Slap Shot (1977)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writer:

Nancy Dowd (writer)

Release Date:

25 February 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Slap Shot out slaps... out swears... out laughs...

Plot:

A failing ice hockey team finds success using constant fighting and violence during games.

Plot Keywords:

Ice Hockey | Booster Club | Team Bus | Violence | Small Town

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Reggie 'Reg' Dunlop
Strother Martin	...	Joe McGrath
Michael Ontkean	...	Ned Braden
Jennifer Warren	...	Francine Dunlop
Lindsay Crouse	...	Lily Braden
Jerry Houser	...	Dave 'Killer' Carlson
Andrew Duncan	...	Jim Carr
Jeff Carlson	...	Jeff Hanson
Steve Carlson	...	Steve Hanson
David Hanson	...	Jack Hanson
Yvon Barrette	...	Denis Lemieux
Allan F. Nicholls	...	Johnny Upton (as Allan Nicholls)
Brad Sullivan	...	Morris 'Mo' Wanchuk
Stephen Mendillo	...	Jim Ahern
Yvan Ponton	...	Jean-Guy Drouin
Matthew Cowles	...	Charlie Kischel
Kathryn Walker	...	Anita McCambridge
Melinda Dillon	...	Suzanne Hanrahan
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Dickie Dunn
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Shirley Upton
Paul D'Amato	...	Tim 'Dr. Hook' McCracken
Ronald L. Docken	...	Yvon Lebrun
Guido Tenesi	...	Billy Charlebois
Jean Rosario Tetreault	...	Andre Bergeron
Christopher Murney	...	Tommy Hanrahan
Myron Odegaard	...	Final Game Referee
Ned Dowd	...	Ogie Ogilthorpe
Gracie Head	...	Pam
Nancy Dowd	...	Andrea (as Nancy N. Dowd)
Barbara L. Shorts	...	Bluebird
Larry Block	...	Peterboro Referee
Paul Dooley	...	Hyannisport Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janet Arters	...	Sparkle Twin (uncredited)
Louise Arters	...	Sparkle Twin (uncredited)
Blake Ball	...	Gilmore Tuttle (uncredited)
Reg Bechtold	...	Hockey Player (uncredited)
Danny Belisle	...	Syracuse Bulldog Player (uncredited)
Mark Bousquet	...	Andre 'Poodle' Lussier (uncredited)
Allison Caine	...	Additional Voice (voice) (uncredited)
Stephen Dowling	...	Referee (uncredited)
Woody Espy	...	The Stick Boy (uncredited)
Lucy Lee Flippin	...	Game Show Contestant (uncredited)
John Gofton	...	Nick Brophy (uncredited)
Galen Head	...	Hockey Player (uncredited)
Reggie Krezanski	...	Hockey Player (uncredited)
Louie Levasseur	...	Goalie (uncredited)
Connie Madigan	...	Ross 'Mad Dog' Madison (uncredited)
Macon McCalman	...	Soap Opera patient (uncredited)
Ted McCaskill	...	Hockey Player (uncredited)
Jon McClintock	...	TV Reporter (uncredited)
Mickey McQuillan	...	Dickie Dunn's son (uncredited)
Susan Kendall Newman	...	Pharmacist (uncredited)
Joe Nolan	...	Clarence 'Screaming Buffalo' Swamptown (uncredited)
Dick Roberge	...	Referee Ecker (uncredited)
Ray Schultz	...	Syracuse Bulldog player (uncredited)
Ross Smith	...	Barclay Donaldson (uncredited)
Cliff Thompson	...	Walt Comisky (uncredited)

Directed by
George Roy Hill

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nancy Dowd		writer

Produced by
Robert Crawford Jr.	....	associate producer (as Robert L. Crawford)
Stephen J. Friedman	....	producer (as Stephen Friedman)
Robert J. Wunsch	....	producer
Patrick Kelley	....	co-executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper		(as Vic Kemper)

Film Editing by
Dede Allen

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead

Set Decoration by
James W. Payne		(as James Payne)

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Stephen Abrums	....	makeup artist (as Steve Abrums)
Lorraine Roberson	....	hair stylist
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Arthur S. Newman Jr.	....	unit production manager (as Arthur Newman)
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	unit production manager (as Wallace Worsley)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Burrell	....	second assistant director
Wayne A. Farlow	....	second assistant director (as Wayne Farlow)
Tom Joyner	....	first assistant director
James A. Westman	....	first assistant director (as James Westman)

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	sound editor
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound
Don Sharpless	....	sound
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Earl Madery	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Roger Sword	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Ned Dowd	....	stunt coordinator
Rod Bloomfield	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Brown	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bob Rose	....	key grip (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Howe	....	associate film editor

Music Department
Elmer Bernstein	....	music supervisor
Gerald Tueber	....	music editor (as Jerry Teuber)

Other crew
Marion Dougherty	....	talent coordinator
Ned Dowd	....	technical advisor
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Marvin Weldon	....	script supervisor
Raechel Donahue	....	voice artist (uncredited)
Sue Dwiggins	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Thanks
John Mitchell	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Kings Road Entertainment
• Pan Arts (as Pan Arts Productions)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• C.I.C. (Consorcio Ibérico Cinematográfico) (Spain)

Other Companies

• John Mitchell and his Johnstown Jets  group cast members (special thanks)
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Singapore:PG | Brazil:16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Australia:R | Argentina:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, New York, USA

Company:

Kings Road Entertainment

Trivia:

Shortly after the film opened, the Jets had to suspend operations for one season because a flood damaged their ice-making equipment. The franchise was eventually revived in the late 1980s and renamed the Johnstown Chiefs.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the game when Dunlop learns the team is folding, the newly acquired Hanson brothers are missing from the bench, even though they were dressed and ready in the locker room beforehand. They also cannot be on the ice, as Dunlop has not yet allowed them to play.

Quotes:

Ned Braden: You take the van, I'll keep the dog.

Movie Connections:

References Meatball (1972)

Soundtrack:

YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING

Old-time hockey at its finest!!

I remember the first time I saw SLAP SHOT; I laughed so hard that I thought I was going to puke. The best thing about this movie is that all the banter between the players, the attitudes, and the jokes are ALL TRUE! I worked in the locker rooms for a minor-league hockey team and I saw every character in this movie: the aging veterans, the eccentric goalie, the lazy pretty-boy, the young players looking for a chance, etc. It is so true to life and accurate, moreso than any other sports related movie out there. And having all the actors do their own skating is a big plus also. I really can't find a fault with this flick.

And for my most favorite part of the movie? No question it is Moe Wanchuck! I have yet to find a character in any movie that everytime he open's his mouth, I go into hysterics. Along with Chunk from THE GOONIES and The Dude from THE BIG LEBOWSKI, Moe is up there towards the top of my list of favorite characters in any movie I have ever seen.

You know you have a classic film when the topic of SLAP SHOT comes up with your friends, or even people you have just met, and you spend hours reciting all your favorite quotes, trying to out-do each other. Do yourself a favor and see this movie so you can be part of the fun!