From
Rocky
to
Field of Dreams
, sports movies are among the most beloved of American films. Revolving around familiar narratives like the underdog story, these movies have generated modern—day legends, reinforcing and disseminating our national myths about the American Dream.
In
Sports Movies
, Lester D. Friedman describes the traditional formulas that have made these movies such crowd—pleasers, including stock figures like the disgraced athlete on a quest for redemption, or the wise old coaches who help mentor the heroes to victory. He also explores how the genre’s attitudes have changed over time, especially in key issues like class, race, masculinity, and women in sports.
Along the way, he takes stock of sports films from the dawn of cinema’s silent era to the present day, including classic baseball movies like
Pride of the Yankees
and
Bull Durham
, basketball movies like
Hoosiers
He’s Got Game
, football movies like
Friday Night Lights
Rudy
, and boxing movies like
Raging Bull
Million Dollar Baby
. As Friedman’s analyses reveal, not only do sports movies influence our perceptions about the drama of real—life sports, but they also help to shape our attitudes toward the competitive ethos in American life.