The Longest Yard

The Longest Yard (1974)

Timing: 2:1 (121 min)

6.745/10
273

6.986/10
2103

7.1/10
23000

All about film

Video 3

Photo 22

Actors and characters

Release date

1974-08-21

Country

United States

Production

Paramount

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Budget

$2 900 000

Revenue

$43 008 075

Website

Director

Robert Aldrich

Actors

Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad, James Hampton, Harry Caesar, John Steadman, Charles Tyner, Mike Henry, Jim Nicholson
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Albert S. Ruddy

Operator

Joseph F. Biroc

Composer

Frank De Vol

Artist

Audition

Joyce Selznick, Steven R. Stevens

Editing

Michael Luciano
All team (32)

• On the DVD release, James Hampton stated in a commentary that he was given the role of the Undertaker, but he wanted to play Anger. The role of Anger went to Charles Tyner.
• According to producer Albert S. Ruddy, the idea for the film was suggested to him by the example of a friend who was a football player. He had to leave sports due to an injury, and his life went downhill. He found a job with a minimal salary at some diner, and his girlfriend didn't let him rest at home.
• Burt Reynolds (1936-2018) wanted the film to be shot in his hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida, but permission was not granted. The film was shot in Savannah, Georgia.
• The final shot of the film, showing the silhouettes of the characters leaving the field, is a reference to the famous final shot of the Western "The Searchers" (John Ford, 1956).
• Harold Morris, a prisoner from the Georgia State Penitentiary who was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced for it, but was later fully acquitted, played an episodic role.
• Richard Kiel (1939-2014) injured his hand during filming. In some shots, he is shown with a bandaged hand, although his character is perfectly healthy.
• After the Citroen was pulled out of the water, producer Albert S. Ruddy sold it for $70,000 because it was a 'movie car'.
• According to Albert S. Ruddy and Burt Reynolds, Robert Aldrich (1918-1983) initially disliked Michael Conrad and constantly called him 'Polish Princess.' After filming one of the scenes, however, he was so impressed with Conrad's performance that he gave him a chocolate bar (he always gave chocolate bars at the end of the shooting day to those who performed best in front of the camera). Conrad was moved to tears. Aldrich didn't tease him again for the rest of the shoot.
• According to Albert S. Ruddy, the story about blind parents told by Burt Reynolds' character is a reference to former quarterback Jim Plunkett.
• In the dressing room, it turned out that a standard helmet did not fit Richard Kiel's head. Later during the game, you can notice that his helmet is a different color than the helmets of the other players.
• Some of the actors in the film were formerly professional football players – Burt Reynolds, Mike Henry, Joe Kapp, Ray Nitschke (1936-1998), and Pervis Atkins.
• According to Albert S. Ruddy, in the final scene, when Burt Reynolds' character goes for the ball, the captain, played by Ed Lauter (1938-2013), was supposed to shoot him in the back because he was actually trying to escape. However, during filming, it became clear that the audience would be disappointed with such an ending, so it was changed, and Burt Reynolds' character simply picked up the ball, and the captain didn't even consider such a thought.
• After the touchdown, a security guard incapacitates the character played by Michael Conrad (1925-1983) with a blow to the left leg. When the same character is brought to the infirmary, his right leg is bandaged.