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
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:

Certain Language May Be Too Strong For Children

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Allan F. Nicholls wore a helmet so he would not be mistaken for Jerry Houser, since they both had curly brown hair. In addition, Nicholls decided to grow a Fu Man Chu Mustache in honor of his idol, then Montreal Canadiens' defenseman Larry Robinson (Robinson wore that style mustache at that time).

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Goofs

During the opening hockey game sequence, when the drunk player on the opposing team gets checked into the boards, the players on the Chiefs bench laugh at him. There is one player on the Chiefs bench though who never appears in the movie again, and appears only for that one single shot in the film.

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Quotes

Jack Hanson: [to Andre "Poodle" Lussier] Hi. You know Toe Blake? No?

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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

Referenced in The Man for the Part (2016)

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Soundtracks

The Stripper
(uncredited)
Music by David Rose
(c) David Rose Publishing Co.
Warner/Chappell Limited

User Reviews

Raunchy, Rowdy, Profane, and Sidesplitting!!

This one belongs on the list of the greatest sports comedies ever made. The humor (and the language) is some of the saltiest you'll hear in a movie but it doesn't seem excessive at all. This tale of a minor-league hockey team having one last go at greatness is boisterous and bruisingly funny, even if you don't care for the sport itself. As the aging captain of the team who's constantly amazed at the crazy happenings around him , Newman is at his roguish, charming best. Rent it with "The Longest Yard" for a perfect double-bill. A four-star **** classic.

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