Number One

During the life of Charlton Heston, he often selected to personify men who lived larger than life. Yet, for all of his superior talent, he often said he liked to portray ordinary men in ordinary lives. One exceptional film was 'Will Penny.' Here is another. The movie is called " Number One. " In this role he plays NFL football Quarterback, Ron Catlan. For several years he has been the mainstay player for the New Orleans Saints and has proved to be an exceptional individual. Years ago, he was selected to be the Quarterback and has taken the team to a number of play offs and a Superbowl. During the up-ward climb, men have come to respect and admire him, in addition he has garnered the praise and accolades of both his fans and his team mates. Indeed, everywhere he is seen, both professional men and adoring women seek him out. But that was then, now-a-days, he is being reminded by his coach (John Randolph) that time is catching up to him. Former team players like Richie Fowler (Bruce Dern) who are successful businessmen, advise him to quit football soon and market his name to an advantage. Yet, 'Cat' feels his present career can last several more years and doesn't want forced retirement. Hoping for the best, he plays as if his skill will last beyond his present ability. Roy Jenson makes a brief appearance. ****

Charlton Heston's second of three films with director Tom Gries was this film set in the world of pro football. Heston plays a quarterback who's seen his best days, but just wants to hear the roar of the crowd. I can't think of another reason he could possibly have to stay.

Later on his career Heston played in a really great film about pro football, Any Given Sunday where he played the Commissioner of the game. Number One is seen from a different angle, that of the player who sees nothing out there for him when he's through hence he keeps going. Heston has not even heard too many cheers lately, in fact in a bad performance as the film opens he gets quite a few boos. Sports fans can be mighty fickle.

Football has a caste system more than any other team sports. The glamor guys are the backfield and the line are the grunts whose job it is to protect the glamorous ones who score the points. Two other portrayals of aging football players that of Roy Jenson and Bruce Dern. Jenson has one scene with Heston where he hits him up for a touch after a game and briefly and movingly describes his rather bitter life after the career was over.

Dern is different. As he puts it so eloquently he'd play a game on Sunday and he'd hurt through Tuesday. When he started hurting through Saturday it was time to quit. Smart man, as a running back and a glamor guy buy definition he's used his celebrity to build a nice profitable automobile leasing business and is looking to diversify. Next to Heston I liked him best in the film.

Dern typifies something that Stan Musial said about baseball. He knew when to quit when just getting into the uniform and playing a kid's game for lots of money ceased to be fun. Heston should have heeded his and Dern's advice.

A couple of women in Heston's life are wife Jessica Walter and football groupie Diana Muldaur. Walter has a very successful fashion designing business and hangs around with a crowd that Heston hates. It's the whole macho thing with Heston, but he also envies the fact they and the wife are making a success of something they love and are talented in.

Number One ranks up there with other great football films like the aforementioned Any Given Sunday. Heston paid great tribute to Tom Gries as a great director in his memoirs. His three films with Heston, Will Penny, Number One, and The Hawaiians give testimony to that.

Some have argued that Heston is not convincing as an NFL quarterback. I disagree. He was six feet three and 200-odd pounds, which is more than large enough, especially during the 1960s. Moreover, Heston worked out with the NFL players on set and even suffered a cracked rib, courtesy of Doug Atkins. AND CH was in his mid-40s.

No, I believe the problem with "Number One" is the screenplay. Catlan (have also seen it spelled as "Catlin") isn't an especially sympathetic character; in fact, he's rather a jerk. He leaves a lot to be desired regarding education and culture. His LIFE has been the NFL.

Now, Heston gets all those qualities, but doesn't suggest anything more admirable. Although in one of the late scenes, after Cat has committed adultery with Diana Muldaur (many men WOULD have done so with DM at her sexiest, as here; but I digress:)), he talks about his life and career with his long-suffering spouse (the excellent Jessica Walter). Here he is vulnerable, and sympathetic. Would that there were more such moments in the film.

But "Number One" remains worth watching. If you need a reason, well, it is the first film to depict at least adequately what professional American football is truly like. "Brian's Song," "North Dallas Forty," "Semi-Tough," etc. came later--

Chuck Heston is not a football star, but an actor playing one. I laugh at the comments made by the other comments here; expecting Chuck to play like a pro. That's why they call it acting.

Truthfully, football is only a backdrop for a story about a faded legend trying to hold on to his career by the skin of his teeth. It's an interesting tale of all of us; facing the reality of old age.

Being that this was filmed in the late 1960s, it has a real 60s flair to it, which to me makes it kind of neat. I liked the "surprise" ending.

Number One is not the greatest movie ever made, but it is a decent entertaining flick.

Mr. Heston and director Tom Gries teamed up in the late 60s and early 70s to make three woefully under-appreciated movies. One of those is Number One.

This one happens to be the lowest rated of the three here on IMDb. I'm shocked that its rating is a lowly 5.6. I believe this gem deserves greater recognition.

The movie is about a once great quarterback who's a few years past his prime. The movie itself isn't really about football. As in Will Penny with the Western setting, football is the backdrop for a character study which goes much deeper.

I believe this movie is especially potent today in the aftermath of the recession which saw a lot of older people in this country lose their jobs through no fault of their own. They have to ask themselves, what was it all for? And... what do I do now? Mr. Heston plays Ron "Cat" Catlan, the aforementioned quarterback. His status with the New Orleans Saints seems to be in question. His wife is too busy for him. An exotic new woman isn't the answer but at least she listens to him.

This movie explores the questions we'll all ask ourselves one day if we haven't already, and does so admirably.