Hoosiers (1986)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

David Anspaugh

Writer:

Angelo Pizzo (written by)

Release Date:

14 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

They needed a second chance to finish first.

Plot:

A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the championship.

Plot Keywords:

Team | Coach | Indiana | High School | Championship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Coach Norman Dale
Barbara Hershey	...	Myra Fleener
Dennis Hopper	...	Shooter
Sheb Wooley	...	Cletus
Fern Persons	...	Opal Fleener
Chelcie Ross	...	George
Robert Swan	...	Rollin
Michael O'Guinne	...	Rooster
Wil Dewitt	...	Reverenf Doty
John Robert Thompson	...	Sheriff Finley
Michael Sassone	...	Preacher Purl
Gloria Dorson	...	Millie
Mike Dalzell	...	Mayor Carl
Skip Welker	...	Junior (as Calvert L. Welker)
Eric Gilliom	...	J. June

Also Known As:

Best Shot (UK)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (CFI)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Brownsburg, Indiana, USA

Company:

De Haven Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Scott Glenn]a member of the press corps.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: During the montage scene of Hickory's winning streak, a scene shows the team bus being led through Hickory by police escort. The police car in the scene has "Wabash County Sheriff" on the side. Based on Hickory's opponents throughout the movie, the fictional town would be somewhere in southwest Indiana. Wabash County is in north central Indiana, approximately 150 miles away.

Quotes:

Coach Norman Dale: I've seen you guys can shoot but there's more to the game than shooting. There's fundamentals and defense.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jane Pauley Show: (2004-10-08)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Big Band Highlight No. 2

That championship season

David Anspaugh's "Hoosiers" is a film about the passion to excel in sports. It's also about a man's comeback to the game after a rough patch in his own life. "Hoosiers" is a timeless film that will look good after years of its release because it speaks to us about how someone can inspire a group of people to do their best, as they become confident in what they are trying to accomplish. The film was lovingly written for the screen by Angelo Pizzo.

Coach Norman Dale gets a reprieve in life when he is hired to coach the Hickory basket ball team in rural Indiana. Basketball is the game where most people in that state take an unusual interest. Their passion for the sport is evident. The new coach is looked with suspicion because he is an outsider and he believes in teamwork. He wants everyone to participate equally, which doesn't make for excitement in the court. The coach doesn't want anyone overshadowing another, that's why he insists in total involvement. Needless to say, his method clashes with the parents and towns people from the start.

The coach's past comes to haunt him when Myra Fleener, one of the teachers, discovers an article that reveals an incident Mr. Dale would like to forget. At the same time, Myra realizes the goodness in the coach's heart by involving the drunken Shooter into helping him with the team.

Gene Hackman has one of the best opportunities of his distinguished career with his portrayal of Coach Dale. He is splendid in the film and he wins us with his decency and by sticking to his principles, which he passes on to the team members. Barbara Hershey is also good as Myra, the young woman who falls in love with Dale. Dennis Hopper plays Shooter, the father of one of the kids in the team who has a drinking problem.

"Hoosiers" is an inspiring film that ought to be seen by young people because of its message about team spirit and how to interact with one another in peace and harmony.