North Dallas Forty (1979)

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.

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

Peter Gent (novel), Frank Yablans (screenplay)

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Charles Durning, Mac Davis

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Phillip Elliott
Mac Davis	...	Seth Maxwell
Charles Durning	...	Coach Johnson
Dayle Haddon	...	Charlotte Caulder
Bo Svenson	...	Jo Bob Priddy
John Matuszak	...	O. W. Shaddock
Steve Forrest	...	Conrad Hunter
G.D. Spradlin	...	B. A. Strothers
Dabney Coleman	...	Emmett Hunter
Savannah Smith Boucher	...	Joanne Rodney (as Savannah Smith)
Marshall Colt	...	Art Hartman
Guich Koock	...	Eddie Rand
Deborah Benson	...	Mrs. Hartman
Jim Boeke	...	Stallings (as James F. Boeke)
John Bottoms	...	Vip

Storyline

A semi-fictional account of life as a professional (American-style) football player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | male nudity | male frontal nudity | male rear nudity | pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

They pay you and they pay you well. On one condition. You play the game their way, even if you're forced to break every bone in your body. [UK Theatrical]

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

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.

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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."

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Quotes

Coach Johnson: This is national TV. So don't pick your noses or scratch your nuts.

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Connections

Referenced in Mike & Mike: Episode dated 4 November 2016 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Good Times
Performed by Chic
Written by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
courtesy of Atlantic Records

User Reviews

This is a biting and uproarious look at the world of pro football.

North Dallas Forty rates as one of the all-time best sports movies ever made and is probably the best football film ever. Peter Gent's excellent novel was essentially a roman a clef about the Dallas Cowboys --America's Team-- of the '60s and 70's. And this movie sticks very close the book only dropping the novel's bloodbath ending. Nick Nolte gives one of his best performances as a world weary receiver facing the end of his playing days and still not wanting to become a full-fledged adult. Mac Davis is wonderfully wise cracking as the quarterback and leader of the team (basically he playing the real Don Meredith). G.D. Spradlin is memorably uptight and tight-jawed as the head coach. The rest of the cast fills out this colorful world of a raucous pro football team very well. It is an antic filled movie that tells a very dark tale of rich owners and rich people treating anybody beneath them like cattle. When one of the cattle happens to be smarter then the rest of the herd and decides to quit playing dumb --Nolte's character-- then that animal is turned away from the herd and is no longer allowed to play anymore reindeer games (if I may mix metaphors). The movie is played broadly but it cynical bite elevates it to a a much higher status as a serious work. Kudos to Ted Kotcheff for his acute direction.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

North Dallas Forty

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$26,079,312

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,079,312

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frank Yablans Presentations, Paramount Pictures, Regina Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1