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North Dallas Forty

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,463
1,152
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
North Dallas Forty (1979)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:00
2 Videos
16 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Sport

A satire of American professional football in which a veteran pass-catcher's individuality and refusal to become part of the team family is bitterly resented by his disciplinarian coaches.A satire of American professional football in which a veteran pass-catcher's individuality and refusal to become part of the team family is bitterly resented by his disciplinarian coaches.A satire of American professional football in which a veteran pass-catcher's individuality and refusal to become part of the team family is bitterly resented by his disciplinarian coaches.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,463
1,152
  • Director
    • Ted Kotcheff
  • Writers
    • Peter Gent(novel)
    • Frank Yablans(screenplay)
    • Ted Kotcheff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nick Nolte
    • Charles Durning
    • Mac Davis
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ted Kotcheff
  • Writers
    • Peter Gent(novel)
    • Frank Yablans(screenplay)
    • Ted Kotcheff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nick Nolte
    • Charles Durning
    • Mac Davis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:00
    Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 5
    Video 29:06
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 5

    Photos16

    Nick Nolte and Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte and Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Bo Svenson, Mac Davis, and John Matuszak in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte and Bo Svenson in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte and Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte, Bo Svenson, and Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Grant Kilpatrick in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte and Savannah Smith Boucher in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Bo Svenson, Mac Davis, and John Matuszak in North Dallas Forty (1979)
    Nick Nolte and Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Phillip Elliottas Phillip Elliott
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Coach Johnsonas Coach Johnson
    Mac Davis
    Mac Davis
    • Seth Maxwellas Seth Maxwell
    Dayle Haddon
    Dayle Haddon
    • Charlotte Caulderas Charlotte Caulder
    Bo Svenson
    Bo Svenson
    • Jo Bob Priddyas Jo Bob Priddy
    John Matuszak
    John Matuszak
    • O. W. Shaddockas O. W. Shaddock
    Steve Forrest
    Steve Forrest
    • Conrad Hunteras Conrad Hunter
    G.D. Spradlin
    G.D. Spradlin
    • B. A. Strothersas B. A. Strothers
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Emmett Hunteras Emmett Hunter
    Savannah Smith Boucher
    Savannah Smith Boucher
    • Joanne Rodneyas Joanne Rodney
    • (as Savannah Smith)
    Marshall Colt
    Marshall Colt
    • Art Hartmanas Art Hartman
    Guich Koock
    • Eddie Randas Eddie Rand
    Deborah Benson
    Deborah Benson
    • Mrs. Hartmanas Mrs. Hartman
    Jim Boeke
    • Stallingsas Stallings
    • (as James F. Boeke)
    John Bottoms
    • Vipas Vip
    Walter Brooke
    Walter Brooke
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Alan Autry
    Alan Autry
    • Balfordas Balford
    • (as Carlos Brown)
    Danny J. Bunz
    • Tony Douglasas Tony Douglas
    • Director
      • Ted Kotcheff
    • Writers
      • Peter Gent(novel) (screenplay)
      • Frank Yablans(screenplay)
      • Ted Kotcheff(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A semi-fictional account of life as a professional (American-style) football player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s. —Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>
    • texas
    • male nudity
    • male frontal nudity
    • male rear nudity
    • pubic hair
    • 23 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "Wait till you see the weird part." [USA Theatrical]
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to writer Peter Gent, the role of Seth Maxwell (played Mac Davis) was actually offered to NFL player 'Don Meredith (I)' who the character is apparently based on.
    • Goofs
      During the climactic game with Chicago, the announcers mentioned several times it was a Championship Game and Dallas lost, their season was over. However, at the end of the movie (a day or so after the game) when Elliott was talking to Maxwell and told him he quit the team, Elliott told Maxwell "Good luck on Sunday."
    • Quotes

      O. W. Shaddock: Every time i call it a business, you call it a game!

      O. W. Shaddock: And every time i call it a game, you call it a business!

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: More American Graffiti, The Amityville Horror, The Muppet Movie, The Wanderers, North Dallas Forty (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Cuba
      Performed by The Gibson Brothers

      Written by Jean Kluger & Daniel Vangarde

      courtesy of Island Records

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Honest and straightforward account of the lives of football players.
    "North Dallas Forty" can rightfully take its place among the greatest of sports based movies. It's an intelligent, unflinching look into the world of professional (American) football, and the assortment of characters that inhabit the world. There's no need for flashy filmmaking here; the drama is strong enough to carry the story, along with some completely authentic performances. People unfamiliar with this movie will note that there's not necessarily a lot of game action; the concentration is on the action taking place off the playing field.

    The pivotal character is Phillip Elliott (Nick Nolte), a weary seen-it-all veteran of the game, a top notch receiver conscious of all the punishment that his body has taken over the years. Phillip knows the game very well, but he's not too interested in playing a different sort of game, with the hard-driving coaches (G.D. Spradlin and Charles Durning) and the greedy team owner (Steve Forrest). Fortunately, he does have one good friend: star quarterback Seth Maxwell (singer Mac Davis).

    This is scripted by director Ted Kotcheff ("First Blood"), producer Frank Yablans, and author Peter Gent, who wrote the semi-fictional novel on which the movie is based. Based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s, it takes its time telling the story, contrasting the more philosophical and low key nature of Phillip with gung-ho defensive players like O.W. Shaddock (real life football star John Matuszak) and Jo Bob Priddy (amusing live wire Bo Svenson). We feel completely sympathetic towards Phillip, and can also practically feel the pain that he experiences after every game. There are several key emotional scenes, especially towards the end.

    Nolte is excellent in the lead role, and as one can see, the supporting cast is full of rock solid actors (also among them is Dabney Coleman as Forrests' younger brother). Nolte and Davis have very fine chemistry and one can buy them as friends. Dayle Haddon, as a love interest for Nolte, isn't terribly effective because she comes off as just too aloof.

    Compelling material, even for people who aren't necessarily football fans.

    Eight out of 10.
    helpful•6
    1
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Sep 17, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 3, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Bullen von Dallas
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Frank Yablans Presentations
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Regina Associates
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,079,312
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,079,312
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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