Rudy (film)

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Rudy
Rudy movie poster.
Directed by	David Anspaugh
Produced by	Cary Woods
Written by	Angelo Pizzo
Starring	Sean Astin Jon Favreau Ned Beatty Greta Lind Scott Benjaminson Mary Ann Thebus Charles S. Dutton
Music by	Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography	Oliver Wood
Editing by	David Rosenbloom
Distributed by	TriStar Pictures
Release date(s)	October 13, 1993
Running time	116 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Rudy is a 1993 film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles. It was the first movie the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940. In 2005 "Rudy" was named one of the best 25 sports movies of the previous 25 years in two polls by ESPN (#24 by a panel of sports experts, and #4 by espn.com users) ^[1]

1 Plot
2 Main cast
- 2.1 Cameo appearances
3 Soundtrack
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger grew up dreaming of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. While achieving some success with his local high school football team, Ruettiger lacked the grades and money to attend Notre Dame, and talent and physical size (Ruettiger was only 5' 6" and 165 pounds) to play football for the Fighting Irish. Instead, he takes a job at the local steel mill where his father (a huge Notre Dame football fan) works and prepares to settle down.

When his best friend Pete is killed in an explosion at the mill, Rudy decides to follow his dream of attending Notre Dame and playing college football for the Fighting Irish, and leaves for Notre Dame, against his father's warning that “Ruettigers don't belong at Notre Dame.” Ruettiger fails to get admitted to Notre Dame, and instead goes to a small junior college, Holy Cross College hoping to qualify for a transfer to the university.

During his final semester of eligibility transfer, he is granted admission to Notre Dame. After walking onto football practice tryouts, Ruettiger convinces coach Ara Parseghian to give him a spot on the football practice team, where Rudy exhibits more drive and desire than some of his big-name varsity teammates.

Upon Dan Devine's installation as head coach, Ruettiger fears he will lose the chance to dress for a home game, an arrangement he had with Parseghian. Late in the season of 1975, his teammates, lead by team captain and All-American Roland Steele, rise to his defense, demanding to Devine that Rudy be allowed to suit up in their place (by throwing down their jerseys, one at a time, on top of Devine's desk) for the final game of the season.

In the penultimate play of that game, Coach Devine is persuaded to insert Rudy (after all the players and later the fans chanted “Rudy… Rudy… Rudy…”) who sacks the opposing quarterback to end the game on the subsequent play. Rudy is carried off the field by his teammates, the last Notre Dame player to have such a distinction.

[edit] Main cast

Sean Astin as Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger
Jon Favreau as D-Bob
Ned Beatty as Daniel Ruettiger, Sr.
Charles S. Dutton as Fortune
Jason Miller as Ara Parseghian
Scott Benjaminson as Frank Ruettiger
Lili Taylor as Sherry
Robert Prosky as Father John Cavanaugh
Vincent Vaughn as Jamie O'Hara
Chelcie Ross as Dan Devine
Steve Hely as Ed Silver

[edit] Cameo appearances

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger - As a fan behind Rudy's father in the final game scene. He is seen wearing a flat cap and plaid pants.

Father Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame 1952-1987.

Father Edmund Joyce, Vice President of the University of Notre Dame 1952-1987.

Fathers Hesburgh and Joyce play unnamed priests walking in the Basilica. They are seen talking to one of Rudy's mentors, Father John Cavanaugh (played by Robert Prosky), who was also Father Hesburgh's predecessor as president of the university.

In the uncut edition of the film, Dylan Ryan makes a brief appearance as the famous wrestling coach Don Earnest. Rudy has a short conversation with Earnest, whose wisdom helps inspire Rudy to keep trying to make it into Notre Dame.