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Slap Shot

year 1977decade 70sdirector George Roy Hill

123 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Paul Newman Reggie Dunlop
Strother Martin Joe McGrath
Michael Ontkean Ned Braden
Jennifer Warren Francine Dunlop
Lindsay Crouse Lily Braden
Jerry Houser Dave Killer Carlson
Andrew Duncan Jim Carr
Jeff Carlson Jeff Hanson
Steve Carlson Steve Hanson
David Hanson Jack Hanson
Yvon Barrette Denis Lemieux
Allan Nicholls Johnny Upton
Brad Sullivan Wanchuck
Stephen Mendillo Jim Ahern
Yvan Ponton Drouin
Matthew Cowles Charlie
Kathryn Walker Anita McCambridge
M. Emmet Walsh Dickie Dunn
Swoosie Kurtz Shirley Upton
Paul D'Amato Tim McCracken
Melinda Dillon Suzanne Hanrahan
Guido Tenesi Billy Charlebois
Ned Dowd Ogie Ogilthorpe
Paul Dooley Hyannisport announcer

Slap Shot | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Sean Fennesseyhost Chris Ryanproducer Jessie Lopez
Explore episodeClose episode

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wayne Jenkins; the Hanson brothers proposed for future movies.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:34Read transcript
  • The Hanson Brothers are proposed as a new better-with option for any movie, including a Saving Private Ryan joke.
  • Wayne Jenkins mocks Hanrahan as a good goalie with a sexually fluid wife and threatens a long prison sentence.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The Hansons being unleashed.

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:06Read transcript
  • Jim Carr's opening interview with the goalie, including the microphone adjustment and the explanation of penalty-box shame.
  • The opening crowd insults, national anthem and drunk player immediately establish the team's world.
  • Reggie meets the Hansons, finds their toy cars and complains to Joe, who tells the Eddie Shore story.
  • The players watch television together in the hotel while the goalie demands a trade and Hanrahan's wife calls.
  • Reggie's escalating taunts provoke Hanrahan; the goalkeeper's appearance and Newman's reactions make the sequence especially funny.
  • Reggie turns Dave into Killer, then unleashes the Hansons. This is called the most rewatchable stretch and one of the great sports-film sequences.
  • The Hansons' attack includes the puck hitting the organist, his later protective helmet and a brother diving toward an opponent behind the net.
  • The pregame brawl and the crowd fight after the keys hit a Hanson are additional choices.
  • McCracken and Carlson's stick fight, Ned punching Reggie, and Reggie's confrontation with Jim Carr are nominated.
  • Ned's hostile interview answers about his father and trouble at home.
  • The Syracuse player introductions delight the hosts, especially their bizarre criminal histories and Jim Carr's delivery.
  • Further nominations include the final bench-clearing brawl, Reggie and Suzanne's intimate conversation, Lily's scenes and Reggie's confrontation with owner Anita.
  • The unanimous choice is the Hansons being unleashed.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The opponent sinking behind the boards; the referee framed with the Hansons during the anthem.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:43:25Read transcript
  • One nomination is the shot of the opponent sinking behind the boards after all three Hansons hit him.
  • Another preference is the referee during the anthem with the three Hansons visible behind him.

What’s Aged the Best?

Hockey footage, the cast, Reggie’s clothes, local sports culture and the Hansons.

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:10Read transcript
  • The hockey footage's wide shots and close action look remarkably convincing; helmetless players help.
  • The arena's plain War Memorial name is preferred to corporate naming rights.
  • The scrappy team versus ownership story remains a strong sports trope, and the cast is full of recognizable emerging actors.
  • Newman's fur-trimmed leather jacket and brown leather leisure suit.
  • Awkward local sports interviews and Crouse with Newman before The Verdict.
  • Francine's distinctly 1970 s appearance, and the fashion-show threat to expose oneself followed by offscreen screams.
  • The Deep Throat and Meatball double-feature marquee.
  • Reggie's unbothered reply to McCracken's sexual insult.
  • The obnoxiously horny teammate is an enduring type, though his conduct would now violate workplace rules.
  • The talented player who refuses to fight, compared with real hockey stars and their enforcers.
  • The mass mooning at Hyannisport.
  • Melinda Dillon's nude scene is recalled as an early formative movie experience.
  • The unranked early movie-nudity roster includes Melinda Dillon, Lacey Underall in Caddyshack, the Shining bathtub woman, the Animal House women, Airplane’s faceless topless woman, Phoebe Cates, Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Hamilton, Apollonia in Purple Rain, Joyce Heiser (ASR) in Just One of the Guys, Apollonia Corleone and Total Recall’s three-breasted woman. The Shining room number is corrected from 217 to 237.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Censored television versions, the sequels, the swastika helmet and dated cultural associations.

