David Miller directed Saturday’s Hero, a sports film noir, starring John Derek.
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Theatrical release poster
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Columbia bought the novel specifically as vehicle for Derek.
The film is perhaps better known as representing the acting debut of Aldo Ray (still going by Aldo DaRe), but it was released after his second one in My True Story (1951), and the debut score of Elmer Bernstein, who would become one of Hollywood’s top composers.
Steve Novak, a Polish-American immigrant from New Jersey mill town, decides to go to a college in Virginia to play football. After becoming star player, he hears stories of teammates getting money for their play.
Steve falls for Melissa (Donna Reed), the daughter of one of the school’s rich benefactors, TC McCabe. When he suffers injuries on the field, Steve realizes that a college education will mean more to his future than football.
The shoot went for 80 days including 35 days of football sequences.
Cast
John Derek as Steve Novak
Donna Reed as Melissa
Sidney Blackmer as TC McCabe
Alexander Knox as Professor Megroth
Elliott Lewis as Eddie Adams
Otto Hulett as Coach “Preacher” Tennant
Howard St. John as Belfrage
Aldo Ray as Gene Hausler (as Aldo DaRe)
Alvin Baldock as Francis ‘Clay’ Clayborne
Wilbur Robertson as Bob Whittier
Charles Mercer Barnes as Moose Wagner
Bill Martin as Joe Mestrovic
Mickey Knox as Joey Novak
Sandro Giglio as Poppa Jan Novak
Tito Vuolo as Manuel
Credits:
Directed by David Miller
Screenplay by Sidney Buchman, Millard Lampell, based on The Hero, 1949 novel by Millard Lampell
Produced by Buddy Adler
Cinematography Lee Garmes
Edited by William Lyon
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date: September 10, 1951
Running time: 111 minutes
Box office $1,150,000 (US rentals)
Films Directed by David Miller
Penny Wisdom (1937)
The Great Heart (1938)
Drunk Driving (1939)
More About Nostradamus (1941)
Billy the Kid (1941)
Sunday Punch (1942)
Flying Tigers (1942)
Top o’ the Morning (1949)
Love Happy (1949)
Our Very Own (1950)
Saturday’s Hero (1951)
Sudden Fear (1952)
Twist of Fate (1954)
Diane (1956)
The Opposite Sex (1956)
The Story of Esther Costello (1957)
Happy Anniversary (1959)
Midnight Lace (1960)
Back Street (1961)
Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
Hammerhead (1968)
Hail, Hero! (1969)
Executive Action (1973)
Bittersweet Love (1976)
The Best Place to Be (1979)
