Enjoyable feel-good film for everybody-- whether you're a quarterback or an armchair quarterback. Based on the true account of George Plimpton at Detroit Lions training camp. Looks at the dream of a weekend athlete and the camaraderie of team sport. The nostalgia of the sixties comes through well. Alan Alda does a fine job as do all the pros, giving the necessary realism. Plimpton does a good job standing in for fans and giving all of us a taste of the big time. At first he tries for a meaningful experience;later he strives to earn respect as he realizes the challenges these men face in professional sports. All backyard athletes dream of the sensation of competing at the highest level. Plimpton and Alda show how it feels behind the scenes in this engaging and entertaining film.
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A fairly good adaptation of George Plimpton's book. A young Alan Alda did pretty well playing Plimpton. But as another commenter pointed out, it was most interesting to see pro football in the days when the coaches were the bosses, the players did what they were told, and no thuggishness or criminality was tolerated. Football was tough, and masculine, and that was okay. No strutting, no trash talk. Ah, those were the days.
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sbox1 February 1999This is simply a fun movie. Alan Alda portrays Plimpton believably. I was left constantly thinking, "How would I survive a professional football training camp?" Definitely not as well as Plimpton did. I would have quit after the first day.
Another interesting thing about this film is to see all of the cameos from real people and players from 1968. Players from Alex Karras, Frank Gifford, and even the late Bill McPeak pop up in this movie.
Oh and lest we forget. Ms. Hutton is gorgeous! -
diamondgroup11 July 2005To echo what another commentator said, this was real football. No cell phone celebrations in the end zone, no agents who held their players out of camp,no players moving to five different teams in five seasons (like Seinfeld says "Your rooting for the laundry"}, only real football by real football players. The big money, free agency and showboating have ruined the sport.These guys played together for 6 or 7 seasons and knew each other well. It shows in every scene. There was real veteran leadership, and real veteran depth on these ball clubs.
The action, on camera anyway, must be the 1967 season, because thats the year Roger Brown was traded to the Rams to complete the final version of the "Fearsome Foursome". This is mentioned in the film. The Lions did not have a good season that year. Their once proud defense, of which Coach Joe Schmitt was a key element at MLB, was unraveling and their offense (especially at QB) was never that efficient to begin with. Another important footnote is that Lem Barney, seen singing his alma mater in the film, was defensive rookie of the year in 1967. Mel Farr, the rookie running back seen in several scenes, was the offensive rookie of the year.That is the only time this has ever happened in NFL history. Despite this infusion of new talent,the Lions only finished third in the Central Division, with a record of 5-7-2. Ironically, it was Vince Lombardi's Packers (Lombardi initially rejects Plimpton's offer to cover the team in the film)who would win the division, their third straight NFL title and the Super Bowl.
Alda is OK as Plimpton, but an approximation of the real George Plimpton would have been much funnier. Plimpton had that upper crust Havard accent, which the players liked to mock. ""Forrrty Fouurrr"!! Somebody talking like that among a bunch of football players would have been a scream. I think the non-professional football actors did a wonderful job in this one.Karras showed real acting ability, and John Gordy and Pat Studstill came off like pros. Even Mike Lucci was very effective as the "villian" of the training camp. Joe Schmitt played himself without the self consciousness of most non professional actors. In all, this movie was not only very amusing, but a real look at the guts of pro football during its golden age. -
SnoopyStyle23 November 2018Sports Illustrated writer George Plimpton (Alan Alda) does stories doing professional sports like pitching in an exhibition All-Star baseball game and box a round with Sugar Ray Robinson. With his editor pushing for more, he comes up with an idea to be a quarterback in professional football. He goes undercover as a third string quarterback for The Detroit Lions. It's pretty quick that his inept play allows his teammates to out the fake player. Kate (Lauren Hutton) is his photographer girlfriend.
