Coach Gore, a ruthless and cynical big-time football coach, neglects his wife in his unrelenting drive to make Calvert College a football power.Coach Gore, a ruthless and cynical big-time football coach, neglects his wife in his unrelenting drive to make Calvert College a football power.Coach Gore, a ruthless and cynical big-time football coach, neglects his wife in his unrelenting drive to make Calvert College a football power.
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
- Matthews
- (as Guinn Williams)
Joe Sawyer
- Holcomb
- (as Joe Sauers)
William Austin
- Finch - Biography Writer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt Dick Powell's initial appearance (11:40 into the film), he is standing in line at the college bursar's office when interrupted by entering students. The second person he shakes hands with is John Wayne in an uncredited five-second cameo appearance; this would be Wayne's last bit part. Later (15:10 into the film, followed by other scenes), in the brief role of assistant coach to Pat O'Brien's title character, is another unbilled player - Ward Bond - who, between 1929 and 1959, appeared with Wayne in 24 films.
- GoofsDialog and an on-screen document establish that the film opens with university trustees listening to a Saturday college football game on November 25, 1931 -- which date was a Wednesday.
- Quotes
College Trustee: A winning football team, gentlemen, that's the answer to our problems.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Dreamscape (1984)
- SoundtracksMen of Calvert
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Irving Kahal
Played and song during the opening credits
Reprised on piano and sung by students
Played and sung at football games
Featured review
This ain't Knute Rockne
Seven years before Pat O'Brien played his most famous part as Knute Rockne he essayed the role of another college coach thereby giving same title to this flick. This guy is not the hero Rockne was. He's not above using a few dirty tactics to win a game. In a way this movie anticipates films like The Program, it's two generations ahead of it's time.
Dick Powell is also in this as a smart football player who realizes he's in college to get an education. Not so Lyle Talbot who has eyes for O'Brien's wife played by Ann Dvorak. He's a ringer that O'Brien's brought in to win games and O'Brien's so preoccupied with winning he doesn't see the moves Talbot's making.
Powell has one song to sing in this film, an item called Lonely Lane by Sammy Fain-Irving Kahal. Nice, but not up to the usual numbers Powell got in those Busby Berkeley extravaganzas.
Fans of John Wayne and Ward Bond will get a chance to see both of them as football players which is what they were when working as prop men at the studios for summer eating money when John Ford spotted both of them. Wayne was doing some B westerns for Warner Brothers at the time and this was one of a few films he appeared in as a supporting player. One of a small handful.
As I said, an interesting film and way ahead of it's time.
Dick Powell is also in this as a smart football player who realizes he's in college to get an education. Not so Lyle Talbot who has eyes for O'Brien's wife played by Ann Dvorak. He's a ringer that O'Brien's brought in to win games and O'Brien's so preoccupied with winning he doesn't see the moves Talbot's making.
Powell has one song to sing in this film, an item called Lonely Lane by Sammy Fain-Irving Kahal. Nice, but not up to the usual numbers Powell got in those Busby Berkeley extravaganzas.
Fans of John Wayne and Ward Bond will get a chance to see both of them as football players which is what they were when working as prop men at the studios for summer eating money when John Ford spotted both of them. Wayne was doing some B westerns for Warner Brothers at the time and this was one of a few films he appeared in as a supporting player. One of a small handful.
As I said, an interesting film and way ahead of it's time.
- bkoganbing
- Apr 22, 2004
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Football Coach
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $245,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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