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Revision as of 03:52, 28 February 2007 by 69.22.249.79 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1977 American film| Semi-Tough | |
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| File:Semi Tough poster.jpgCaption reads: "IT'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST GAME (AND IT SURE AIN'T FOOTBALL.) | |
| Directed by | Michael Ritchie |
| Written by | Walter Bernstein Dan Jenkins (novel) Ring Lardner Jr., (uncredited) |
| Produced by | David Merrick |
| Starring | Burt Reynolds Kris Kristofferson Jill Clayburgh Lotte Lenya Bert Convy Brian Dennehy |
| Cinematography | Charles Rosher Jr. |
| Edited by | Richard A. Harris |
| Music by | Jerry Fielding |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date | 1977 |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $USD Unknown |
Semi-Tough is a 1977 movie directed by Michael Ritchie and starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh, Lotte Lenya, Bert Convy, and Brian Dennehy
Plot Synopsis
Semi-Tough is an easy-going comedy about two professional football players (Reynolds and Kristofferson) and their mutual girlfriend (Clayburgh). It was adapted from a novel by Dan Jenkins, Ring Lardner, Jr. (who had his name removed from the film credits) and Walter Bernstein. The film differs materially from the source novel.
Reviews
- "Get ready for friendly passes, romantic fumbles and passionate touchdowns in this "bawdy and lively romantic comedy" ~ Variety
- "Starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh, Robert Preston and Burt Convy, along with a host of real NFL players, Semi-Tough is an uproarious "comic free-for-all" ~ Playboy
- "Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson star as two pro-football pals who both fall for the team-owner's very rich daughter. Kind of goofy, kind of funny, and somewhat endearing--those are the qualities that surface in this light-hearted comedy built upon an extremely predictable scenario." ~ All Movie Guide
- "...Directed by Michael Ritchie, who was something of a poet of films about competition in the 1970s and early 1980s, this movie has a certain shaggy charm, abetted by Reynolds's knowing way with a one-liner. If Semi-Tough doesn't seem to go much of anywhere, it still has a good time getting there. The best moment is a send-up of an est-like self-actualization program, with the late Bert Convy as a wonderfully smarmy stand-in for Werner Erhard." ~ Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Trivia
- Semi-Tough was made into a pilot for a television show by the same name. "Semi-Tough" the television pilot aired on January 6, 1980 on ABC. Richard Benjamin and Bill Persky directed, and Mary Louise Weller, Douglas Barr and Josh Taylor were the starring actors.
- Burt Reynolds based his character on his friend Don Meredith's career as a football player.
- When Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson shot the football scenes, they were worked with pro-football athletes. The athletes hit Kristofferson so hard, that they broke a couple of his bones.
Awards
- 1978 - Nominated, WGA Award, Writers Guild of America, Walter Bernstein, Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium.
External links
- Semi-Tough at IMDb
- Semi-Tough at allmovie.com
- Semi-Tough at Yahoo! Movies
- Semi-Tough at Rotten Tomatoes
- Audio Clip from Semi-Tough, at Crazy Ed's Comics