Running Movie: The Games

This 1970s movie was so bad that it was actually entertaining. So riddled with inaccuracies about running that it was hysterical to watch. As memory serves, one athlete played by Ryan O'Neal, at the "Olympics", decides to try the marathon after he is finished with his event...the 400m! Some mysterious figure gives him some "pills", which cause him to run pretty well until he literally crashes into a wall! Another character plays a manipulated African distance runner who won't follow his country's rules (like wearing shoes). Another runner is patterned after an eastern European distance runner who is tough as nails. Some of these characters are based loosely on actual runners, but a lot of liberties were taken when making this "gem". Actually, it would be funny to see it again!

yeahhhh wrote:

I saw this on TV a long time ago, and was wondering if anyone knew where to get it on dvd or vhs

It's actually a terrific movie when it doesn't focus on the admittedly ridiculous Ryan O'Neal character. The "African" character is in fact an Australian aborigine. I'm not sure what your objection to the Eastern European character, an aging athlete identified as Czech, could possibly be. The strength of the movie is actually the British runner played by Michael Crawford, who at the time was about half the size he was when he later played "Phantom of the Opera." There's a scene in which Crawford, who had talent but saw running as a drudge, breaks through and discovers its potential joys that is just about the best sequence in any dramatized running movie.

I have it on DVD, email me if you are interested in a copy.

Yes, like I said, it was entertaining, but some was pretty far-fetched, like they knew a little bit about distance running, but not a lot. The Ryan O'Neal character was the most off-base; a 400m/marathoner (pretty good range!) You're right, that character was an aborigine who it seems was exploited by some Aussies. I had no objection to the E. European character, just thought he was somewhat stereotypical. Kind of dour,overly serious. Was he a Czech?, guess I missed that, but it was 30+ years ago. (He was probably the most believable of the lot.) Actually with the lack of good movies out at present, this one might be fun to see again.

I remember watching this a few years ago. Michael Crawford's character Harry Hayes was a milkman and I remember his coach (Stanley Baker) persuading him to try and run a sub 2 hour Olympic marathon. I'm pretty sure he went through halfway in 59:10 or so, but of course hit the wall and finished a la Dorando with his coach shouting at him calling him a weakling etc. The aborigine character is given some running shoes for the race, but he gives them back and runs barefoot. He just beats Vendec (the Czech) in the final 100m. It is an entertaining film and uses footage from Tokyo (or perhaps Rome) and was directed by none other than Michael Winner.

Anybody remember the deathless "Goldengirl"? I saw the trailer--that was enough for me...

I saw "Goldengirl." The funniest part of it was how hard the other actresses had to struggle to not outsprint Susan Anton. The director seemed overly interested in Ms. Anton's derriere. which...you know, was understandable.

There is a race scene in the Games when the Australian aborigine wins an Australian Championship on the track prior to the Olympics. The scene was a real interclub meet in Melbourne and that race footage included Ron Clarke, Derek Clayton and Jim Langford. Clarke leads the pack up the straight until the kid bursts away in the last 20-30 meters for the win (shades of Billy Mills).

I always thought the 4 main characters were hybrids of 2 or more runners each. The Czech was definitely Emil with a little Paavo mixed in. The English dude was Jim Peters with a little Ron Hill in there. His coach is loosely based on the English sprint coach from Chariots of Fire. The Aborigine was Abebe with a little Mills. The American was a product of the US college system, and the US open mile champion in the movie. Perhaps someone could take a stab at which post collegian milers turned marathon runners Eric Segal could have been was writing about?

I grew up watching this movie a couple of times a year in Australia. I would love to get a DVD copy but it has never been released in the US.