The use of non-actors leaves this better as an insight into NFL team dynamic more than a flowing narrative movie. There is simply too much non-acting going on. Only Alex Karras would go on as a real actor and he's a good discovery. It would be helpful to have real actors be a few of the players like the backup quarterback who tries to befriend him. It is eye-opening how much control the team has over these guys. They get fined for every minor infraction. That's the most intriguing part of the movie. I also don't think nice guy Alan Alda has the edge to play this character. The ending takes too long to get to him. It's not necessary to show so much of the real game. This is an interesting side trip into the sports movie genre. -
mchl8810 April 2024I enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons.
Lauren Hutton is stunning.
Alan Alda will always be Hawkeye Pierce to me but I do enjoy seeing him in different roles.
The players. For authenticities sake they used a lot of actual NFL players in the film, and they did not embarrass themselves (especially compared to how much Alda's George Plimpton does on the football field). Most notably Alex Karras who would go on to a respectable post-playing acting career.
Did I mention Lauren Hutton? Hubba hubba.
Nostalgia. It was fun to look back on football in the late 60s. It was just emerging as America's number sport, slowing taking over from baseball as America's true pastime. There are similarities to today's game but vast differences as well. And the fact that the Cardinals' tight end was Jackie Smith gave me quite a chuckle. Any older Cowboy fan should understand why. Plus seeing the goal post in the end zone (which comes in to play at the end) was interesting.
Speaking of the end, I loved it. Rudy is one of my all-time favorite sports films and as time wound down on the exhibition game with the Cardinals I was expecting a Rudy type finale. Paper Lion provided the exact opposite. And it was a hilarious ending. -
Bestselling writer George Plimpton(Alan Alda)takes on an assignment for Sports Illustrated. He is to go incognito to the Detroit Lions training camp and try out for a position as third string Quarterback. He is quickly found out by the team members featuring Alex Karras and Mike Lucci. The entire team finds it amusing to cause stumbling blocks in the writer's determination to Quarterback for a series in a real game.
This movie is Alda's debut and also helped Karras leave the gridiron for acting. Besides the 1968 Detroit Lions, the cast also includes "Sugar Ray" Robinson, Roy Schieder and Lauren Hutton.
Alex March directs this story based on Plimton's book. -
johnmarchaudio20 February 2014My Dad directed this movie. I was 7 at the time. I remember all the location shoots in Central Park and Lauren Hutton chasing me around a garbage can. My dad and my dog are in the movie. My dad is the guy in the leather Jacket in the bar scene who tries to pick a fight with Alan Alda and my dog was the German Shepherd in the comedy scene with Alex Carras. A lot of memories in this movie. My Dad was an old school director and WWII vet. A tough Brooklyn New Yorker and hardcore football fan. I was a Detroit Lions fan after the movie. I remember the team gave me a Lions T-shirt that I wore for ten years! My dad only made 2-3 movies and then worked the rest of his career as a free lance TV director. Making this movie was a big deal to him and our family. The other movies he made, The Big Bounce and another with Zero mostel, were not as successful. I am glad so many folks enjoyed it.
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edblackham6 September 2023I've never heard of this movie and thought it might be fun to watch Alan Alda get beat up. Too bad there wasn't even more of it. The football action was actually decent, except for when Alda was involved. Not a single play that he was involved in was believable. If they were using a stunt double then they surely found somebody as inept as he is. I don't know who's idea was to cast him as a lead, but it was the wrong move.
Lauren Hutton, as his wife was a better actor than he is. Most of the rest of the actors were actual football players, and they were actually decent. They could all act better than Alda. -
wakkadakka9 July 2005Just watched this movie on TCM. My husband highly recommended that I watch this movie to get a fill for what the players go through for training camp. He thought I'd love the movie since I just adore Alan Alda & he was right! I loved the whole movie & especially how well Alda portrayed George Plimpton. Perfect Casting! Lauren Hutton was also a delight in her movie debut. Highly recommend that women who have husband who are football junkies to watch this movie.
