SCREEN TEST: WIN ONE FOR THE GIPPER

The NFL playoffs arrive at a time when the game’s violence is being questioned. Head injuries dominate the conversation. Some films like Oliver Stone’s ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (1999) have tackled the subject head on, but for this month’s Screen Test, we’ve gone back to that 1940 classic of the leatherhead era, KNUTE ROCKNE – ALL AMERICAN from the AFI’s list of America’s Most Inspiring Movies. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon and starred Pat O’Brien as the legendary head coach of Notre Dame and Ronald Reagan as George Gip, the inspirational figure behind the famous “win one for the Gipper” half-time speech. Over 70 years ago, KNUTE ROCKNE – ALL AMERICAN raised the topic of football violence when the coach faces a university committee in this scene written by Robert Buckner:

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Mr. Rockne, couldn’t football be replaced by some other game? Something less violent?

KNUTE ROCKNE

Well, what game would you suggest?

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Well, hockey, for instance.

[This answer is greeted by raucous laughter in the committee room.]

KNUTE ROCKNE

Why, as a matter of fact, I suggested that very idea to Father Callahan, our president. He was downright interested until –

CUT! Until what? Pick the actual dialogue used in the movie from among these five possibilities:

PLEASE CHOOSE AN ANSWER:

Correct! Here’s the rest of the speech: “And then he threw up his hands. He said, ‘No... , that game is not for our university. Notre Dame will never endorse any game that puts a club in the hands of an Irishman.’"

Incorrect.

The correct answer is #2

Here’s the rest of the speech: “And then he threw up his hands. He said, ‘No... , that game is not for our university. Notre Dame will never endorse any game that puts a club in the hands of an Irishman.’"

The line "win just one for the Gipper" that is spoken by Ronald Reagan, who plays George Gipp in the film, became Reagan's trademark and he often mentioned it during his presidency. The entire speech reads, "Some day when the team's up against it...breaks have beaten the boys...ask them to go in there with all they've got...win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then but I'll know about it. I'll be happy."

The Catalog lists 194 films with football as its subject – from THE COLLEGE ORPHAN (1915) to THE FIFTH QUARTER (2011). Click here to find your favorite football films.