by ex-player Peter Gent this film wanders between love for the game and admiration for the players and the flip side where the players are overpaid little boys in men's bodies who are seen as disposable by club owners. This wandering happens for most of the film, mostly due to the fact that the plot seems to be wandering all over the place with little to do. When it actually focuses on the dealings of the club owners and the sacrifices the players have to make, it is pretty interesting – even if it does what many other sports films have done better.

The central point about owners seeing the players as just another piece of equipment owed by the club is pretty well made, but it is confused by the plot wandering a little bit. The ending is designed to back up this central point, but the circumstances come out of nowhere and the ending doesn't really ring true and isn't as strong a conclusion as it should have been. The film also struggles to condemn either the sport or the players, seeming to be annoyed with bosses more than anything else. The players are clearly childish and irresponsible, violent men but yet the film weakens on that point after hinting at it, likewise the film condemns part of the game but then happily indulges in big game action near the end of the film.

Nolte is pretty good, but he also seems a little unsure about whether his character loves the sport or hates everything about it except the game. Support players simply play victims or childish thugs. The reason for Haddon's love interest is beyond me but Durning and Spradlin give good support as coaches.

Overall this is an interesting film, which is strongest at the start and end, the middle section lacking structure and focus. The message it is trying to get across applies much more today than it did back then, but has been made better and in more enjoyable total films than this. Still an interesting watch for the most part though.