North Dallas Forty (1979)

UMR Review of North Dallas Forty

This is one of the best football movies ever made. Based on Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Peter Gent’s best selling book…this one presents a pretty dark view of professional football.

In this one Nick Nolte is a veteran football player who deals with his various injuries through the use of drugs and shots (more drugs). Mac Davis plays the star quartback and Nolte’s best friend. Davis is pretty much playing Don Meredith in this one. The NFL did not want this story to come out so they did not cooperate with the producers. The team is called the Bulls. There is very little football action in this one…but the off the field activities are more than enough to make up for the lack of football action.

This one is filled with many memorable performances. Besides Nolte and Davis….you get solid performances from Bo Svenson, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, John Matuszak, G.D. Spradlin and Steve Forrest. Even though this movie is already over 35 years ago…the movie still seems very fresh today. Final thought: Give it a try…you will not be disappointed.