Saturday's Hero

When movies about sports are thought of, no masterpiece comes to mind. But don't ignore completely this flick about college football and the often nasty business behind it. Lee Garmes' cinematography, for a start, is outstanding. A flat, but sobering and amusing movie, this approach to college sports' dark side captures John Derek in his new life. He's about to betray his acquired values. As always in Hollywood sports stories, the pattern is as follows: young man joins the fray, succeeds, and then begins to question his traditional values. There are plenty of subplots which flow well and keep the interest. It's when Aldo Ray says to Derek "this IS a racket! Did you think the fans got in here for free?" that you realize you are in 2019 and therefore wondering how global those rackets have really become. Aren't players yet recruited and used not exactly for the sake of football?

I saw this film in 1951 when I was in high school. It was really depressing to some extent. It showed how the players were recruited and used only for the sake of football. I can somewhat remember how Steve was injured and how they gerry rigged a shoulder pad so he could play while injured. I also remember how he was rather a bright student in the class room. I only wish I could purchase the DVD or the VHS of this movie. I am not sure if it has ever been put out in that format. I think the movie when seen will seem like it just happened yesterday in that the situation in college football hasn't changed much over the last fifty years.

John Derek had a supporting role as a football player role in Columbia's earlier production All the King's Men. He heads back on to the field for more action in this highly engaging coming- of-age drama. He plays a young man caught up in a new life, to the point that he nearly betrays his values.

If that is not enough to sustain interest, there are plenty of subplots that just might. First, there are the scenes of the team, and the scenes with the literature professor (nicely played by Alexander Knox). Next, our star athlete visits his hometown. Then, there is a storyline about a friend who is being expelled from school. Indeed, the character and the audience get pulled in all sorts of directions, but John Derek's calm, soulful presence makes it enjoyable to watch.

Other strong performances bolster the production. Sidney Blackmer is on hand as the somewhat mercurial T.C. McCabe, and Aldo Ray (billed as Aldo DaRe) appears as a team member. The love interest is played by Donna Reed, who in real life is five years older than John Derek. At times, Miss Reed seems almost too mature for her role and certainly too mature for her costar. However, a great many elements coalesce to make Saturday's Hero a decent motion picture.

This movie was shown on a cable film channel a few years back. Most films made during this time period that dealt with sports either were humorous or light hearted with a little bit of drama thrown in. Saturday's Hero looks at a local high school football star played by John Derek who comes somewhat from the wrong side of the tracks so to speak. The local college successfully recruits him to play for them on a scholarship. He accepts their offer and begins playing and the team soars with him as its star then something happens which changes everything.

Although the film came out in 1951 it surprisingly is not dated in its subject matter. When movies about football are thought of The Longest Yard, M*A*S*H, SemiTough, North Dallas Forty, Knute Rockne All American, The Program, All the Right Moves, Everybody's All American are some which come to mind. Don't however over look this early 50's film about college football and the sometimes-nasty business behind it.

I just watched this film on AMC on a rare Tuesday off of work. I was surprised at how good it was. What struck me first was the cinematography, outstanding! Lee Garmes really understood how to frame a football game and uses some innovative mobile camera work to take you right into the action. His camera angles are very similar to ones you see covering football today and I wonder if he was a pioneer in this effort.

The story flowed well and kept you interested. It's somewhat disheartening that the underlying thread in the story (the dark (money)side of big time college football) is still so relevant. When Aldo Ray's character say's to John Derek's character "...do you think the fans get in for free?, It's a racket..." and you consider it is 1951 you wonder at how far we have really come.