bannister's coach WTF??

wasn't it also a man by the name of Franz Stampfl? not some dude in a wheel chair named mason.

He reminds me of Patch's O'houlahan. Now don't you forget the 5 d's.

Stampfl was not his coach. He was merely a coach who gave advice to Bannister a couple of times. Bannister trained himself. Please read Bannister's book for a thousand times better recounting than this horrible horrible attempt at film making.

if you actually read the credits afterwords, it says names have been changed and some characters are fictional. as with many "based on a true story" movie, the director goes overboard with "creative liberty."

the movie was fun to watch,...it has definitely inspired me to search for REAL information on roger bannister and his training leading up to the sub-4 mile.

franz stampfl was chris brasher's coach, not bannister's. bannister coached himself. his book is good. read it.

Bannister tended to downplay the coaching input he received from Stampfl and others. His is to be credited for taking charge of his own training, but the notion he originated it all himself is pushing it.

In my mind, the documentary ESPN showed the night before (admittedly a condensed "The Perfect Mile" with film clips and interviews) was vastly superior. It even had a clip of the Landy-stopping-for-Clarke race. It provided some insight on three classic and classy milers who had meaningful lives beyond the track.

As soon as they start rearranging the facts for dramatic impact, they inevitably ruin the story. Like "Chariots of Fire", the real story is compelling enough on its own. The dramatization distorts and demeans the real accomplishments.

Or at least that's the opinion of one old enough to remember the barrier being broken (as a small child, mind you).

Franz Stampfl was his coach, but only towards the end of his career and even then he was more of a motivational/organizer type of a coach. He didnt have much to do with what workouts Bannister was doing but definetly had a huge effect on Bannister succeeding reaching the mark. He was the one who had Bannister train with chataway and brasher and use them as pacemakers I think. If you want more info read the perfect mile or bannisters book.

?? wrote:

the director goes overboard with "creative liberty."

It was the writer, dummy.