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Directed byKevin Rafferty
Release: 2008
Runtime: 105
Country:U.S.
Director:Kevin Rafferty
Cast:Vic Gatto, Brian Dowling, Tommy Lee Jones
Composer: Greg Smith
HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29
A film by Kevin Rafferty
An incredible true story that unfolds like "a ripping good yarn... with an uproarious, impossible Hollywood ending" (Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com), Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is filmmaker Kevin Rafferty's (The Atomic Cafe) acclaimed documentary depicting one of the most legendary games in the history of sports.
Harvard Stadium — November 23, 1968. With Vietnam raging, Nixon in the White House, and issues from civil rights to women's lib dividing the country, Harvard and Yale, both teams undefeated for the first time since 1909, meet for the annual climax of the Ivy League football season. On the blue-blooded Yale campus, gridiron fever has made local celebrities out of a Yale team led by quarterback Brian Dowling, who hadn't lost a game that he finished since the 7th grade, and who was the role model for Doonesbury's "B.D." At civil unrest scarred Harvard, a melting pot team of working class players, antiwar activists, and a decorated Vietnam vet set aside their differences for the Big Game. Together, Yale and Harvard stage an unforgettable football contest that baffled even their own coaches. Using vintage game footage and bracingly honest contemporary interviews with the players from both sides, including Harvard lineman and future Oscar® winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men), Rafferty crafts an alternately suspenseful, hilarious, and poignant portrait of American lives, American sports, and American ideals both tested on the playing field and transformed by turbulent times.
2008 US 104 min. Color Letterboxed (1.85:1)
HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29
featuring TOMMY LEE JONES BRIAN DOWLING VIC GATTO FRANK CHAMPI MIKE
BOUSCAREN J.P. GOLDSMITH PAT CONWAY
BRUCE WEINSTEIN FRITZ REED DEL MARTING BRUCE FREEMAN KYLE GEE PETE
VARNEY BOB LEVIN GEORGE LALICH NICK DAVIDSON MICK KLEBER BILL KELLY
JOHN IGNACIO GUS CRIM DICK WILLIAMS RICK FRISBIE JIM and FRAN GALLAGHER
sportscaster DON GILLIS
Cinematographer KEVIN RAFFERTY Sound and Editing KEVIN RAFFERTY Online
Editor / Colorist STEVE PEQUIGNOT - GLUE EDITING & DESIGN
Sound Design and Mix MARGARET CRIMMINS and GREG SMITH - DOG BARK SOUND
Music Arranged and Performed by GREG SMITH
Produced and Directed by KEVIN RAFFERTY
© 2008 Kevin Rafferty Productions
Reviews More Reviews
“WONDERFUL… “THRILLING… “ANEPIC STORY…” “AGOLDEN MOMENT… "PREPOSTEROULYENTERTAINING... “****CLOSE TO PERFECT…” “THEBEST FOOTBALL MOVIE I’VE EVER SEEN… “AFACINATING FEAT OF CULTURAL ARCHEOLOGY” “ANAIL-BITING SPORTS STORY … “SOMUCH FUN … WITTY, FUNNY AND REFLECTIVE… “SUPREMELYWONDERFUL…
An irresistible human story and as fine a documentary
about football as “Hoop Dreams” was onbasketball”
Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times
Not just a great sports movie,HARVARD BEATS YALE captures a pivotal moment in our recenthistory.”
Steven Rea THE PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER
J.R. Jones THE CHICAGO READER
makes a movie lover feel the way a devoted reader does when dippinginto a magnum opus.
Michael Sragow THE BALTIMORE SUN
pulses with the artful exciting beats of a thriller"
Manohla Dargis NEW YORK TIMES
Rafferty’s look at the most (in)famous college football gameever is close to perfect. Folks who don’t have any inklingwhat an “I formation” is will still find themselvessucked into the film’s vortex.”
David Fear TIME OUT NEW YORK
A particular day in history becomes a moment out of time.”
J Hoberman VILLAGE VOICE
“THEGREATEST FOOTBALL GAME YOU PROBABLY NEVER SAW”
Allen Barra THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
ATOUCHING EXCITING FILM…Critic’sPick
a look at the bittersweet nature of time and memory
Bilge Ebiri NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Richard Brody THE NEW YORKER
highlighted by personal stories, famous faces
and the backdrop of the tumultuous '60s.”
Rafer Guzman, NEWSDAY
An extraordinary football game, played at a time when the country was apolitical powder keg.
John Anderson, VARIETY
One of the most exciting pigskin encounters of all time.”
Doris Toumarkine, FILM INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
Reviews
“WONDERFUL…
An irresistible human story and as fine a documentary
about football as “Hoop Dreams” was onbasketball”
Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times“THRILLING…
Not just a great sports movie,HARVARD BEATS YALE captures a pivotal moment in our recenthistory.”
Steven Rea THE PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER“ANEPIC STORY…”
J.R. Jones THE CHICAGO READER“AGOLDEN MOMENT…
makes a movie lover feel the way a devoted reader does when dippinginto a magnum opus.
Michael Sragow THE BALTIMORE SUN"PREPOSTEROULYENTERTAINING...
pulses with the artful exciting beats of a thriller"
Manohla Dargis NEW YORK TIMES“****CLOSE TO PERFECT…”
Rafferty’s look at the most (in)famous college football gameever is close to perfect. Folks who don’t have any inklingwhat an “I formation” is will still find themselvessucked into the film’s vortex.”
David Fear TIME OUT NEW YORK“THEBEST FOOTBALL MOVIE I’VE EVER SEEN…
A particular day in history becomes a moment out of time.”
J Hoberman VILLAGE VOICE
“THEGREATEST FOOTBALL GAME YOU PROBABLY NEVER SAW”
Allen Barra THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
ATOUCHING EXCITING FILM…Critic’sPick
a look at the bittersweet nature of time and memory
Bilge Ebiri NEW YORK MAGAZINE“AFACINATING FEAT OF CULTURAL ARCHEOLOGY”
Richard Brody THE NEW YORKER“ANAIL-BITING SPORTS STORY …
highlighted by personal stories, famous faces
and the backdrop of the tumultuous '60s.”
Rafer Guzman, NEWSDAY“SOMUCH FUN … WITTY, FUNNY AND REFLECTIVE…
An extraordinary football game, played at a time when the country was apolitical powder keg.
John Anderson, VARIETY“SUPREMELYWONDERFUL…
One of the most exciting pigskin encounters of all time.”
Doris Toumarkine, FILM INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
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