Slap Shot (movie)

Slap Shot is a 1977 Hollywood film starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean and directed by George Roy Hill. The film is based on a book written by Nancy Dowd, based in part on her brother Ned Dowd's experiences playing minor league hockey in the United States in the Seventies, during which time violence -- especially in the low minors -- was the selling point of the game.

Plot

The movie focuses on a fictitious 'Federal League' team called the Charlestown Chiefs. The team, a perennial loser and in financial trouble due to mill closings in the town, is due to be folded at season's end. Through the course of regular business, the team picks up the Hanson Brothers, violent goons with child-like mentalities. Reggie Dunlop, the veteran player-coach (played by Newman), perceiving them to be eccentric and unreliable, initially chooses not to play them. Finally, in a moment of desperation and passiveness, he brings the trio of thugs into the game to see what they can do. Their big open ice hits and overly agressive - excessively violent and bordering on homicidal - style of play is greatly praised by the fans in desperate need of something for which to cheer.

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Dunlop, seeing the potential in this style of play, retools the team in the Hansons' image. Most of the other players -- including "Killer" Carlson (Jerry Houser) -- take a liking to this, with the exception of Ned Braden (Ontkean), used to a clean, flashy style of play from his college days.

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The whole idea turns around in the final game when the players discover there will not be another season and most are about to play their last game. Initially, they all vow to play a clean game, but their vicious style of play has provoked the opposing team to put together the most infamous set of goons ever to grace a hockey rink. The Chiefs' players give in and the game degenerates into an on-ice slugfest. Ironically, it is Ned Braden who ends the fight by stripping off his equipment, an act called by some a "disgrace to the game"

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Ned Dowd himself played Syracuse goon Ogie Ogilthorpe in the film and later used the role to launch a career as a Hollywood character actor and producer.

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The three characters who play the Hanson brothers: Steve Carlson, Jeff Carlson and Dave Hanson, were actually real hockey players, and the Carlsons are actually brothers.

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