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Shooter moved from the title game to the hospital; Chitwood actor's later life; filming locations; NCAA suspensions; Hopper's drunk trick; Chitwood's one-take final shot; real Milan details; Hackman's joke to Hopper; Merle actor's death
In the discussion (9)
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- Shooter was scripted to attend the title game, but Hopper, newly sober, objected that the character would fear relapsing, so he was put in the hospital.
- Jimmy Chitwood's actor, Maris Valainis ('Maris Valanis'), became a golf pro in California and was the only player who didn't play college ball.
- Most Hickory scenes were shot in Richmond, Indiana.
- The NCAA suspended five college-player actors for being paid in the movie.
- For drunk scenes, Hopper's trick was 10 seconds' notice before action and spinning in a circle to look disoriented, a trick from James Dean in Giant.
- The fans-rushing title shot could be filmed only once; the Chitwood actor missed in rehearsal but made it on the take.
- The locker-room blackboard lists real Milan names; Milan won 32-30 in 1954 on Bobby Plump's shot from about the same spot; it was filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
- Hopper's laugh in a montage came from Hackman saying they would never work again after this movie.
- The actor who played Merle, Kent Poole ('Kent Pool'), killed himself in 2003.