Sports Cinema - 100 Movies: The Best of Hollywood's Athletic Heroes, Losers, Myths, & Misfits of the Silver Screen [Paperback]

Randy Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

From All the Right Moves to Olympia, from Caddyshack to Rocky, Sports Cinema is an in-depth companion guide celebrating movies centered on sports-oriented stories, characters, events, or backdrops, complete with more than 400 black-and-white movie stills. Beginning with The Freshman (1925), Mr. Williams counts down his top movie picks from more than nine decades, based upon hundreds of hours of film watching and his expertise as a lifelong sports fan and sports writer for national and international publications, including Sports Illustrated, The Hollywood Reporter, Olympic Review, Reuters, and the Washington Post. Enhancing his chapter-by-chapter explorations of each film are sports-themed sections, including "The Players," which lists cast members; "The Game," which provides a synopsis of each movie; "Instant Replay," which includes movie commentary by Mr. Williams, as well little-known trivia; and "All-Star Moments," which offers movie highlights. Casual moviegoers, sports fans, and film buffs will get "the story behind the film" from those involved, including actors, directors, and various cast members in the "Post-Game Comments" section.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Limelight Editions (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879103310
• ISBN-13: 978-0879103316
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,345,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will be a contenda..., October 20, 2006

By 

Arena Connery "Arena" (Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports Cinema - 100 Movies: The Best of Hollywood's Athletic Heroes, Losers, Myths, & Misfits of the Silver Screen (Paperback)

Ok, so I know that references 'On the Waterfront,' but I think this book could really be huge. Any time someone publishes a top 100 list, critics are sure to disagree. But whether you agree with him or not, Randy Williams did an excellent job of highlighting some of the best sports movies ever. Everything from 'College' to 'White Men Can't Jump' to 'Million Dollar Baby'...movies like 'Breaking Away' and 'Brian's Song' that my parents had me watch when I was little (I still love the music from Brian's Song) bring back the memories. Tons of pictures, a throrough yet brief synopsis for each flick, and some cool stuff at the back (actor's comments on their favorite sports movies, trivia, and an Academy award list) make this a great 'anytime' book. Wondering what to get the sports fanatic in your house for Christmas? Problem solved!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knockout!!, January 3, 2007

By 

Jeff Bettencourt (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sports Cinema - 100 Movies: The Best of Hollywood's Athletic Heroes, Losers, Myths, & Misfits of the Silver Screen (Paperback)

Williams book is an in depth look at sports related films. Although the theme of competitive sports is a consistent link throughout his list of 100 movies, the varied themes that intertwine these films tell the stories of their times as well as illuminate the universal experiences that we all share to some degree.
Williams provides the reader with a background in film history, a look at the creative process, and he also reveals the life affirming stories that are not always apparent on the field of play but play out in these films.
Besides the well thought out and illuminating text, there are many accompanying photos in this intelligently written reference to the greatest sports films.
I don't necessarily agree with all of his choices, I would think that the original version of Angels in the Outfield should have found a place somewhere in the top one hundred as well as the Dizzy Dean story, Pride of St. Louis. That being said, I discovered the film entitled This Sporting Life in Sports Cinema which I was not aware of, and found it to be a remarkable movie. I wish I could find Phar Lap as well.
If you are looking for an intelligent take on sports themed movies, this is a book worthy of your time, you won't be disappointed.