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Hoosiers
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Hoosiers (1986)

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User Rating: 7.5/10 (11,553 votes)
Photos (see all 16 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
David Anspaugh
Writer:
Angelo Pizzo (written by)
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
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
In Inspiriing Story Of Second-Chances more

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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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Best Shot (UK)
more
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (CFI)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Filming Locations:
Brownsburg, Indiana, USA more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 15% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The theater that was closed for the final game burned down in 1998. 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:
[Just before the big game]
Preacher Purl: And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Just Shoot Me!: The Devil and Maya Gallo (#1.2)" (1997) more
Soundtrack:
Hail to Southport more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
25 out of 27 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 title with other users on IMDb message board for Hoosiers (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Not to start a ruckus.... mgiannin-1
Who said 'Hoosiers' was based on a real story? zwrite2
Shooting style not right for the '50's. kdmagnusson
Jimmy karmasammy11
Why did Hackman hit his star player in Ithica? raiders531
Should there be a Director's Cut of HOOSIERS? bdunlap-2
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