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Hoosiers
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Hoosiers (1986) -- A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the championship.

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   13,474 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 16% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Anspaugh
Writer:
Angelo Pizzo (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Hoosiers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 November 1986 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Sport more
Tagline:
They needed a second chance to finish first.
Plot:
A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the championship. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Apparently There Really Is an 'Easy Rider' Sequel Coming
 (From Cinematical. 19 May 2009, 1:02 PM, PDT)

My Left Foot Named Most Inspirational Movie Ever
 (From WENN. 3 November 2008, 6:04 AM, PST)

User Comments:
In Inspiriing Story Of Second-Chances more
US TV Schedule:
Sun. July 128:00 PMCW   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gene Hackman ... Coach Norman Dale

Barbara Hershey ... Myra Fleener

Dennis Hopper ... Shooter
Sheb Wooley ... Cletus
Fern Persons ... Opal Fleener

Chelcie Ross ... George
Robert Swan ... Rollin
Michael O'Guinne ... Rooster
Wil Dewitt ... Reverenf Doty
John Robert Thompson ... Sheriff Finley
Michael Sassone ... Preacher Purl
Gloria Dorson ... Millie
Mike Dalzell ... Mayor Carl
Skip Welker ... Junior (as Calvert L. Welker)
Eric Gilliom ... J. June
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Best Shot (UK)
more
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (CFI)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Filming Locations:
Brownsburg, Indiana, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The filmmakers had trouble filling the FieldHouse with extras for the final game, and needed to move people around when shooting different angles. Extras were given 1950's hairstyles and their clothing was checked for anachronisms. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In the basketball scenes at the State Finals, the edges of the backboards are padded. Backboard padding wasn't added until years after the movie setting. more
Quotes:
Coach Norman Dale: I've seen you guys can shoot but there's more to the game than shooting. There's fundamentals and defense. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Just Shoot Me!: The Devil and Maya Gallo (#1.2)" (1997) more
Soundtrack:
Butler War Song more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
26 out of 29 people found the following comment useful:-
In Inspiriing Story Of Second-Chances, 21 March 2006
10/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

What makes this one of the most popular sports films of all time isn't just the sport, it's because it's such a human-interest film, such a wonderful story of giving people second chances in life. Add a true-life David beat Goliath story and you have an appealing film.

It doesn't hurt that Gene Hackman is the star, either. He may not have that celebrity appeal or the looks of Clark Gable or Bratt Pitt, but this man can flat-out act! He makes a very believable high school basketball coach who is tough-but-fair on the outside and soft-and-compassionate on the inside.

The story of an extremely tiny school defying the odds and becoming a state champion in dramatic form was so inspiring that this film has played thousands of times for 20 years now by high school coaches to their kids for motivation.

But the key to the story is the coach getting a second chance in life to do what he loves and does best and he, in turn, giving others a second chance such as the alcoholic here played by Dennis Hopper. There are great lessons on teamwork, patience, tolerance and a whole bunch of other qualities. In one of the DVD documentaries, both Hackman and Hoppper comment on how many times people have approached them and THIS is the movie they mention that meant so much them. That says a lot since both men have made many famous movies.

An unsung hero of this movie is the cinematography. Man, this is beautifully filmed and the rural Midwest has never looked so pretty and appealing. The story takes place in Indiana but the movie was done in Illinois. Either way, it paints a beautiful picture of this part of the United States. It also paints a fond remembrance of the early 1950s. You get an honest-to-goodness feel of what it's like to be part of a basketball in this area during that time,

Basketball meant an awful lot - and still does - to these folks. If you are sports fan in particularly, this movie will bring a tear or two to your eyes. However, this story is for everyone who believes people deserve chances to overcome previous mistakes. Few films, whatever the topic, have the "heart" this movie demonstrates.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hoosiers (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Cedar Knob ratbeaste
Farming in Hoosiers Mark-199
Hoosiers Clebration in Knightstown 2011 DTigersFan
WTF jphawk2
Norman Dale has been nominated for the Movie Coach Hall of Fame kevin_brink
Not to start a ruckus.... mgiannin-1
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