YOUNGBLOOD

US, 1986, 111 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, Cynthia Gibb, Patrick Swayze, Ed Lauter, Fionnula Flanagan, Keanu Reeves.
Directed by Peter Markle.

Youngblood is a routine sports film, a hockey film designed as a star vehicle for Rob Lowe, very popular in the mid-80s. In the supporting cast is Patrick Swayze who had appeared with Lowe in Copolla's The Outsiders and who was to go on to become a star in his own right (Ghost, City of Joy). The romantic interest is offered by Cynthia Gibb. The film looks something like a junior Slapshot (Paul Newman's film on hockey). All the expected ingredients are there: the outsider with talent, the hostility of the group, hard driving by the coach, becoming buddies with members of the team, the hostile opponents and brutality, romance and sex, withdrawing from the team to find himself, the belated from father, the final confrontation and success. The film was written and directed by Peter Markle whose credits range from Hot Dog the Movie to the intelligent Vietnam war drama, Bat 21.

1. Entertaining sports film? Expected styles and plot lines? Star vehicle for Rob Lowe?

2. The title, its overtones, sport, competition, drawing blood? the focus on the Rob Lowe character?

3. The background of sport, the ice hockey matches, training and competition? The editing pace? The background of city life, boarding houses, hotels? The contrast with life on the farm? The musical score, the range of background songs?

4.Rob Lowe as Youngblood: the tryout for the junior league team, his speed, ability to move? Impressing Murray Chadwick? The clash with Racki and his brutal style? The training sessions and their effect? The other members of the team? The clash, the mocking, the injuries, the doctor and the sewing of the stitches? Derek and the clash? The encounter with Jessie - and his being in his jock strap and her reaction? The boarding house, Miss McGill?, nymphomania, the sexual encounter? the other members of the team and their comments? Her waiting on him? His relationship with Jessie, the sexual encounter - and Miss McGill? with the tray? The clash with Chadwick? The growing friendship with Sutton, the setting up of the goal? The clash with the bombers, the clash with Racki? The effect on Sutton, the hospital? Youngblood’s being disgusted with the methods, the return to the farm? Work, reflection? Relationship with his father, with his brother? going back to the team? His father's tips? His brother and the fighting? Young Blood's return, the harsh game? Racki and his slashing Youngblood? The even scores, the climax, the foul, the conversion? Chadwick's decisions? The build-up to the showdown, the fight, Youngblood winning? The youngsters with their autographs? Jessie? The variation on the
Rocky theme?

5. Derrick Sutton, the clashes with Youngblood, growing friendship, collaboration in the play? The buddies? The match, his injury, in hospital?

6. The other members of the team, friendship, rivalry, clashes? Violence? Racki and his vindictiveness? With the bombers? The violent matches? The clash with Racki, the slashing? Racki being defeated by Youngblood?

7. The world of the authorities, the coaches, their dominance? The harsh methods? Promotion of violence? Chadwick and his vindictiveness - and being escorted out by the authorities? The referees? Decision-making? The world of sport?

8. Jessie and the initial with Young Blood? His embarrassment, her capitalising on it ? The relationship, the father's disapproval, the sexual encounter? Miss McGill? The re-uniting at the end?

9. Youngblood's father, the farm, their persuading to go back? The tips about play - and Young Blood saying that they came so late? His relationship with his brother, his brother's hopes? The teaching him how to fight?
10. Miss McGill?, the caricature of the landlady, her sexual forcefulness, the encounters with the members of the team, with Youngblood?

11. The world of sport competitiveness and vio1ence? The effect on individuals? Working for the team? Coaches, fans? The glimpse of the world of sport?