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Author | Daniel James Brown |
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Original title | The Boys in the Boat |
Language | English |
Genre | Narrative nonfiction |
Publisher | Penguin Books |
Publication date | June 4, 2013 |
Media type | |
Pages | 404 |
ISBN | 978-0670025817 |
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is a non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown and published on June 4, 2013.
The Boys in the Boat is a true story based on the struggles and sacrifices made by the University of Washington rowing team to compete at rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's eight. [1] Joseph Sutton-Holcomb from The Seattle Times writes that Brown got the idea to write this book when his neighbor Judy Willman said that her father, Joe Rantz, was a fan of his works and wanted to have a conversation with the author. [2] That conversation with Joe Rantz about life during the Great Depression led to an in-depth chat about his time as a rower at the University of Washington. [2]
In an interview with Joseph Sutton-Holcomb from The Seattle Times, Brown emphasized that the reason he spent so much time on the build-up to the race was because he thought “it's much more meaningful if you know the nine guys involved on some kind of personal level, and if you knew what the German boys wearing swastikas on their chests represented, that they weren't just another bunch of kids in a boat.” [2]
The Boys in the Boat is about the University of Washington eight-oared rowing crew that represented the United States in rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's eight in Berlin, and narrowly beat out Italy and Germany to win the gold medal. The main character is Joe Rantz. Rantz had a tough time growing up and was abandoned by his family for several years to fend for himself.
There are two backstories. One illustrates how all nine members of the Washington team came from lower-middle-class families and had to struggle to earn their way through school during the depths of the Depression. Along with the chronicle of their victories and defeats in domestic competition, the reader learns the importance of the synchronization of the eight rowers as they respond to the commands of the coxswain and his communications with the stroke, consistent pacing, and sprint to the finish.
The second backstory begins with a depiction of Hitler decreeing construction of the spectacular German venues at which the Games would take place. Along the way, the book also describes how the Nazis successfully covered up the evidence of their harsh and inhumane treatment of the Jews and other minorities so as to win worldwide applause for the Games, duping the United States Olympic Committee, among others.
All comes together with a description of the final race. During the 1930s, rowing was a popular sport with millions following the action on the radio. The victorious Olympians became national heroes. In accordance with the strictures of amateur athletics, the boys sank into relative obscurity after their victory but were still better off than their parents and for the rest of their lives proud of their accomplishment. After their win, they would come together every few years to row again.
The book became the #1 best seller for three weeks in the Paperback Nonfiction category in the New York Times bestseller list. [3]
Timothy Egan of The New York Times wrote, "Against all odds, Brown's book has become a global phenomenon. The Boys in the Boat is about who we used to be. And who we still could be. Like the best history, its then and now wow factor is both embarrassing (to the present) and inspiring (to the future)." [4] Laurence Raw, from The Journal of American Culture, addressed this book as being researched beautifully and highlights the woes and triumphs experienced during the Great Depression. [5] Along with the book’s praise, the book received many awards, including the 2014 Washington State Book Award. [6]
Overall, the book received positive reactions. The Guardian stated, "The US rowing team's victory at Hitler's 1936 Olympics is charted in a dramatic Depression-era account destined for Hollywood." [7] The News Journal includes a positive review from John Schoonver, a coxswain at St. Andrews School in 1959, who claimed that "It [the book] shows a remarkable story about the perseverance of young rowers.” [8] In July 2014, The Delhi Press addressed that “One of the protagonists is Joe Rantz, a poor boy, whose determination to overcome odds makes him an ideal hero. The author learned the details of Rantz's brilliant rowing career from the athlete himself.” [9] According to The Delhi Press, the author worked hard to create a book to inspire many generations. [9] The Smithsonian highlighted how it's not a surprise that this novel has been brought to cinematic development. [10] The figurative language and imagery Brown utilizes allows the audience to feel what the rowers are experiencing. [10] Joseph Sutton-Holcomb from The Seattle Times said the book is more than a heartfelt coming-of-age sports saga because it exemplifies what can be accomplished when people come together. [2]
On March 3, 2011, The Weinstein Company acquired the film rights to The Boys in the Boat with Kenneth Branagh directing and Donna Gigliotti producing. [11] [12] In October 2018, Lantern Entertainment (the successor of The Weinstein Company) contracted with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to distribute the film worldwide. [13] In March 2020, it was announced that actor George Clooney would direct the film. [14]
In November 2021, it was announced that Callum Turner was cast in an unspecified role. [15]
In February 2022, it was announced that Joel Edgerton, Jack Mulhern, Sam Strike, Luke Slattery, Tom Varey, Thomas Elms, Wil Coban, Bruce Herbelin-Earle, and Hadley Robinson were cast. [16]
In March 2022, Courtney Henggeler and James Wolk joined the cast. [17] [18]
The story of the gold medal-winning crew also inspired a 2016 PBS American Experience documentary The Boys of ’36. [19]
Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is divided into two disciplines: sculling and sweep rowing. In sculling, each rower holds two oars, one in each hand, while in sweep rowing each rower holds one oar with both hands. There are several boat classes in which athletes may compete, ranging from single sculls, occupied by one person, to shells with eight rowers and a coxswain, called eights. There are a wide variety of course types and formats of racing, but most elite and championship level racing is conducted on calm water courses 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long with several lanes marked using buoys.
Spyglass Media Group, LLC is an American independent film and television production and finance company founded by Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum on August 21, 1998.
Jack Beresford, CBE, born Jack Beresford-Wiszniewski, was a British rower who won five medals at five Olympic Games in succession. This record in Olympic rowing was not matched until 2000 when Sir Steve Redgrave won his sixth Olympic medal at his fifth Olympic Games.
Rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics featured seven events. The competitions were held from 11 to 14 August on a regatta course at Grünau on the Langer See.
Herbert Roger Morris was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Charles Ward Day was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Gordon Belgum Adam was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
John Galbraith White was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
James Burge McMillin was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
George Elwood Hunt Jr. was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Joseph Harry Rantz was an American rower who won Olympic gold in the men's eight at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Donald Bruce Hume was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Daniel James Brown is an American author of narrative nonfiction books.
The men's eight competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics took place at Grünau Regatta Course in Berlin, Germany. The event was held from 12 to 14 August, and was won by a United States crew from the University of Washington. There were 14 boats from 14 nations, with each nation limited to a single boat in the event. The victory was the fifth consecutive gold medal in the event for the United States and seventh overall; the Americans had won every time they competed. Italy repeated as silver medalists. Germany earned its first medal in the men's eight since 1912 with its bronze. Canada's three-Games podium streak ended.
Caleb Shepherd is a New Zealand rowing cox. He holds the world best time in the men's coxed pair (2014) and represented at the Rio Olympics in the New Zealand eight. He coxed the New Zealand women's eight to their 2019 World Championship title and has been twice a world champion.
The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film produced and directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on the 2013 book by Daniel James Brown. The film follows the University of Washington rowing team, and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. It stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson Sr. and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz.
Alvin M. Ulbrickson, also known as Al Ulbrickson Sr., was an American rower and coach.
The Boys in the Boat (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album composed by Alexandre Desplat to the 2023 film of the same name directed by George Clooney. The soundtrack album, consisting of 22 tracks, was released digitally by Sony Classical Records on December 22, 2023, three days ahead of the film's release in the United States.
The following is a list of unproduced Kenneth Branagh projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, British filmmaker Kenneth Branagh has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.
The US rowing team's victory at Hitler's 1936 Olympics is charted in a dramatic Depression-era account destined for Hollywood