Before there was a "Chariots of Fire" or a film that dealt with the pressures of winning for oneself, there was this little gem of a film. "Our Winning Season" is a film about David Wakefield (portrayed well by little known Scott Jacoby) who is not quite the star runner of Griffin High School. He has his friends who
encourage him (Played by Randy Hermann and a then unknown Dennis Quaid)
and his sister and her boyfriend (Jan Smithers and Joe Penny) who face
difficulties with the Vietnam war. Then you have a cast of remarkable youngsters (including a very energetic and sexy P.J. Soles) who support David in his final hour of running. Taking place in the sixties, if you want to make a film that is both coming of age and psychological in the eyes of young male adolescents, this is the way to do it. The star of this film is a runner, which alot of people can relate to. As I said, this came before "Chariots of Fire" so it is definitely worth a look. Produced by big man Samuel Z. Arkoff, and Joe Roth, and released by
American International Pictures, the same company that released Wes Craven's
"Last House on the Left", and directed by future acclaimed director Joseph
Ruben, this film was made to look good, and does on several levels. The only
stars on this film that ever made it into any bigger than this were Dennis Quaid and P.J. Soles(whom were both married after this, as I am told.) Film with this subject matter have since grown very banal, and tiring, and don't sell anymore. This film was one of the first, and is the most unknown of the bunch. Ensemble cast film is hard driving and very dramatic, with some comic touches to be seen. And of course, anyone who has ever wanted to win for themselves will get the
message of this one. Good music by Charles Fox, and cinematography by
Steven M. Katz. 7.5/10
