Knute Rockne All American (1940)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Robert Buckner (screenplay)
Mrs. Knute Rockne (private papers)

Release Date:

5 October 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

The story of legendary Notre Dame football player and coach Knute Rockne.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | Chemistry | Norway | Forward Pass | Teacher

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Pat O'Brien	...	Knute Rockne
Gale Page	...	Bonnie Skiles Rockne
Ronald Reagan	...	George Gipp
Donald Crisp	...	Father John Callahan, C.S.C
Albert Bassermann	...	Father Julius Nieuwland (as Albert Basserman)
John Litel	...	Committee Chairman
Henry O'Neill	...	Doctor
Owen Davis Jr.	...	Gus Dorais
John Qualen	...	Lars Knutson Rockne
Dorothy Tree	...	Martha Rockne
Johnny Sheffield	...	Knute, Age 7 (as John Sheffield)
Moreau Choir of Notre Dame	...	Themselves
Nick Lukats	...	Four Horseman
Kane Richmond	...	Four Horseman
William Marshall	...	Four Horseman

Also Known As:

A Modern Hero (UK)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #6204)

Filming Locations:

University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Elmer Layden eventually became the first to have the title Commisioner of the NFL after leaving his coaching job at Notre Dame in the 1940's.

Quotes:

Knute Rockne: Father, I've decided to take up coaching as my life's work.
Father John Callahan: Hmmmm.
Knute Rockne: You think I'm making a mistake, don't you?
Father John Callahan: Anyone who follows the truth in his heart never makes a mistake.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968)

Soundtrack:

Aura Lee

An American for All Ages-Knute Shines ****

Pat O'Brien had his best role ever as Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. From humble beginnings, Rockne entered Notre Dame as a student circa 1910. He is into chemistry but becomes a marvelous football player and hero.

Upon graduation, he teaches chemistry at the school but he has got the football fever that tugs at him, this forces him to give up chemistry to pursue his dream of coaching the game. In a way, too bad, the school probably lost a great chemistry teacher-certainly far better and nicer than the one I had in high school. (Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn to be exact.)

He motivates his students. He will not tolerate academic underachievement. He is a coach for all seasons.

O'Brien captures that common kind touch. One of his students, George Gipp, is memorably played in a fine brief supporting performance by Ronald Reagan.

The years pass and the achievements run high-but Knute remains the same kind coach who testifies before Congress when football is called into question.

Donald Crisp is outstanding as a Notre Dame priest who knew that Rockne was destined to coach football. Albert Basserman is adequate, but his Jewish accent in the portrayal of a priest is awkward at best. Basserman was nominated that year in the supporting category for "Foreign Correspondent."

Rockne's tragic death, in a plane crash, robbed the world of many more years of a totally professionally wonderful human-being. The film is great.