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:

ice hockey | cult film | hockey violence | hockey fight | nerds | 

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Taglines:

Slap Shot out slaps... out swears... out laughs...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

R

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The goalie mask worn by goaltender Denis Lemieux (Yvon Barette) is the same mask worn by then Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Parent.

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Goofs

During the game when Dunlop learns the team is folding, the newly acquired Hanson brothers are missing from the bench, even though they were dressed and ready in the locker room beforehand. They also cannot be on the ice, as Dunlop has not yet allowed them to play.

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Quotes

[afterthe Hansons join the team]
Johnny Upton: They're fuckin' horrible-lookin'.

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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

References Deep Throat (1972)

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Soundtracks

A Little Bit South of Saskatoon
Performed by Sonny James
Columbia Records
Written by Sonny James (uncredited)

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.