3schwartz@interaccess.com

I understand that after the success of Knute Rockne, O'Brien had a monopoly on playing beloved yet star-crossed football coaches. But here he is supposedly a Darmouth undergrad and O'Brien is a ripe old 48 -- with a hairline to match his age. With all the makeup magic available in Hollywood -- even in 1943 -- couldn't they have done something to make him look a little younger? The only answer is that the producers felt they didn't have to change anything -- that our affection for O'Brien would allow us to accept him in any role. That's a lack of respect for your audience -- and for the actor, who with a little bit of fake hair would have been fine.

I am an admirer of O'Brien's work -- who wouldn't be -- and I understand he was just doing his part as an employee. But the studio really let him -- and us -- down this time.