Number One

Charlton Heston's second of three films with director Tom Gries was this film set in the world of pro football. Heston plays a quarterback who's seen his best days, but just wants to hear the roar of the crowd. I can't think of another reason he could possibly have to stay.

Later on his career Heston played in a really great film about pro football, Any Given Sunday where he played the Commissioner of the game. Number One is seen from a different angle, that of the player who sees nothing out there for him when he's through hence he keeps going. Heston has not even heard too many cheers lately, in fact in a bad performance as the film opens he gets quite a few boos. Sports fans can be mighty fickle.

Football has a caste system more than any other team sports. The glamor guys are the backfield and the line are the grunts whose job it is to protect the glamorous ones who score the points. Two other portrayals of aging football players that of Roy Jenson and Bruce Dern. Jenson has one scene with Heston where he hits him up for a touch after a game and briefly and movingly describes his rather bitter life after the career was over.

Dern is different. As he puts it so eloquently he'd play a game on Sunday and he'd hurt through Tuesday. When he started hurting through Saturday it was time to quit. Smart man, as a running back and a glamor guy buy definition he's used his celebrity to build a nice profitable automobile leasing business and is looking to diversify. Next to Heston I liked him best in the film.

Dern typifies something that Stan Musial said about baseball. He knew when to quit when just getting into the uniform and playing a kid's game for lots of money ceased to be fun. Heston should have heeded his and Dern's advice.

A couple of women in Heston's life are wife Jessica Walter and football groupie Diana Muldaur. Walter has a very successful fashion designing business and hangs around with a crowd that Heston hates. It's the whole macho thing with Heston, but he also envies the fact they and the wife are making a success of something they love and are talented in.

Number One ranks up there with other great football films like the aforementioned Any Given Sunday. Heston paid great tribute to Tom Gries as a great director in his memoirs. His three films with Heston, Will Penny, Number One, and The Hawaiians give testimony to that.

Number One (1969)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Charlton Heston plays Ron Catlan, an aging quarterback in the NFL who is entering his fourteenth season. Catlan goes through a disastrous pre-season and injures his knee so in the week leading up to the regular season he must decide if he wants to hang it up or try for one more shot of glory. This film has gotten several very negative reviews including one in Leonard Maltin's guide but I think they were a little too hard on the thing. Yes, it's nothing ground breaking and it's certainly not too deep but I thought it made for an entertaining little movie. There's nothing overly special to be found here but there's an interesting story here of the elderly quarterback trying to weigh his options. These include the retirement but also a friend (Bruce Dern) is trying to get him into a car business that would probably lead to more money and he wouldn't have to take a beating. He's also dealing with his wife (Jessica Walker) as well as a woman (Diana Muldaur) he starts an affair with. I think the film does a decent job at showing the struggle that a NFL player might go through and its this aspect that works the best here. All the personal drama with the wife and girlfriend is pretty melodramatic but none of it is soapy enough to where it kills the film. Another benefit for viewers of today is seeing the old fashioned football gear (New Orleans Saints is the team), stadiums and fans. The performances are all pretty good with Heston doing a very good job in the lead. There were a few times that I had a hard time buying him as a football player but he fit into the drama very well. Heston really appeared to know what it was like struggling getting old but he handles everything fine. Walter, a few years from PLAY MISTY FOR ME, is also good as the wife. Her and Heston really come across like a real couple, which was a plus. I thought Muldaur stole the film as the girlfriend as she really brought across some "60s swing" to the role. Dern doesn't have too much to do but he's certainly a shot of energy at least. I think the film does rely on flashbacks a bit too much and I'd argue that the thing moves at a predictable pace. With that said, the film is certainly innocent enough and I'm sure fans of Heston will enjoy seeing him here.

During the life of Charlton Heston, he often selected to personify men who lived larger than life. Yet, for all of his superior talent, he often said he liked to portray ordinary men in ordinary lives. One exceptional film was 'Will Penny.' Here is another. The movie is called " Number One. " In this role he plays NFL football Quarterback, Ron Catlan. For several years he has been the mainstay player for the New Orleans Saints and has proved to be an exceptional individual. Years ago, he was selected to be the Quarterback and has taken the team to a number of play offs and a Superbowl. During the up-ward climb, men have come to respect and admire him, in addition he has garnered the praise and accolades of both his fans and his team mates. Indeed, everywhere he is seen, both professional men and adoring women seek him out. But that was then, now-a-days, he is being reminded by his coach (John Randolph) that time is catching up to him. Former team players like Richie Fowler (Bruce Dern) who are successful businessmen, advise him to quit football soon and market his name to an advantage. Yet, 'Cat' feels his present career can last several more years and doesn't want forced retirement. Hoping for the best, he plays as if his skill will last beyond his present ability. Roy Jenson makes a brief appearance. ****

In the final scene when Catlan is crushed by the Dallas defense (actually portrayed by Saints players Mike Tilleman, Dave Rowe and Fred Whittingham), neither Heston nor the producer felt the hit on him was realistic enough, so Heston asked them to cut loose to make it look authentic. On the second take, the trio slammed the actor to the ground, breaking three of his ribs!!

As for a better actor to play this part or the "realism" as criticized below, Hogwash. I can't think of many actors back then or NOW that would take a hit like Heston did for any movie.

I enjoyed the show, LOVED the football scenes, liked the 60's look and feel of the show, and still love watching Charlton Heston movies. May he R.I.P.

Some have argued that Heston is not convincing as an NFL quarterback. I disagree. He was six feet three and 200-odd pounds, which is more than large enough, especially during the 1960s. Moreover, Heston worked out with the NFL players on set and even suffered a cracked rib, courtesy of Doug Atkins. AND CH was in his mid-40s.

No, I believe the problem with "Number One" is the screenplay. Catlan (have also seen it spelled as "Catlin") isn't an especially sympathetic character; in fact, he's rather a jerk. He leaves a lot to be desired regarding education and culture. His LIFE has been the NFL.

Now, Heston gets all those qualities, but doesn't suggest anything more admirable. Although in one of the late scenes, after Cat has committed adultery with Diana Muldaur (many men WOULD have done so with DM at her sexiest, as here; but I digress:)), he talks about his life and career with his long-suffering spouse (the excellent Jessica Walter). Here he is vulnerable, and sympathetic. Would that there were more such moments in the film.

But "Number One" remains worth watching. If you need a reason, well, it is the first film to depict at least adequately what professional American football is truly like. "Brian's Song," "North Dallas Forty," "Semi-Tough," etc. came later--