Half-Assed Internet Research
Real basketball cast and games; Friedkin and Nolte preparation; production history
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:24Read transcript
- Friedkin’s basketball enthusiasm reportedly included considering a one-third Celtics purchase and consulting Cousy, explaining the latter’s appearance.
- The production reportedly used real players, coaches and games before six thousand spectators, but authentic play alone does not solve basketball’s cinematic difficulty.
- Anthony C. Hall is described as both actor and player; many real coaches and college stars supplied the basketball cast.
- A claimed Kevin Garnett appearance cannot be located and his youth raises doubt; Geert Hammink is recognized.
- Shelton reportedly developed the script in 1981, with studio delays before White Men Can’t Jump revived interest; Lansing brought in Friedkin while Shelton made Cobb.
- Basketball was reportedly filmed at Frankfort High using full competitive games plus set plays; Knight repeatedly disrupted planned endings by coaching to win.
- A $35 million budget and $26 million gross are reported; later home-video value and enduring cultural references are offered as qualifications.
- Shaq’s reported worst-new-star Razzie nomination is rejected as unfair because his performance is good.
- Friedkin’s reported claim that sports films cannot reproduce a real game’s unpredictable suspense is dismissed as sour grapes, with successful sports movies offered as the objection.
- Shaq reportedly wore very thin soles to reduce height differences; framing him farther from Nolte and Mary McDonnell is discussed as another solution.
- Shaq’s last college game is recalled as an Indiana loss to the team featuring Knight and the actor playing Ricky; Indiana’s subsequent Final Four loss to Duke is also recalled.
- Butch’s Chicago gym is identified as Mount Carmel High School, and the crew including Shaq reportedly stayed at a Lafayette Howard Johnson’s for two weeks.