Knute Rockne All American (1940)
*** (out of 4)
Fun, winning story from Warner about the life and career of Knute Rockne (Pat O'Brien), the man who will forever be remembered as changing the way football was played while coaching at Notre Dame. If you're looking for a 100% accurate biography on Rockne then you might not want to start here but there's no question that the producers and studio had their hearts in the right place and they've at least delivered a very entertaining look at several highlights in the career of Rockne. I thought the film was highly entertaining from the start as we see Rockne's family coming to America and all the way up until the final day in the life of the legend. The film covers his days of attending college, his work as a chemist, his marriage to Bonnie Skiles (Gale Page) and of course his relationship to George Gipp (Ronald Reagan). The film certainly makes you care about Rockne and especially his fast-talking style, which someone like O'Brien can do with ease. The actor certainly turns in a very good and energetic performance as he has no problems making you believe he knows football and his speeches are flawless. Page is also good in her supporting role as is Donald Crisp and John Litel. Reagan appeared in countless films in his career but it's easy to see why his four-or-so minutes here are his most remembered. The football scenes are all directed extremely well, although there are still moments where stock footage is used. I think the film works best whenever we see Rockne on the field, coaching up his boys and working new plays to change the way the game was played. KNUTE ROCKNE ALL American is very "American" in the way he shows football as a patriotic thing and this too is something that helps carry the film.
*** (out of 4)
Fun, winning story from Warner about the life and career of Knute Rockne (Pat O'Brien), the man who will forever be remembered as changing the way football was played while coaching at Notre Dame. If you're looking for a 100% accurate biography on Rockne then you might not want to start here but there's no question that the producers and studio had their hearts in the right place and they've at least delivered a very entertaining look at several highlights in the career of Rockne. I thought the film was highly entertaining from the start as we see Rockne's family coming to America and all the way up until the final day in the life of the legend. The film covers his days of attending college, his work as a chemist, his marriage to Bonnie Skiles (Gale Page) and of course his relationship to George Gipp (Ronald Reagan). The film certainly makes you care about Rockne and especially his fast-talking style, which someone like O'Brien can do with ease. The actor certainly turns in a very good and energetic performance as he has no problems making you believe he knows football and his speeches are flawless. Page is also good in her supporting role as is Donald Crisp and John Litel. Reagan appeared in countless films in his career but it's easy to see why his four-or-so minutes here are his most remembered. The football scenes are all directed extremely well, although there are still moments where stock footage is used. I think the film works best whenever we see Rockne on the field, coaching up his boys and working new plays to change the way the game was played. KNUTE ROCKNE ALL American is very "American" in the way he shows football as a patriotic thing and this too is something that helps carry the film.