Customer Reviews

Running Brave [VHS]

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The 1983 thatrical release tells the true but much abridged story of Billy Mills, the Oglala Sioux who came from obscurity to win the 10,000 meter race in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The core of the movie focuses on Mills's stint as a student and runner at the University of Kansas,facing the overt racism of his teammates and the white community, and his personal conflict with his coach, played by Pat Hingle, over Mills's racing style. The racing scenes are some of the best on film (if you overlook the out of place football field at the Olympics), and "Running Brave" rises above the level of the other sports hero genre and other racing films.

I have given this DVD a 1-star rating because it is NOT the theatrical release, but the version that was re-edited for broadcast TV. (The movie was released as PG. This version, as noted on the DVD box, is rated G.) Several key scenes have been deleted, watering-down or eliminating much of the conflict. This DVD uses a 4:3 (TV) aspect ration, not the theatrical widescreen presentation. Quality of the video transfer is very poor.

I use this film every time I teach the Theories of Personality, for it illustrates "self-actualization" and going beyond one's imposed boundaries.

This is both good history and it is incredible inspiration for Billy "became his dream." How many of us even come close to those secret dreams we harbor? But Billy took on some of the most unthinkable challenges and he met them all.

Prejudice, lack of support from his own coach and school, and various forms of social oppression are all in Billy's early experiences and yet he moves on...and he does exactly, EXACTLY what he had dreamed. If only Steve Prefontaine had lived so well....

And the REST of Billy's adult life has been just as inspired. He has raised a wonderful family, he has had a super career, and he continues to do MAJOR fundraising for Indian charities. And Pat Mills is now...the marathoner in the family!

See, not only do I use this film in my university classes, but often I SURPRISE my students with Billy's presence. Billy and Pat are friends of mine here in Sacramento, and I am most proud to say that I "know them" and theirs is a life story only partially summarized in the film.

Respectfully, George Parrott, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Calif. State University, Sacramento Director of Training, Buffalo Chips Running Club, Sacramento

This is the story of the legendary distance runner Billy Mills. Mills is the only American runner in the history of the Olympic games to win a Gold Medal at 10,000 meters. He ran an incredible race but more than that he led an incredible life. Robby Benson does a nice job playing Mr. Mills (who is a Lakota Indian). The final sequence on the track is very close to what actually happened in the race. A very, very inspirational movie about a very, very, very inspirational man.

I was first introduced to this movie in 1984 I was a sophmore in high school, my track coach brought it to our class to watch while other members of the track team paid no attention becouse it was about a distance runner, I payed close attention, I was the only distance runner in our school for the four yrs that I was there. This movie inspired me I went on to win at major races even to this day still hold records in high shool and it has been 12 yrs now, when I graduated high school and went to college I still loved to rune I tried to purchase the video but they allways said it was under lock and key they had not released it yet, so a few yrs went by and moved away to Okla, shopping at a grocery store one night looking at the movies for sale at there it was the original Running Brave movie I bought it and still to this day one it I watch it all the time I am know 30 yrs old with two loving boys my oldest is 7 and Wyatt 2 Gareth loves to run with me in the 5k races that I do he has seen the movie about as many times has I have when I am gone he will own it. This is the best running movie I have seen Chariots of fire don't come close.

Billy Mills' inspiring story is nicely told in this no-frills DVD version (not a great transfer FYI). The writing and acting border on the "Movie of the Week" genre, but the real appeal --especially for running enthusiasts-- will be the running sequences. Robby Benson gives a very charming, earnest performance as Mills and is completely convincing as a runner, too.

While it may not hold the interest of some audiences, it is definitely a nice one to add to your collection of films if you are a sports/running fan.

This movie may not be great cinema but it is redeemed by telling a great story. The movie opens with a series of running scenes that accurately capture High School cross country in all of it's glory and obscurity. As is always the case, the number of runners in each race vastly outnumber the spectators.

The movie then veers away from the running and focuses on the racial tensions and bigotry of the time. My initial reaction was that this was rather heavy handed, however the fact that few people even in the sport can name Billy Mills despite his gold medal in the 10,000 lends weight to the premise that he was overloooked because he was Sioux.

The strength of the movie is in the final race in Tokyo. The movie is worth every penney just for this footage alone. It is one of the greatest stories in all of track and field. The movie takes the time to actually show the whole race, seamlessly blending in actual footage from 1964. The movie is incredibly faithful to the actual events. Every time I see it I curse the current network morons who show us the opening several steps of an olympic distance event and then cut away for a commercial or something and then pat themselves on the back if they remember to come back and show the finish as if nothing interesting could possibly happen during the race itself.

Benson is plausible as a distance runner, and the filming of the races is very good.

Sadly I must agree with D. Dolan. The quality of the transfer to DVD is very poor. I would have rated this very fine film with a stellar performance by Robby Benson at 5 stars, but this copy reduces it to the grainy blurred effect of a very poorly taped copy of a televised movie.
If a properly re-mastered DVD version is released in due course, I shall certainly buy it.

A movie based on the life of Olympic runner Billy Mills. His love for running everywhere drew him into a dream to run in the Olympics. Billy's dream wrapped itself around the hearts of his people on the reservation which made him even more determined to run, and to win. There is a realistic difference in Billy's life on the reservation and his life in college which is not only shown starkly by the scenes, but also in Billy's thoughts, actions and reactions. I recommend this movie for people of all nationalities and ages.

The beauty of sport is when an athlete overcomes great obstacles with courage and determination. This is what Billy Mills does and it's a story all Americans should know and treasure. The story of someone's life is very difficult to capture in a 90 minute video, but this movie portrays the circumstances and happenings of a great man and an inspiration. I watched that movie countless times, including the night before the state championship in cross country. I used to hear the drumming Sioux music from the races during my races. Running Brave became my movie and Billy Mills was my hero as I faced the uncertainty of adolescence and won the state championship.

I read the review by Leornard Maltin or whoever the critic they list is and figured I'd write to add my own two cents. If you're a distance runner then you'll definitely appreciate this movie. Mills' race in the Tokyo Olympics was one of the greatest races ever run, and a definite motivator for anyone who's ever been an underdog. If you're not a runner you may not appreciate it as much, although my family always sits down with me when I put this one in the VCR.