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Trailers & Clips
About
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
Theatrical
Nov 14, 1986
Box Office
$28.6M
Budget
$9.0M
Return
3.2x
DVD / Blu-ray
Dec 10, 1997
Theaters
1
Director
Producers
Music
Studio
De Haven Productions, Hemdale Film Corporation
Quotes
See all →Final Game Strategy Discussion
Everett Flatch
You think number four is gonna take their last shot, Dad?
[Shooter is coaching the team at a critical moment after Coach Dale was ejected]
Wilbur Shooter Flatch
Yeah, probably... they been pickin low all night. Rade, let yourself get taken out! Uh, Buddy, you drop down and take his place! Close that lane!
[Nervously; Straightens up; he has the answer; Rade looks at Shooter, astonished.; Buddy nods; team breaks huddle]
Wilbur Shooter Flatch
Time! Time! C'mon in, c'mon in. Alright, now listen to me. This is the last shot that we got! Alright? We're gonna run the picket fence at em! Merle, you're the swingman, Jimmy, you're solo right! Everett, Merle should be open swinging around the the end of that fence! Now, boys, don't get caught watchin the paint dry!
[Brisk and confident]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Decision to Play Basketball
Rollin
What can I do for you, Jimmy?
[as Jimmy walks in on the town meeting that determines Coach Dale's fate]
Jimmy Chitwood
I got something to say.
Rollin
All right, you better say what you've got to say.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Cast
Full credits →G
Gene Hackman
Norman Dale
B
Barbara Hershey
Myra Fleener
D
Dennis Hopper
Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch
S
Sheb Wooley
Cletus Summers
M
Maris Valainis
Jimmy Chitwood
D
David Neidorf
Everett Flatch (#21)
F
Fern Persons
Opal Fleener
C
Chelcie Ross
George Walker
R
Robert Swan
Rollin Butcher
M
Michael O'Guinne
Rooster
M
Michael Sassone
Preacher Purl
G
Gloria Dorson
Millie
E
Eric Gilliom
J. June
S
Sam Smiley
Referee - Cedar Knob Game
K
Ken Strunk
Referee - Dugger Game
R
Rich Komenich
Reporter
R
Robert Sutton
Reporter