PS: My husband is a big KC Chiefs fan & said that this movie would have been a lot funnier if Plimpton had tried out for the Chiefs, because he says Hank Stram was the funniest coach in football at the time & would have made a great addition to the movie. -
moonspinner5515 October 2007Alan Alda plays Sports Illustrated writer George Plimpton, who was invited to join the Detroit Lions football team as an honorary member. Rather wan, uncompelling drama curiously tempered with fantasy. Director Alex March takes an interesting tack on this material, shooting it in a quasi-documentary fashion (with macho commentary) and yet giving the tale a touch of Capra-esque whimsy; still, by bringing out the cinematic flashiness in this set-up, he turns the main narrative into a jumble. Alda's smug, uncharismatic performance is another handicap, though the supporting cast is filled with real-life pro-athletes (and scintillating Lauren Hutton as Alda's girlfriend--how's that for a fantasy?). *1/2 from ****
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I had to watch this film because I am an inveterate fan of the Detroit Lions football team. It is a really charming and funny true story, starring Alan Alda as New York sportswriter George Plimpton, who on a special assignment from his magazine, tries out in an NFL training camp to be a quarterback. He applies at all the major teams, the Bears, the Packers, which includes an appearance by the legendary Vince Lombardi, who rejects George. Finally the Lions invite George to training camp. On his arrival he is greeted by Hall of Fame Lions coach Joe Schmidt, and other great Lions players like Alex Karras, Lem Barney, Roger Brown, Mike Lucci, John Gordy and Pat Studstill. There is a very funny scene where George has to stand up in the canteen and sing his college song, which is Harvard. Also appearing is the delightful Lauren Hutton and Roy Scheider. It is a really enjoyable film, and not just for football fans.
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J. Canker Huxley6 December 1998This is a competent film version of reporter George Plimpton's ill-fated attempt to be a NFL quarterback. Although Alan Alda does a good job as Plimpton, the real joy of this film is in the way it unintentionally documents the sense of community shared among the teammates (many of those used in this film were actual football players, including Alex Karras of "Webster" fame) before money, egos, and greed corrupted the sport.
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metalrox_20009 June 2005If you are a fan of Pro football, this is a must. Before Alan Alda shot to fame in the TV series MASH, he was in Paper Lion. Many Football movies have been made, some good, some bad. Longest Yard and Brain's Song rank as two of the best, with Paper Lion a close third. One of the best scenes doesn't take place on the Football field. When Plimpton (Alda) explains his idea to Vince Lombardi, Lombardi laughs and replied " Have you thought about the AFL?" Giving him a dirty look, Alda leaves. This shows the bad blood that existed between the NFL and AFL at the time. One year after this movie was filmed, the merger of the AFL and NFL was announced.
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2713 November 1999Paper Lion is a really good movie. Alan Alda was perfect for the role of Sports Illustrated reporter George Plimpton, and Lauren Hutton gave a strong debut performance as Plimpton's secretary. This is a classic underdog movie with Plimpton on assignment trying to make the Detroit Lion's football team. You can't help but put yourself in George's shoes. What makes this movie great is that Alda and Hutton are the only real actors, so it's as if you were a fly on the wall watching the team prepare for the season. I don't want to give anything away, so you will have to see it for yourself. But believe me it is well worth your time and will leave you smiling.
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mikereaves-129-6615476 September 2023And not two dozen coaches, scores of "suits", hundreds of marketing employees, and players padded their knees, haha.
The book is based on the 1963 season, when Alex Karras and Paul Horning were banned for gambling.
Fortunately, the movie was filmed in 1968 Boca Raton, FL when Pat Studstill was still a Lion, and Karras was back.
It is fun seeing Karras wearing glasses and smoking a cigar.
Alan Alda before Mash, Lauren Hutton at a young age.
I discovered Joe Schmidt, probably the most important Detroit Lion of all, who I was not known by me.
The training camp scenes are very true to life in those days.
Oh how I miss the simpler times. -
vernc122 January 2024Sort of a biopic cum documentary. Plimpton was a writer who spent a training camp with the Detroit Lions.
I'm surprised that so many reviewers don't know that this film is "an amiable fiction". Alex Karras sat out Plimpton's season suspended for gambling violations. George Parker was the Lions coach. And more.
Plimpton appeared in an intrasquad game and was announced to the crowd. He did take an ignominious fall after a snap.
Scenes like the rookie hazing and the growling wakeups are authentic. I'm told that there is a marked similarity with the practices of college fraternities.
All that said, the film is a fine comedy wonderfully made.