8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The 50's, Through Rose (Bowl) Colored Glasses, January 9, 2003
This review is from: Rose Bowl Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Vera Miles, who gave memorable performances in PSYCHO and BACK STREET, is very appealing in this simple love story set against the background of the annual Rose Bowl football game. A youthful Natalie Wood plays her kid sister, with the rest of the cast filled out by some rather mature-looking college guys.
The movie's plot is hardly worth mentioning, but what makes THE ROSE BOWL STORY watchable is its charming portrait of 1950's America. The opening narration (uncredited, but the voice sounds like Richard Carlson) sets the tone of the picture: this is the good old USA, land of solid citizens and proud of old-fashioned traditions.
In short, if you like vintage TV shows such as "Father Knows Best", you'll probably enjoy this movie.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Every Rose Bowl has its thorns, January 22, 2009
This review is from: Rose Bowl Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
William Beaudine's THE ROSE BOWL STORY (from MONOGRAM pictures) is a bit of 'B' grade froth best remembered these days for a maturing Natalie Wood. By the year of its release, Wood already had 17 juvenile big screen roles to her credit. Jim Backus as Natalie's dad seems here to be warming up for his appearance in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955) with James Dean and... Natalie Wood! (Watch for sportscasters Tom Harmon and Bill Welsh.)
The picture's shot in "Cinecolor." This odd two-strip process reproduced all colors well except greens and purples.
SYNOPSIS--
Steve Davis (Thompson), a midwestern college quarterback is scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. While meeting the reception committee, Steve focuses his attentions on one of the Rose princesses, Denny Burke (Miles). Steve visits with Denny's family when he goes to her home after younger sister Sally (Wood) keeps the phone tied up for hours.
Denny quickly loses interest in Steve once she learns he doesn't really care about football. Fretting over her aloofness causes Steve to play poorly in practice, and the team's coach James Hadley (Rober) is preoccupied over his wife Mary's (Woodell) illness, so the boys are on their own for the big game.
As of 1/09, "Rose Bowl Story" was not available on DVD.
Also recommended:
Marshall Thompson (best remembered as star of TV's "Daktari" in the 1960s) was quite good in Audie Murphy's TO HELL AND BACK (1955). (
VHS edition) (
DVD edition)
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(4.2) The Rose Bowl Story (1952) - Marshall Thompson/Vera Miles/Richard Rober/Natalie Wood/Keith Larsen/Tom Harmon/Ann Doran/James Dobson/Jim Backus/Clarence Kolb/Bill Welsh
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