North Dallas Forty (1979)

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

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 | football | football movie | sports team | reference to sigmund freud | 

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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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Destino de un rebelde

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 (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Seth Maxwell (Mac Davis) was allegedly based on quarterback Don Meredith (Meredith was even offered the role); B. A. Strothers (G.D. Spradlin) on Tom Landry, and Phillip Elliott (Nick Nolte) on wide receiver Peter Gent.

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Goofs

There are several lip-synch problems throughout, probably due to re-dubbing lines.

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Quotes

Jo Bob: I've never seen titties like yours. Could I show your titties to my friend O.W.?

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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

My Favorite Sports Movie

When this movie first came out (late 70's), I was still in high school and very naive as to the behind the scenes machinations of professional football. This movie was ahead of its time in its depiction since no other movie on professional football had ventured into this area exposing drug use, both off the field casual usage and to get players on the field, and indifference of ownership and coaching staff to players feelings and thoughts.

Nick Nolte was exceptional as Phil Elliot, the wide receiver whose character was based on Pete Gent, a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys who authored the book (North Dallas Forty) the movie was based on. He is a free spirit with little regard for authority but undoubtedly cares about his performance on the field. He cannot play by the rules because he doesn't make them. Mac Davis was great as quarterback Seth Maxwell, the jaded athlete who knows how to "bend" the rules to remain in good standing with the team.

Supporting cast, especially GD Spradlin as the coach modeled after Dallas Cowboys coaching genius Tom Landry, was excellent. If you have 2 hrs and want to catch a well-acted, well-written movie on the reality of professional football, then catch this flick. It preceded such films and Stone's Any Given Sunday, but its content is very relevant to football 30 years later.