Youngblood (1986 film)

Youngblood

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Peter Markle
Produced by Peter Markle
Peter Bart
Patrick Wells
Written by Peter Markle
John Whitman
Starring
Music by William Orbit
Cinematography Mark Irwin
Edited by Jack Hofstra
Stephen E. Rivkin
Production
company
The Guber-Peters Company
United Artists
Distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Company
Release dates
 January 31, 1986
Running time
 110 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $8 million
Box office $15,448,384

Youngblood is a 1986 American drama sports film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Peter Markle, and starring Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Cynthia Gibb and is also Keanu Reeves' second film appearance.

Plots

A 17-year-old farmhand from rural New York State, Dean Youngblood (Rob Lowe) has dreams of playing in the National Hockey League. Dean voices these dreams to his father, but receives negative feedback, and it is not until his brother, Kelly convinces their father to let him try that he is granted the chance to travel to Canada to try out for the Hamilton Mustangs. At the try-outs, Youngblood demonstrates the abilities which garnered him "92 goals in the New York League" but also displays a lack of physical toughness that is so prized in Canadian junior hockey. This perceived weakness is pounced upon by a brutish player, Carl Racki (George J. Finn), who is also trying out for the team and engages him in a fight. Youngblood quickly learns that flashiness and pure athletic ability will not be enough to be successful in this league. Despite being one-punched by Racki, the coach opts to select Youngblood for a spot on the team. He ingratiates himself to the other players through a hazing ritual in which members of the Mustangs pin Youngblood down, and Captain Derek Sutton (Patrick Swayze) shaves his testicles. Youngblood has his first run in with the coach's daughter Jessie (Cynthia Gibb), after this incident, and an early attraction is felt. Following the incident Youngblood further bonds with the team through drinking at the local bar and having two of his teammates, including the Québécois goalie, Heaver (Keanu Reeves), who is seduced by his new landlady Miss McGill (Fionnula Flanagan).

After his mentor and friend on the team, Derek Sutton, is brutally injured by Racki (now with the rival Thunder Bay Bombers), Youngblood returns home to the farm out of fear, sadness, and disgust. After a pep-talk by his older brother Kelly (Jim Youngs) about the nature of never quitting and always standing up for yourself, Youngblood is inspired to learn how to fight and survive on the ice and adopt the killer instinct that has been stopping him from being successful. Youngblood returns to the team a new man, ready to confront Racki in the final game of the Memorial Cup playoffs between his team and the Thunder Bay Bombers.

The game ends with a dramatic, game-winning penalty shot goal by Youngblood with 3 seconds left; yet it is far from over as Youngblood demands to his coach, Murray Chadwick (Ed Lauter) to be left in the game as time expires to confront Racki. "Let's go, Pretty Boy!" says Youngblood as he and Racki engage in a violent fight to the finish with teammates and crowd including Youngblood's father Blane (Eric Nesterenko) and girlfriend Jessie (Coach Chadwick's daughter), cheering him on. The fight starts with both Youngblood and Racki using their sticks as swords until Youngblood knocks Racki's stick out of his hands. Youngblood and Racki then fight bare-handed. Youngblood emerges victorious, landing several blows to the face and body of his nemesis Racki, and is carried off the ice on the shoulders of his teammates in celebration.

Cast

Many of the other team members in the film were actual junior or NCAA hockey players, including Steve Thomas, Peter Zezel (both of whom had lengthy NHL careers), Don Biggs, and James Richmond.[1]

Reception

The movie gained a mediocre reception, with critics finding the plot derivative.[2][3][4] However, it became a popular VHS video rental and cable TV showing.[1]

Production

The filming of Youngblood took place in the east end of Toronto in the summer of 1984. Ted Reeve Arena was used as the setting for the interior of the Hamilton Mustangs home rink while Scarborough Gardens Arena was used for the setting of the arena's exterior; a third city arena was also used for filming.[1]

Several of the cast and crew had actual hockey experience and skills, though star Rob Lowe had to learn to skate, and both he and Patrick Swayze, a beter skater, used doubles for many of their on-ice skating scenes. Director and writer Peter Markle was a former minor-pro and international player for the USA. Cinematographer Mark Irwin, a Canadian, wore skates and a helmet and devised a special rig for shooting hockey scenes on the ice. The film's hockey consultant Eric Nesterenko was a two decade NHL veteran who also appeared as the father of the film's lead character. Keanu Reeves played goalie growing up and in high school. George Finn, who played villian Carl Racki, was a former OHL enforcer. Many of the other team members were actual NCAA or junior hockey players, some of whom went on to significant NHL careers.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Barry, Sal (August 7, 2016). "The Making of 'Youngblood: An Oral History". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  2. ↑ PATRICK GOLDSTEIN (1994-08-26). "Movie Reviews : A Violent 'Youngblood': . . . The Puck Stops Here - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  3. ↑ Maslin, Janet (1986-01-31). "Movie Review - Youngblood - THE SCREEN: ROB LOWE STARS AS 'YOUNGBLOOD' - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  4. ↑ "Youngblood :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. 1986-01-31. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
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