Paper Lion

Paper Lion is a really good movie. Alan Alda was perfect for the role of Sports Illustrated reporter George Plimpton, and Lauren Hutton gave a strong debut performance as Plimpton's secretary. This is a classic underdog movie with Plimpton on assignment trying to make the Detroit Lion's football team. You can't help but put yourself in George's shoes. What makes this movie great is that Alda and Hutton are the only real actors, so it's as if you were a fly on the wall watching the team prepare for the season. I don't want to give anything away, so you will have to see it for yourself. But believe me it is well worth your time and will leave you smiling.

My Dad directed this movie. I was 7 at the time. I remember all the location shoots in Central Park and Lauren Hutton chasing me around a garbage can. My dad and my dog are in the movie. My dad is the guy in the leather Jacket in the bar scene who tries to pick a fight with Alan Alda and my dog was the German Shepherd in the comedy scene with Alex Carras. A lot of memories in this movie. My Dad was an old school director and WWII vet. A tough Brooklyn New Yorker and hardcore football fan. I was a Detroit Lions fan after the movie. I remember the team gave me a Lions T-shirt that I wore for ten years! My dad only made 2-3 movies and then worked the rest of his career as a free lance TV director. Making this movie was a big deal to him and our family. The other movies he made, The Big Bounce and another with Zero mostel, were not as successful. I am glad so many folks enjoyed it.

Enjoyable feel-good film for everybody-- whether you're a quarterback or an armchair quarterback. Based on the true account of George Plimpton at Detroit Lions training camp. Looks at the dream of a weekend athlete and the camaraderie of team sport. The nostalgia of the sixties comes through well. Alan Alda does a fine job as do all the pros, giving the necessary realism. Plimpton does a good job standing in for fans and giving all of us a taste of the big time. At first he tries for a meaningful experience;later he strives to earn respect as he realizes the challenges these men face in professional sports. All backyard athletes dream of the sensation of competing at the highest level. Plimpton and Alda show how it feels behind the scenes in this engaging and entertaining film.

This is a competent film version of reporter George Plimpton's ill-fated attempt to be a NFL quarterback. Although Alan Alda does a good job as Plimpton, the real joy of this film is in the way it unintentionally documents the sense of community shared among the teammates (many of those used in this film were actual football players, including Alex Karras of "Webster" fame) before money, egos, and greed corrupted the sport.

Just watched this movie on TCM. My husband highly recommended that I watch this movie to get a fill for what the players go through for training camp. He thought I'd love the movie since I just adore Alan Alda & he was right! I loved the whole movie & especially how well Alda portrayed George Plimpton. Perfect Casting! Lauren Hutton was also a delight in her movie debut. Highly recommend that women who have husband who are football junkies to watch this movie.

PS: My husband is a big KC Chiefs fan & said that this movie would have been a lot funnier if Plimpton had tried out for the Chiefs, because he says Hank Stram was the funniest coach in football at the time & would have made a great addition to the movie.