Rudy (film)

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Rudy

Theatrical release poster
Directed by David Anspaugh
Produced by Cary Woods
Written by Angelo Pizzo
Starring Sean Astin
Jon Favreau
Ned Beatty
Charles S. Dutton
Jason Miller
Vince Vaughn
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography Oliver Wood
Editing by David Rosenbloom
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date(s) October 13, 1993 (limited)
October 22, 1993
Running time 116 min.
Country United States
Language English
Spanish
Budget $12 million
Gross revenue $22,750,363
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Rudy is a 1993 film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles. It was the first movie the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940. In 2005 "Rudy" was named one of the best 25 sports movies of the previous 25 years in two polls by ESPN (#24 by a panel of sports experts, and #4 by espn.com users).[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger (Sean Astin) grew up dreaming of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. While achieving some success with his local high school football team, Ruettiger lacked the grades and money to attend Notre Dame, and talent and physical size (Ruettiger was only 5' 6" and 165 pounds) to play football for the Fighting Irish. Instead, he takes a job at the local steel mill where his father Daniel Ruettiger Sr. (Ned Beatty) (a huge Notre Dame football fan) works and prepares to settle down.

When his best friend Pete is killed in an explosion at the mill, Rudy decides to follow his dream of attending Notre Dame and playing college football for the Fighting Irish, and leaves for Notre Dame, against his father's warning that "Ruettigers don't belong at Notre Dame." Ruettiger fails to get admitted to Notre Dame, and instead goes to a small junior college, Holy Cross College hoping to qualify for a transfer to the university.

During his final semester of eligibility transfer, he is granted admission to Notre Dame. After walking onto football practice tryouts, Ruettiger convinces coach Ara Parseghian (Jason Miller) to give him a spot on the football practice team, where Rudy exhibits more drive and desire than some of his big-name varsity teammates.

Upon Dan Devine's installation as head coach, Ruettiger fears he will lose the chance to dress for a home game, an arrangement he had with Parseghian. Late in the season of 1975, his teammates, led by team captain and All-American Roland Steele, rise to his defense, demanding to Devine that Rudy be allowed to suit up in their place (by throwing down their jerseys, one at a time, on top of Devine's desk) for the final game of the season.

In the penultimate play of that game, Coach Devine is persuaded to insert Rudy (after all the players and later the fans chanted “Rudy… Rudy… Rudy…”) who sacks the opposing quarterback to end the game on the subsequent play. Rudy is carried off the field by his teammates, the last Notre Dame player to have such a distinction.

[edit] Cast

Note: The opponent in the only game in which Rudy appeared was Georgia Tech. The quarterback in the game wore the number "19". This is a technical inaccuracy because NO Georgia Tech player is allowed to wear the number "19" or has since 1942. The number was last worn by Georgia Tech All-American (freshman) Clint Castelberry who played but one year, joined the Army Air Corps and was shot down off the coast of Africa during WWII. His body was never recovered. The number is only Tech number permanently retired.


[edit] Cameo appearances

  • Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger - As a fan behind Rudy's father in the final game scene. He is seen wearing a flat cap and plaid pants.
  • Father Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame 1952–1987.
  • Father Edmund Joyce, Vice President of the University of Notre Dame 1952–1987.
  • Fathers Hesburgh and Joyce play unnamed priests walking in the Basilica. They are seen talking to one of Rudy's mentors, Father John Cavanaugh (played by Robert Prosky), who was also Father Hesburgh's predecessor as president of the university.
  • In the uncut edition of the film, Dylan Ryan makes a brief appearance as the famous wrestling coach Don Earnest. Rudy has a short conversation with Earnest, whose wisdom helps inspire Rudy to keep trying to make it into Notre Dame.

[edit] Production

  • The crowd scenes during Rudy's final game were filmed during halftime at a real game between Notre Dame and Boston College during 1992. You can tell by the colors that the Boston College fans wear.
  • Rudy runs his fingers down the list in a close-up two times. The first time he starts on one name, the second time he starts on another name. The two names he starts his finger on are the actual names of the two players who picked him up and carried him off the field.
  • Many of the Priests and miscellaneous Notre Dame employees in the movie are actual Notre Dame employees.
  • This movie was shot in Illinois and Indiana.

[edit] Soundtrack

Rudy
Rudy cover
Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith
Released September 28, 1993
Recorded 1993
Length 36:44
  1. Main Title (3:35)
  2. A Start (2:27)
  3. Waiting (2:35)
  4. Back On The Field (2:07)
  5. To Notre Dame (6:55)
  6. Tryouts (4:27)
  7. The Key (3:55)
  8. Take Us Out (1:51)
  9. The Plaque (2:36)
  10. The Final Game (6:16)

According to Soundtrack.net, the music from Rudy has been used in 12 trailers, including those for Angels in the Outfield, The Deep End of the Ocean, Good Will Hunting and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "ESPN25: The 25 Best Sports Movies". ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-05-31.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
v • d • e
Films directed by David Anspaugh

The Last Leaf (1983) • Hoosiers (1986) • Fresh Horses (1988) • Rudy (1993) • Moonlight and Valentino (1995) • WiseGirls (2002)
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