A 1979 American Sports Comedy-Drama written and directed by Ted Kotcheff that is a satire of American football and loosely based on the real 1970s Dallas Cowboys. It is based on the eponymous 1973 novel by Peter Gent.
The movie stars Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, GD Spradlin, Dayle Haddon, Bo Svenson, John Matuszak, Marshall Colt, and Steve Forrest.
It was released on August 1, 1979.
Tropes for the film:
- Down to the Last Play: The professional football team was predicted to win their championship game and move on to the Super Bowl, but were down by a touchdown near the end of the game. They scored the touchdown, and only needed the extra point to tie and move into overtime. Unfortunately, they fumble the snap and don't make the extra point, and lose the game to the underdog.
- I Call Him "Mister Happy": Seth Maxwell calls his penis "John Henry".
- Personal Arcade: A pinball machine and several arcade games (including a large-screen Pong) are visible in the mansion party scene.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: At the end, Phil Elliott, the long-abused veteran who gave his all for a team desperate to see him gone as soon as possible, reaches his breaking point upon being suspended without pay, pending a hearing, for possession of hard drugs. He flat-out tells the executives they can consider him banned from the sport for life already, because he's had it with the constant ingratitude he's been getting in his later years with the North Dallas Bulls.Elliott: Is that what it is, Emmett? Is that what this whole charade has been about, so you don't have to pay my contract? Well, hell, I don't need your money that bad. I quit!.
Tropes for the book:
- The '70s: Published in 1973, the book captures the early atmosphere of the decade. While off the field, Dallas players take drugs, go to discotheques, listen to rock music, and entertain characters living on society's fringe like drug dealers and pimps. Phil mentions how the average American uses Sunday football as a chance to escape from the economic troubles of stagflation.
- The Brute: Jo Bob. In the first chapter alone, he treats everyone with disrespect, drives drunk with three other players, nearly shoots them while on a dove hunt, molests a girl at an evening party in front of everybody, and grips Phil to the point of pain for calling out his behavior. He's only tolerated due to his 6'7" size and success as a lineman.
- The Casanova: While most of the Dallas players are lucky with the ladies, Maxwell is portrayed as the most successful. He manages to seduce a woman in almost every chapter.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: The coaching staff. They turn a blind eye to any off-field controversial behavior from their players unless it jeopardizes their winning season directly. They also attempt to pay their star players as little as possible while simultaneously nickel-and-diming them for every tangential expense like hotel food orders.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Phil feels this way about himself. In the first chapter, he admits that despite being part of a major franchise, he still has to look out for himself alone out of fear of being benched or replaced entirely for any number of factors. He's also either disgusted or perturbed by most of his teammates for their crude behavior.
- Hypocrite: The Dallas team, staff, and NFL as a whole when it comes to cannabis. Despite pumping the players with multiple pain relievers and amphetamines almost every day, everyone considers marijuana to be a pharmaceutical taboo. Phil and Maxwell take extra steps to hide their affinity for it.
- The Stoner: Phil and Maxwell. The former considers it "better than booze" and uses it to help mitigate his physical pain.
