The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

I was actually an extra in this movie, one of the worst sports movies ever made. I only did one day's worth of work and it was one of the most boring things I've ever experienced. I'm in the scene where someone supposedly puts helium in the basketballs and they float to the top of the Civic Arena. A crane (out of camera range) had thin wires attached to the balls. The director took about 10 takes of the scene. I thought I would lose my mind, trying to act surprised every time the balls "floated." When I saw the film I was shocked at how little screen time the shot got, but not as shocked at how bad the whole movie was. With a cast as good as it has you'd think they could save it, but the script was so bad even the great Stockard Channing couldn't help!

The movie is goofy and campy with a bad script but I liked it. When I first saw this on TV I was picking out all the NBA stars from the various teams. This was filmed the year before Magic joined the Lakers who still had a few of their old castoffs like Hudson and Ford. A young Mychal Thompson knocks "Set Shot" into the scorers table.

Another commented on the short shorts players wore. Yes, this is how they wore them in those days. Unlike these ugly long skirts Michael Jordan brought into the league that players now wear.

The thing that bugs me most about this and other movies where a sport is being played is why the hell is the play-by-play guy heard throughout the arena????? I HATE when they do this. The sports stadium announcer only announces lineups, fouls, and substitutions - HE DOES NOT ANNOUNCE PLAYER ANALYSIS, STRATEGIES OR PERSONAL POINTS OF VIEW TO THE CROWD OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS!!!!

I first saw this film on HBO in the Spring of 1981, and watched it every time it was on, I loved it. When I bought my first VCR in 1984, it was one of the first films I wanted to get on tape, finally in the end of 1984 it was on regular TV, so at least i got it in some kind of way (even though it was edited and with commercials). In 1988 Cinemax finally showed it uncut so I got it that way. Finally I bought the commercial release in 1997 on Warner Home video. However the Home Video version has several lines edited in it, or from it, so I was very disappointed, luckily I kept my Cinemax version (it has one thing edited in it).All it was, was a announcer voice over introducing the Sylvers. (see below)

Regarding the Soundtrack: Yes there is a vinyl ST, I searched for it for 22 years, and finally found it in January of 2003, of all places, a used record store six blocks away from my apartment. The ST is awesome and was my Holy Grail for awhile.

Here's the examples of the edits: Cinemax version: Edited out is the Voice over announcing: "Here are the SYLVERS". The scene is there but the voice over is missing, it is on the Home Video version though.

HV version: Here are a list of edits:

1. The two girls that show up in the arena, checking out the NEW team, mention that with a name like Bullet he better know how to shoot!" with a suggestive body movement

2. When Jonathon Winters (as the mean brother) is getting massaged and mimicking his brother he mentions about he can "just see his brother now taking a big "Dump" in his diapers"

3. When the whole NEW team is gathered in the locker room being introduced to each other. Running Hawk tells Harry that "with a face like yours, you ought to take a tip from the Lone Ranger and wear a mask" The line is their but he's also making a lewd gesture as he's saying it, that's what's cut.

4. When Luscious Tucker is being interviewed in the locker room (after joining LA), he says he's gonna stick on Moses Guthrie like "Stink on Sh**"

5. When Moses Guthrie (Erving) is rallying his team at the end with a pep talk, his dialog is edited out saying "Taking sh***y bounce after sh***y bounce", and that's what I'm going to take back out with me on the GD court" These are just five examples, it's been awhile but I'm sure there's more.

I don't know why these are edited, the movie was already PG, and I've seen a lot worse.

Julius Erving in those shorts is enough to make be watch this movie over and over again. Plus, its in Pittsburgh, so you cant go wrong there. Plus, its about basketball in the seventies. But come on, JUST LOOK AT THOSE SHORTS

I was also a teenage extra when this film was shooting. However, at 14 I was memorized by all the star fested personalities. I along with two other teens lucked up and got a speaking part that ran two days. My part is right after the scene where the Pisces win the game, Dr. J comes out of the arena, three female fans are waiting, and two ask for his autograph, I say I will settle for a kiss. How lame. Wow, And yes the director took many takes to choose from before the scene ended.

However, I remember having lunch on the set, I had choice between roast duck or swordfish, I choose the duck. That's when I meet Debbie Allen (Ola) who was very nice and helpful she had such a beautiful spirit about her. Jack Kehoe (Set shot) was also kind to me on the set. I say that because as a 14-year-old impressionable girl these two people showed sincere genuine kindness. Now, not all the people on the set were nice, so I want to acknowledge those that were, it meant so much to me at the time. I never will forget you or the director. I appreciated his vision, which went far past the movie. I believe by including the extras, he exposed young people to something that would have only remained a dream.

In addition, the scenery of our fair city shot both during the day and the night was just beautiful. Even now watching the movie, someone yell's that's our city bridge, or I've been on that basketball court. The city looked beautiful on the big screen.

YES, the movie was a FLOP but my experience was not! My kids still get a kick out of seeing their mom as a teenager on National TV.

Sam