I saw this Universal film (from the same year as Frankenstein) on a very degraded print on You Tube.

The film works well though at capturing a moment in history, showing the American Football talents of Notre Dame at a point in time immediately after the death of their well-regarded coach, Knute Rockne. Indeed Rockne was on his way to Hollywood to be an advisor on this film when the plane he was in crashed, ending a legendary career. He is portrayed in this film simply as the un-named character of 'Coach' played by an actor who has a close resemblance to the Rockne of later years.

Unusually the film adopts a very distinct two-act structure - the first covering the arrival of neophyte player Lew Ayres at university and his gradual acceptance by his peers due to his grit and determination on the field. His fellow players include the likes of Andy Devine in one of his earlier roles, fairly convincing as both a player and hillbilly style comic relief. The second act shows the players at the end of their college careers, slowly being overwhelmed by the upstart newcomers they themselves once were.

There are the usual stories of sporting films; competitive romantic relationships, the sick player everyone gives their all for on the field in the hope of recovery, the close finish between two well-matched teams. These cliches were perhaps not as old when this film was made but we still feel the ennui of sitting through them.

Production values are very high with lots of football sequences clearly shot at Notre Dame and some very ambitious shots. In one scene the camera, positioned behind goal, does a dramatic leap upwards in a rapid crane shot and then zooms forward in and over the goal to capture a key moment of action. It is a hugely effective sequence, especially for the early days of sound when cameras were housed in substantial blimps to keep unwanted camera mechanical noises at bay.

Lew Ayres, coming off All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) effectively shows a range of emotions from the over-confident country boy trained by his own brother to the seasoned professional who sees himself losing his chances to a younger player. Ayres would eventually have an acting career spanning more than 65 years and was always an effective player.

This could have been very weak indeed given the age of the production but proves very effective at nearly every level.

Released a few months after the death of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, this well-intentioned film was dedicated to his memory. While J. Farrell MacDonald is right on target as the sympathetic but tough coach, the other actors and the thin story line seem corny and cliché to today's audience. Andy Devine has some good comedy relief scenes with a touch of genuine pathos as a bench warmer who is the butt of the team's practical jokes. But things go over the top when he is critically ill and delirious in the hospital, listening to the big game on the radio. When Notre Dame scores a winning touchdown and Andy reacts, the doctor hovering near by shouts, `By God, he's going to pull through!' Also starring Lew Ayres and William Bakewell, both much too thin to be football players! Screened at Cinefest in Syracuse New York March, 2004.

This one was popular in 1931. The tribute to Knute Rockne was a nice touch. But today, it is just a standard football drama. J. Farrell MacDonald is excellent as the coach. For old-time movie buffs, it is an OK film to watch.