Crazylegs (film)

Last updated
Crazylegs
Crazylegs FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by Francis D. Lyon
Written by Hall Bartlett
Based on Life of Elroy Hirsch
Produced byHall Bartlett
Starring Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch
Lloyd Nolan
Joan Vohs
Cinematography Virgil Miller
Edited by Cotton Warburton
Music by Leith Stevens
Production
company
Hall Bartlett Productions
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date
  • November 15, 1953 (1953-11-15)(United States)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Crazylegs is a 1953 film about Elroy Hirsch's football career. In college (University of Wisconsin and University of Michigan) his unconventional dynamic running style allowed him to change directions in a multitude of ways. The media dubbed him "Crazylegs". The name stuck all through his professional career and life. The bulk of this film is centered on his college days. Crazylegs later became part of the foundation of the "Three End" with the LA Rams. This film captures the genuine quality of Hirsch's personality, with Hirsch playing himself in the part.

Contents

The film premiered in Wausau, Wisconsin, Hirsch's hometown. Cotton Warburton's editing was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. [1]

Plot

Elroy Hirsch's life is told from his days in a school in Wisconsin and then at the University of Wisconsin where he already excelled in sports. After military service, Elroy becomes a professional athlete and earns the nickname of Crazylegs, by which he became known internationally. An injury almost ends his career, but in a typical case of personal overcoming, he achieves a triumphant return.

Cast

The final screen of cast credits is summarized as The Men Of The Los Angeles Rams Professional Football Team, Champions Of The World 1945 and 1951, and below this title are listed Larry Brink, Tom Dahms, Dick Daugherty, Jack Dwyer, Tom Fears, Bob Gambold, Norbert Hecker, Elroy Hirsch, Dick Lane, Woodley Lewis, Leon McLaughlin, Don Paul, Duane Putnam, Volney Quinlan, Dan Towler, Norman Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield, Stan West, Jim Winkler and Paul Younger

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elroy Hirsch</span> American football player and executive (1923–2004)

Elroy Leon "Crazylegs" Hirsch was an American professional football player, sport executive and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. He was also named to the all-time All-Pro team selected in 1968 and to the National Football League (NFL) 1950s All-Decade Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Van Brocklin</span> American football player, coach and executive (1926–1983)

Norman Mack Van Brocklin, nicknamed "the Dutchman", was an American professional football player, coach and executive. He played as a quarterback and punter in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He spent his first nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and his final three with the Philadelphia Eagles. Following his playing career, he was the inaugural head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and the second head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1968 to 1974.

Winfred Otto Brockmeyer was an American football coach from Mankato, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Otto</span> American football player (1938–2024)

James Edwin Otto was an American professional football player who was a center for 15 seasons with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Waterfield</span> American football player and coach (1920–1983)

Robert Stanton Waterfield was an American professional football player and coach. A skilled player, he played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily as a quarterback, but also as a safety, kicker, punter and sometimes return specialist with the Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. His No. 7 jersey was retired by the Rams in 1952. He was also a motion picture actor and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton Warburton</span> American football player and film and TV editor

Irvine "Cotton" Eugene Warburton was an American college football quarterback (1933) who became a film and television editor with sixty feature film credits. He worked for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and for the Walt Disney Studios, and is probably best known for his Academy Award-winning editing of Mary Poppins (1964).

The 1945 NFL draft was held on April 8, 1945, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, New York. Perhaps as a tip of the hat to wartime sensibilities, the 1945 draft was officially called the "1944 Preferred Negotiations List" by the league.

<i>Unchained</i> (film) 1955 film by Hall Bartlett

Unchained is a 1955 prison film written, produced and directed by Hall Bartlett and starring Elroy Hirsch, Barbara Hale, Chester Morris, Todd Duncan, and Johnny Johnston. Based on the non-fiction book Prisoners are People by Kenyon J. Scudder, it is most remembered for its theme song, "Unchained Melody".

The 1950 National Football League playoffs took place after the 1950 regular season ended with a tie for first place in both the American and National conferences. The ties forced one-game playoffs to determine who would play in the NFL championship game. It was the only time in the NFL's championship game era that two such tiebreaker playoff games were needed in the same year. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants tied for first place in the American Conference, while the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams tied for first place in the National Conference. The Browns proceeded to beat the Giants 8–3, and the Rams beat the Bears 24–14 in their playoff game. Cleveland then beat the Rams in the championship game the following week. The home teams won all three games in this postseason.

Hall Bartlett was an American film producer, director, and screenwriter, and a pioneer of independent filmmaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Los Angeles Rams season</span> NFL team season

The 1951 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 14th year in the National Football League and the sixth season in Los Angeles. In 1951, the Rams had an up-and-down season, never winning more than three games in a row, but were able to win eight games and clinch the National Conference after defeating the Green Bay Packers during Week 12 of the season. Los Angeles also led the National Football League in attendance for the second time while in Southern California; the first of 10 consecutive seasons leading the league in attendance. The Rams' largest crowd during the 1951 campaign was 67,186 against the Cleveland Browns during Week 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Daley (American football)</span> American football player (1919–2015)

William Edward Daley was an All-American fullback who played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1940 to 1942 and for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1943. The Gophers were national champions in his freshman and sophomore years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Dahms</span> American football player and coach (1927–1988)

Thomas Gordon Dahms was an American football player and coach. He played in the National Football League (NFL) as an offensive tackle for seven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers. After his playing career, he served as assistant coach in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at San Diego State College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Carey (American football)</span> American football player (1930–1988)

Robert Winfield Carey was an American football end who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1952 NFL draft from Michigan State University. He played three season with the Rams between 1952 and 1956 and one season with the Chicago Bears in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1943 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1943 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1943 Big Ten Conference football season. Fritz Crisler, in his sixth year as head coach, led the team to an 8–1 record and a tie with Purdue for the Western Conference championship. The team was ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll behind Notre Dame and the Iowa Pre-Flight School. Michigan outscored its opponents 302 to 73 in nine games. The team's total of 302 points was the highest point total for a Michigan team since the 1917 team scored 304 points in 10 games. Defensively, the team held every opponent, except Notre Dame, to seven or fewer points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Negus</span> American football player (1923–2005)

Frederick Wilson Negus was an American football player. He played college football for Wisconsin and Michigan and professional football in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL).

The 1943–44 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate basketball during the 1943–44 season. In their sixth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished the season in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 12–7 and 5–7 against conference opponents.

The 1942 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Big Ten Conference teams selected by the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) for the 1942 Big Ten Conference football season. Dave Schreiner was the only unanimous pick with 18 points ; Julius Franks and Dick Wildung followed with 17 points each.

The 1951 All-Pro Team consisted of American football players in the National Football League (NFL) chosen as best at their position for the 1951 NFL season. Several rival journalistic organizations named All-Pro teams in 1951, there was no official league honor by that designation.

References

  1. "The 26th Academy Awards | 1954". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved November 2, 2024.

See also