Miracle on Ice (1981)

A fact-based story of how the U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid, New York Winter Olympics, then went on to win the gold medal.

Director:

Steven Hilliard Stern

Writer:

Lionel Chetwynd

Stars:

Karl Malden, Andrew Stevens, Steve Guttenberg

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karl Malden	...	Herb Brooks
Andrew Stevens	...	Mike Eruzione
Steve Guttenberg	...	Jim Craig
Jerry Houser	...	Les Auge
Allan Miller	...	Kaminsky
Robert F. Lyons	...	Murray
Robert Pierce	...	Craig Patrick
Michael Cavanaugh	...	George
Lucinda Dooling	...	Donna
Jessica Walter	...	Pat Brooks
Eugene Roche	...	Don Craig
Thomas Babson	...	Steve Thompson
Jack Blessing	...	Mark Pavelich
Michael Cummings	...	Mark Johnson
Rick Dano	...	Dave Silk (as Richard Dano)

Storyline

A fact-based story of how the U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid, New York Winter Olympics, then went on to win the gold medal.

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Plot Keywords:

olympics | hockey movie | ice hockey | based on true story | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miracle on Ice

Filming Locations:

Culver Ice Arena - 4545 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Television, Moonlight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This story was retold in Disney's Miracle (2004), starring Kurt Russell.

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Goofs

Near the end of the film, during the awarding of the gold medals to the U.S. team, the team members all sing the National Anthem. However, Mike Eruzione (Andrew Stevens) clearly sings "...for the land of the free", instead of the correct lyric: "o'er the land of the free".

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Connections

References Slap Shot (1977)

User Reviews

This movie documents one of the greatest events in sports history.

Like the previous reviewer I was 10 years old when the US Hockey Team won the gold. I remember Al Michaels yelling "Do you believe in Miracles" and my family and I glued in front of the TV set for the whole series (just like they showed in the film).

This movie (as well as the event itself) was very sentimental/inspirational to me. Jim Craig was my main inspiration and I started playing hockey in 1981 in Northern Virginia. Hockey was just not big there (actually true in most of the US) until the US won the gold. I told my parents I wanted to be just like Jim Craig. At this point my dad and I were busy destroying the family room playing floor hockey and reinacting the series and breaking my moms valuables.

Steve Guttenberg did a great job portraying the star goaltender, I remember him counting the rows looking for his father and being wrapped in the American flag.

I had never known how little time there is to pull together an Olympic hockey team! I used to pop in this movie whenever I needed a charge during my hockey season. I need to transfer it from my betamax tape (hopefully I can still find it).

One year going up north to hockey school, my parents and I visited Lake Placid in the mid 80s and we asked the security guy to let us see the rink, told him the story and he obliged. That was a real thrill. Later I had the opportunity to try out for the 1988 Olympic Hockey team . I did make it past the first regional cut(then was just outclassed) but was just happy to have a shot at the dream!

Lastly I want to say how disappointed I am that the Olympics are no longer an Amateur event, that was what made this so special. They beat the Russians, which was unheard of. The way the last US Hockey Team acted in Japan was an embarrassment to our country, they need to watch this movie to remember what the spirit of the Olympics are all about! I truly applaud the womens team which seemed to bring back that spirit when they won.

I was hoping they'd do a 20 year anniversary of it and re-release the movie on video/DVD.