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:52Read transcript
  • Potentially nine-hour bus rides if Charlestown is Pennsylvania, although the setting seems intended as New England.
  • Bad daytime television: Hawaiian showcase, soap operas and bowling.
  • Edited television versions mutilate the film, including darkening the bottom of Dillon's nude scene.
  • Seeing Melinda Dillon later as the mother in A Christmas Story creates a jarring association with Suzanne.
  • The claim that the Hanson performers rejected a Universal spinoff is treated skeptically; the later sequel is dismissed.
  • The harsh language and Jerry Houser's later role as Marcia Brady's husband are cited.
  • Putting a bounty on an opponent now recalls the Saints' Bountygate scandal.
  • Maxim's 1998 declaration of Slap Shot as the best guy movie feels dated, as do the two sequels.
  • The bus driver's swastika helmet.
  • The decline of Dickie Dunn's sentimental sportswriting is disputed: similar columns and credulous sourcing still exist.
  • Dickie Dunn's dismissive response to his daughter's complaint about being insulted.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The ending’s sudden forfeit; the striptease is disputed.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:50Read transcript
  • One host has no weak link and explicitly rejects Lily. Another offers the striptease and sudden forfeit.
  • The striptease is defended as uniquely inspired, but the forfeit denies a satisfying sports victory and makes little sense when McCracken could simply be ejected.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

The film humanizes its offensive dialogue; replace the striptease with a conventional victory; a Minnesota sequel.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:43Read transcript
  • The film reckons with its offensive language by giving Suzanne a genuine human scene and making Reggie sexually accepting; its locker-room speech also reflects the period.
  • Replace Ned's striptease with him fighting McCracken and the team winning conventionally. The objection is that this sacrifices Ned's principles, though he already uses dirty tactics.
  • A sequel following the team to Minnesota would have been welcome.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Paul D’Amato as Tim McCracken.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:26Read transcript
  • Moe, Johnny and the goalie are ruled out as persistent characters; Jim Carr may have too much dialogue despite being hilarious.
  • Candidates include Anita, the blonde sisters, the Hyannisport heckler, Syracuse players, Oglethorpe and the referee.
  • Tim Dr. Hook McCracken wins, played by Paul D'Amato, whose frightening face and recent death are noted.

Apex Mountain

Hockey movies.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:34Read transcript
  • Newman is rejected in favor of the Butch Cassidy, Sting and Towering Inferno period.
  • Ontkean gets an initial yes, challenged by Twin Peaks' greater visibility.
  • Hockey fighting receives enthusiastic support for the era, contrasted with more dangerous modern technique.
  • George Roy Hill is rejected. Sports movies receive a qualified case for 1977, challenged by the late-1980 s prestige wave.
  • The Hanson brothers lose movie brothers to the Corleones; Crouse loses to The Verdict or House of Games; Martin loses to Cool Hand Luke.
  • Hockey movies is an unequivocal yes. Minor-league sports raises Bull Durham as a competing answer.
  • The Baja Gold 1970 Pontiac GTO and films inspiring a desire to bartend in a remote dive are additional nominations, the latter compared with Goodfellas.

Cruise or Hanks?

Hanks as Reggie; Cruise suggested for Ned.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:28Read transcript
  • Hanks for Reggie, akin to A League of Their Own. Cruise is proposed for Ned, though that stretches the lead-role rules.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

All folk heroes start out as criminals; give fans what they want.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:51Read transcript
  • All folk heroes start out as criminals; give the fans what they want. Avoiding the enormous dog is a joke option.