The Longest Yard (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max) (1974 original)

Initial release date: August 30, 1974

Studios: Paramount Pictures/Albert S. Ruddy Production

Tagline: First Down … And Ten Years To Go

It’s Survival of the Fiercest and Funniest

Plot: An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The warden tries to blackmail him into throwing the game, but the convicts have their own ideas and see the game as an opportunity to repay some of the brutality they have endured.

Cast

Burt Reynolds - Paul Crewe

Eddie Albert - Warden Hazen

Ed Lauter - Captain Knauer

Michael Conrad - Nate Scarboro

James Hampton - Caretaker

Harry Caesar - Graville

John Steachman - Pop

Charles Tyner - Unger

Mike Henry - Rassmeusen

Pervis Atkins - Mawabe

Tony Cacciotti - Rotka

Anitra Ford - Melissa

Joe Knapp - Walking Boss

Richard Kiel - Samson

Writer: Tracy Kennan Wynn

Director: Robert Aldrich (The Firsco Kid; The Dirty Dozen)

Rated R (121 min)

The 1974 football classic, ‘The Longest Yard,’ has been regarded as one of the best football films out there. And, this was my first time watching this Burt Reynolds classic.

At the very beginning, Reynolds’ character (Paul Crewe) is really unlikable and has a real memorable car chase with the cops after he steals his girlfriend's car while drunk. For awhile it seems like its a serious drama. But, once Crewe enters prison and ultimately gets a prison football team going, ‘Longest Yard’ starts to get the laughs and features many humorous moments.

The football flick also has a good deal of drama in between the humorous moments and one of the most memorable moments is what happens with the Caretaker character. And, of course, the best part is the game between the guards and cons!

The original ‘The Longest Yard’ can currently be streamed on the HBO Max streaming service. You can also rnt it via YouTube, Google Play, Vudu Fandango and Amazon Prime for $2.99 and AppleTV for $3.99.

*Let me know in the comments below or on my Examiner reviews Facebook page which version of the movie you prefer: the original 1974 version or the 2005 Adam Sandler remake.

FYI - The original ‘The Longest Yard’ is 47 years old!!!!!

Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘The Longest Yard’:

• Sports Illustrated’s Rick Telander wrote in the 10/17/88 issue: After the cast and crew of ‘The Longest Yard’ departed from Georgia State Prison, the inmates played Georgia State Troopers using the equipment left behind by the film crew. The game quickly got out of hand, with inmates pummeling the out of shape troopers for their alleged arrogance.

• Producer Albert S. Ruddy says that his inspiration for the film came from a friend of his who was a promising football player. After a career-ending injury, his life took a downward spiral. He was working a minimum-wage job at a sandwich shop and was being mistreated by his snobbish girlfriend. Ruddy took the scenario from there.

• Some of the actors had previously played professional football. Burt Reynolds played for Florida State University, and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. Mike Henry played for the Steelers and Rams. Joe Knapp played quarterback for the Vikings. Ray Nitschke was a middle linebacker for the Packers. Pervis Atkins played for the Rams, Redskins and Raiders.

• The climatic football game takes up 47 minutes of running time.

• According to producer Albert S. Ruddy in the DVD commentary, in the original script when Paul Crewe goes to recover the game ball at the end of the game, Capt. Knauer was supposed to shoot Crewe in the back because Crewe was attempting to escape. But, when it came time to film the scene, it was decided that the audience would be devastated by the death of Crewe. So the ending was altered as shown to Crewe recovering the game ball and Knauer realizing he wasn’t escaping at the last moment.