THE LONGEST YARD (1973) 🍊🏈🏟️

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Also known as FOOTBALL SEASON —American football that is. All kidding aside Fall is probably our most favorite time of year and what better way to celebrate than covering a film starring our favorite hometown OG Florida boy, and one of our favorite actors and human beings— Burt Reynolds. No other actor can pull off what Reynolds can in his portrayal of bad boy “Paul Crewe” (Sandler does a serviceable job, but comes off as a sullen imitation by comparison). Burt Reynolds was an athletic talent in his youth and played for FSU as halfback until his football aspirations were cut short from injury. An 18 yo Burt also had the distinction of being arrested by his own father, Burton Reynolds, Sr. who was served as Riviera Beach’s Police Chief. In many ways Reynolds’s modest beginnings likely helped him develop a screen persona that was both accessible and intriguing to cinema goers. This film has some bittersweet moments and thought provoking theme’s, interwoven with America’s ardor for the world’s most violent game. In a way, it is the poor man’s SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, and because it is the poor man’s version it rings a bit more true. You don’t have to love or even understand football to appreciate this film. Burt Reynolds FSU football highlight https://youtu.be/Brjf7LWF2lI?si=bsRQbMgdMtVPkSVJ “Doing Time On The Longest Yard” https://youtu.be/xW1Sxro3_2M?si=CmSuiyS_qRJa7iS0 Burt Reynolds filming The Longest Yard https://youtu.be/umpNBdVc8d4?si=24OcwzS4r7AZROId Burt Reynolds John Barbour interview https://youtu.be/BwPIW0zrpOA?si=u6Tn3wH7FlSV62Fy