Blood Sport

1973 1h 13m EN

🙌

7.9

BANGER

★7.9TMDB · 5

DramaTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A searing commentary on the "win at all costs" mentality of American high school sports. David Lee Birdsong is the smalltown quarterback hoping to escape with a college scholarship and a pro career. David's father is the overbearing taskmaster vicariously living through his son. The third side of the triangle is Coach Marshall, a hypercritical and cruel man who sees David as the key to his future success. David's lockstep commitment to his father and coach is altered when he witnesses a teammate die after a grueling practice.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Ben Johnson
Dwayne Birdsong
Gary Busey
David Lee Birdsong
Larry Hagman
Coach Marshall
William Lucking
Dennis Birdsong
David Doyle
Mr. Schmidt
Mimi Maynard
Mary Louise Schmidt
Peggy Rea
Mrs. Birdsong
Craig Richard Nelson
Michael Braun

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jerrold Freedman
Writers: Jerrold Freedman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 73-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

53 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Jerrold Freedman, shot by Richard C. Glouner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Randy Edelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Editor Gerald Shepard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ben Johnson and Gary Busey and Larry Hagman carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0069804 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jerrold Freedman directs. Richard C. Glouner behind the camera. Randy Edelman scores. Gerald Shepard cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 73-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
253 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Jerrold Freedman, shot by Richard C. Glouner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Randy Edelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Gerald Shepard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Ben Johnson and Gary Busey and Larry Hagman carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0069804 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.