What an inspiring movie this biography is! Some reviewers make think that it is out of date or corny or contrived, but it is better than those implications. For this entertaining film is all about the "heritage of mind and body
to build the character of man." This movie sincerely focuses on one who is on a mission of honest success. Knute Rockne (warmly played by the flawless Pat O'Brien) may have just been a football coach, but what an iconic motivator he was! And, although not perfect, what a great man he was! He was Vince Lombardi before Lombardi. An 1890's immigrant to the USA, Rockne (1888-1931) had to work in a Chicago post office to earn enough money to enter Notre Dame University at an age when most young folks graduate (age 22 in 1910). He played football, and helped innovate the forward pass (1913). After graduation (1914) Rockne became a Chemistry (pharmacy) laboratory assistant and part-time football coach. Before long, his career became totally devoted to football coaching. With the talented George Gipp at halfback, Rockne won his first national championship (1919). With the "Four Horsemen" in the backfield, Rockne won his second national crown (1924). The coach fought hard to keep the college game clean of gamblers and scandal, and thought it unthinkable that any school should "fix it" for an athlete to get by in class. Rockne wanted his players to go to class and learn to make something of themselves. During a congressional hearing in the 1920s Rockne stated that sports built character. Americans took out their aggression in sports, unlike the Europeans, who had been racked with "wars and revolutions for centuries" (and this was before World War II!). Sports, insisted Rockne, are the antidote and the safer outlet.
So many wonderful scenes abound, besides those inspirational locker-room speeches that still resonate. There are the exciting football plays, both vintage and those created for the movie. Coach Rockne takes his football players to a Rockette-type of show, from which he devises – scratches out – new football plays on a sheet of paper. The new style ("The Backfield Shift") merely wins the Fighting Irish another national title. At age 42 Coach had phlebitis, and so had to manage the field game from a cart under blankets or from a wheelchair. Famous contemporary coaches like Pop Warner and Amos Alonzo Stagg have brief on-screen appearances. Rockne's mentor, the faithful and humanitarian Catholic priest Father Callahan, is splendidly played by Donald Crisp.
Feel the sense of impending doom, when the fateful airplane takes off from Kansas City bound for California on 31 March 1931. Rockne's wife Bonnie feels a sudden cold chill as she enjoys the warm sun on a Florida beach. Tragedy strikes as the plane sadly crashes down in a Kansas pasture. Afterward, what can be more moving or fitting than the Latin funeral rite for the fallen hero?
For years this eastern writer has watched this entire movie just to confirm whether the long-excised George Gipp scenes (well-played by Ronald Reagan) had been restored ("Win one for the Gipper."). A while back the dream was realized. And the result is that the movie has added another star (from 8 to 9). By the way, Rockne's winning percentage was an astounding .881! His teams lost only 12 games in his entire 13-year college coaching career (1918-1930). He lost eight of his games between 1925 and 1928. Putting it another way, Rockne lost just four games between 1918 and 1924 (seven years), and never lost after 1928! There are no asterisks, no arguments, or victorious games removed for dubious reasons.
In sum, it does not matter if you root for Penn State, Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, or Southern Cal. It does not matter what your religion or heritage is. Just see this movie (more than once) and enjoy it! And if you are a fan of Notre Dame, be stirred by the School Fight Song ("Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame ")!
So many wonderful scenes abound, besides those inspirational locker-room speeches that still resonate. There are the exciting football plays, both vintage and those created for the movie. Coach Rockne takes his football players to a Rockette-type of show, from which he devises – scratches out – new football plays on a sheet of paper. The new style ("The Backfield Shift") merely wins the Fighting Irish another national title. At age 42 Coach had phlebitis, and so had to manage the field game from a cart under blankets or from a wheelchair. Famous contemporary coaches like Pop Warner and Amos Alonzo Stagg have brief on-screen appearances. Rockne's mentor, the faithful and humanitarian Catholic priest Father Callahan, is splendidly played by Donald Crisp.
Feel the sense of impending doom, when the fateful airplane takes off from Kansas City bound for California on 31 March 1931. Rockne's wife Bonnie feels a sudden cold chill as she enjoys the warm sun on a Florida beach. Tragedy strikes as the plane sadly crashes down in a Kansas pasture. Afterward, what can be more moving or fitting than the Latin funeral rite for the fallen hero?
For years this eastern writer has watched this entire movie just to confirm whether the long-excised George Gipp scenes (well-played by Ronald Reagan) had been restored ("Win one for the Gipper."). A while back the dream was realized. And the result is that the movie has added another star (from 8 to 9). By the way, Rockne's winning percentage was an astounding .881! His teams lost only 12 games in his entire 13-year college coaching career (1918-1930). He lost eight of his games between 1925 and 1928. Putting it another way, Rockne lost just four games between 1918 and 1924 (seven years), and never lost after 1928! There are no asterisks, no arguments, or victorious games removed for dubious reasons.
In sum, it does not matter if you root for Penn State, Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, or Southern Cal. It does not matter what your religion or heritage is. Just see this movie (more than once) and enjoy it! And if you are a fan of Notre Dame, be stirred by the School Fight Song ("Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame ")!