Slap Shot (1977)

A failing ice hockey team finds success with outrageously violent hockey goonery.

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer:

Nancy Dowd

Stars:

Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Strother Martin

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Reggie
Strother Martin	...	McGrath
Michael Ontkean	...	Ned Braden
Jennifer Warren	...	Francine
Lindsay Crouse	...	Lily
Jerry Houser	...	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	...	Upton (as Allan Nicholls)
Brad Sullivan	...	Wanchuk
Stephen Mendillo	...	Jim Ahern
Yvan Ponton	...	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:

hockey violence | hockey fight | ice hockey | cult film | hockey movie | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Chiefs' bus driver was played by Cliff Thompson. Thompson was the bus driver for the Johnstown Jets, the real hockey team that the Chiefs are based on.

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Goofs

The amount of beer in Dunlop's glass changes when he sees his wife come into the bar and then asks her to dance.

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Quotes

Johnny Upton: Jesus, what did the old man trade for these assholes, a used puck bag?

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to John Mitchell and his Johnstown Jets.

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Alternate Versions

The VHS and laserdisc version replaced Maxine Nightingale's recording of "Right Back Where We Started From" on the soundtrack. The DVD and TV versions retain the song.

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Connections

Followed by Slap Shot 3: The Junior League (2008)

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Soundtracks

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
(uncredited)
Written by Leo Sayer and Vini Poncia
Performed by Leo Sayer
Warner Bros. Records

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Slap Shot

Filming Locations:

Main & Bridge Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$28,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,000,000

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