The Program (1993)

Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently, some turn to drinking, others to drugs, and some to studying.

Director:

David S. Ward

Writers:

David S. Ward, Aaron Latham

Stars:

James Caan, Halle Berry, Omar Epps

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Caan	...	Sam Winters
Halle Berry	...	Autumn Haley
Omar Epps	...	Darnell Jefferson
Craig Sheffer	...	Joe Kane
Kristy Swanson	...	Camille Shafer
Abraham Benrubi	...	Bud-Lite Kaminski
Duane Davis	...	Alvin Mack
Jon Pennell	...	Bobby Collins (as Jon Maynard Pennell)
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Louanne (as Joey Adams)
J.C. Quinn	...	Joe's Father
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Steve Lattimer
Leon Pridgen	...	Ray Griffen (as J. Leon Pridgen II)
Michael Flippo	...	Coach Humes (as Mike Flippo)
Jeff Portell	...	Reporter #1
Ernest Dixon	...	Coach Clayton

Storyline

A college football coach is told by his bosses that unless they do better this season it could be his last. To bolster the team he recruits a talented tail back. A female student is assigned to help him assimilate with college life and that includes doing his studies because he spent his whole life just playing football. And he finds himself attracted to her and she already has a boyfriend who is also on the team but he might be more concern about losing his position than losing her to him. And the coach has to deal with his other players' situations like the team's quarterback who deals with his father being distant by drinking and it eventually gets him in trouble. And one of the team's defensive players is obviously using steroids but passes the drug tests.

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Plot Keywords:

motorcycle | football recruiter | fictional university | heisman trophy | football quarterback | 

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Taglines:

From Different Worlds They Come To Prove Themselves In The Gritty World Of College Football.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

24 September 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Challenge - Die Herausforderung

Filming Locations:

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$23,004,026

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures,The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kristy Swanson dyed her hair from the normal blonde color she normally has.

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Goofs

Lattimer is seen getting a urine transfusion before the final game so he can pass his steroid test as it has been given by the coach. This is a medically impossible procedure to perform, especially from a med student who may not know what he or she is doing.

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Quotes

Coach Winters: Alright, this is Mississippi State's offensive set. Second and two on our own 24, what defensive set might we call?
Alvin Mack: Eagle Zipper Hero, unless the setback shifts into the I.
Coach Winters: Good
[clicks to next slide]
Coach Winters: , third and seven?
Alvin Mack: Oakie Thunder Lion.
Coach Winters: What's your assignment?
Alvin Mack: Kill the quarterback.
Coach Winters: [clicks to next slide]
Alvin Mack: Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies.
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Some scenes show college students lying in a street in the middle of car traffic as a way to prove their courage. A few weeks after the film's release, the studio recalled all copies and deleted this sequence from the picture in response to public outrage, because a few teenagers had been injured or killed imitating this deadly game.

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Connections

Features SportsCenter (1979)

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Soundtracks

Independent
Written by Phil Rind
Performed by Sacred Reich
Courtesy of Hollywood Records

User Reviews

Great Football Film.

Great college football film. The cast clicked and the direction was outstanding. This film takes you behind the scenes as to what goes on in College Football. The politics, the drugs, the drinking, the pressure involved, and just the work ethic and what it takes to be a good Football team. Great value as far as the locations, the football games seemed so real, with the crowds, very convincing movie. I loved it all the way around. If people dislike this movie, it is probably due to wishing their doing better things with their lives. I agree with a comment, this is one of the best football films of the 90's. Without a doubt. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Great performances by Caan, Berry, Epps, and most of the others.