THE BAND PLAYS ON

US, 1934, 87 minutes. Black and white.
Robert Young, Stuart Erwin, Leo Carrillo, Betty Furness, Ted Healy, Preston Foster.
Directed by Russell Mack.

The Band Plays on is a football drama, very similar to those made at Warner Bros – the future Knute Rockne - All- American. This time the coach is Preston Foster rather than Pat O’ Brien.

The film shows four young men who are in danger of becoming juvenile delinquents – again the kind of film made at Warner Bros. However, the judge gives them a chance and sends them to a professional footballer who coaches during the summer and later coaches a Pacific team. They make good. However, when the coach is demanding on them, they turn on him and think that he has only money in mind rather than their good. This, of course, is the opposite of the truth. When the Robert Young character is making a decision to sign on to become a professional, his friend Stuffy (Stuart Erwin) drives to stop him but is involved in a car crash, breaks his leg and cannot play anymore. The issue is further complicated by the coach paying for Stuffy’s hospital bills. The Robert Young character is also in love with a young girl from school days. However, when she rebukes him about his attitude towards the coach and towards Stuffy, he tells Stuffy that she really loves him.

This leads to a lot of soul-searching, the boys coming back to play football – but the coach really making demands on them. Stuffy also explains to the Robert Young character how the girl really loves him.

There are some interesting collage sequences as well as a use of contemporary footage of football games and the large audiences.

The film was directed by Russell Mack, Broadway director who made several films in the 1930s, this being the last.

The film is a reminder of the ever-popularity of American football and its fans.

1. A film of the 1930s? Black and white photography? The collages? Newsreel footage?

2. A story of friends, making good, the variety of ethnic backgrounds of the four young men?

3. A football film, the games, the practice? The crowds? The commentators? The newspapers? The scenes in the shower room?

4. The opening, the kids, taking the car, the treatment by the judge, Kitty and her weeping, Mike and his intervention? The judge’s decision?

5. Sending the boys to Howdy? His reputation, the introduction to football, getting them to train, their presumption about their abilities? Their responding to his care?

6. The collage of them growing up? As adults? At college? Their success, their fans?

7. The studies, difficulties, the professor and the interventions? The professor later appearing at the match and talking with the coach?

8. Angelo, the restaurant, friends with the young men, with Kitty? Breaking the rules? The attitude of the coach?

9. Tony, his love for Kitty, her love for him? Stuffy and his hopes? Mike, the offer for professional contracts? Tony not playing? His being tempted, going to sign the contract? Stuffy and his concern, Angelo? The fast drive, the crash?

10. The hospital, Stuffy and his broken leg? The others visiting? Kitty and her care? Tony blaming himself? Telling Stuffy of Kitty’s affection? His anti-Howdy stances, opting out?

11. The other players, their antagonism towards Howdy? Misjudging him? The truth, Howdy paying for Stuffy? Stuffy and his decisions? The apologies?

12. Howdy letting them get ready for the game, holding them? Half-time, Tony playing, their acknowledgment of what Howdy had done for them?

13. The end, reconciliation? Howdy as the father figure they never had? Apologies, change of heart, romantic ending?