Jim Thorpe: All American
|
List Price: Our Price: $11.77 You Save: $8.20 (41%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $9.48 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Jim Thorpe: All American
Movie Review: jim thorpe all american
Summary: 5 Stars
I WAS VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE MY DVD AND THE QUALITY AND SERVICE WAS FIRST CLASS AND I HAVE TOLD MY FRIENDS ABOUT YOUR MARVELOUS SERVICE AND PRODUCT
KIND REGARDS RICHARD WOODINGS.
Movie Review: best sport movies
Summary: 5 Stars
seen the movie in the theater best sport movie i ve seen purchased this one for my sons birthday i know he will enjoy itMovie Review: A True American
Summary: 4 Stars
The title "All-American" was rarely applied to one who truly was an American and was one of the greatest athletes of all time. Jim Thorpe was a Native American, often called an Indian because of Columbus' original mistake that the natives he encountered in the New World were residents of India, not an entirely new and unknown land. This remarkable 1951 film was one of the rare looks at a Native American who not only earned the title "All-American" but built a reputation as an outstanding athlete. The film makes it clear, too, that he was successful in every sport he tried, often amazing those who thought they knew him.
Early in the film we see a young Jim running away from school because he doesn't want to go the white man's school. The fact that he runs many miles to go back home, after his father had taken him to school in a horse-drawn wagon. His father then explains why school is important, particularly if Jim is ever to rise above a very lowly and disadvantaged life on the reservation in Oklahoma. Jim's father hopes that Jim will do more than he accomplished. Not only does Jim return to school, he eventually goes on to the famed Carlisle Indian School, a virtual college which achieved a very fine reputation both in academics and athletics. The famed "Pop" Warner, portrayed in the film by Charles Bickford, is shown producing some very fine teams and challenging the more reputable, established colleges and universities of his time.
"Pop" Warner becomes Jim's lifelong mentor. The film actually begins with the coach's tribute to Jim at a latter day banquet in honor of the amazing athlete. Director Michael Curtiz intercuts actual footage of the banquet, much as he later uses footage of the real Jim Thorpe (seen from a distance) at the 1912 Olympics and in various games. Eventually we see footage of the opening of the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, including the speech by the Vice President of the United States, whom Coach Warner acknowledges is, like Jim, a Native American, except he uses the word "Indian." Curtiz combines the hisoric footage with shots of Burt Lancaster and Charles Bickford sitting in the Coliseum, which was later used in the 1984 Olympics.
The film is a virtual "rise and fall." Jim achieved so much in sports, eventually winning both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon at the 1912 Olympics. Then it was discovered he had played on a professional team one summer to earn a little money. For many years professional athletes were banned from competing in the Olympics; the International Olympic Committee was as vigilant in barring professional athletes as it has become in detecting performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids. Jim had natural ability, of course, and he had great endurance. Yet he was stripped of his medals and it was many, many years before his medals were finally returned to his family, long after Jim's death, prompting Burt Lancaster's bitter complaints (cited above). Jim struggled for years, as we see in the film, and, although he apparently never was financially successful, he at least lived long enough to receive some recognition for his athletic achievemtns.
The film was shot in black and white at a time when more and more films were being filmed in color; presumably, the use of monochrome film was because of the inclusion of the vintage, historic footage. Yet it remains an engrossing story and is enhanced by Michael Curtiz's expertise (as he neared the end of his long tenure at Warner Brothers) and a very fine musical score by another veteran, Austrian-born composer Max Steiner (best known for the music for "King Kong," "Gone With The Wind," and "Casablanca").
Hopefully, Warner Brothers will soon release the film to DVD. It has already been shown on Turner Classic Movies and is clearly yet another top-notch production from the Burbank studio.
Movie Review: "BRIGHT PATH" take the HIGH road.
Summary: 4 Stars
It is not generally known but the King of Sweden was so impressed with the performance of Jim Thorpe in the Summer Olympics with his victories in the Decathlon and the Pentehlon that he wanted to meet him in person. The king gave him a special memento and said "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world" To which the humble Jim Thorpe replied "Thanks, King".
Now I want to say that there are some unforgettable scenes and performances in this film. The film is simply great entertainment, but 'Casablanca" director Michael Curtiz along with Max Steiner's musical score take a decidedly "dark side" to the telling of this semi=biographical drama.
The overall impression that your receive of this story is the rise of a great sports god who is handled in a tough way by the world and in an attempt to prove his worth is stymied by unfortunate incidents. We are left with the impression that Jim is abandoned by his wife and the overwhelming effect on his marriage and life due to the death of his young son in the ensuing years wherein he sinks to drink and bitterness. In a way it tends to enforce the stereotypes of the dangers of Alcohol and other elements common in those days meant to be derogatory in nature.
Actually Jim was married to three different women over the course of his life and had plenty of children. We are also given the impression that he did not get any real coaching jobs but continued to play football until he became too old to compete. In reality, he did coach and his play, although extended, was mostly very productive. His young son in the first marriage died due to the Influenza epidemic that was killing millions back then and was not really much of an exception that the film tends to portray.
The positive elements are "Pop" Warner, the utilization of the "flashback" technique and a wonderful period of the education of Thorpe at the Carlisle PA Indian School. His introduction to the game of football is funny and Jim quickly learns that football is the way to get girls. The scenes of football victories are brilliant and the Olympic moments are perhaps the highlight of the movie. Overall Burt Lancaster gives a credible performance and I would recommend this picture as a good one to see with your boys if they are patient watching Black and White films which I understand is a problem of today's world in getting our kids to see and appreciate them. Boy what they are missing!
If you are in the area above Allentown, Pennsylvania, be sure to stop and do honor to the resting place of the world's finest athlete. He is buried in a town that at one time was known as Mauch Chunk, which translates to "Bear Claw" from the original Indian and is now called Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania in honor of the great man!
Movie Review: Interesting Story Of An Amazing Athlete
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an enjoyable, interesting biography and another instance of Burt Lancaster giving an intense acting performance.
Sure, this is revisionist history here but it did show both the good and bad sides of Thorpe, one of America's all-time greatest athletes who excelled almost a century ago. Some still think he is the best athlete ever in the history of the United States.
Lancaster was in great shape to play Thorpe which helped make him look convincing as a top athlete. Charles Bickford was very good as "Pop Warner," Thorpe's dedicated coach and a famous sports figure in his own right. Phyllis Thaxter was wholesomely attractive as Jim's wife.
None of the leading actors who were Native Americans, as Thorpe was, are played by actual Indians but that's classic-era Hollywood. It takes away from some of the realism of the film.
The movie features a good mix of melodrama and sports and interesting characters. It's good entertainment.