I'm from Minnesota. Herb Brooks simply knew how to put together hockey teams, and how to get the best of each player. His Wikipedia page tells that by his list of chamionships. I still remember the day of Herb's funeral, I've never seen Interstate 94 backed up as much as that day. He never saw this film, he lived it.
They used Al Michaels original recording for the line "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" He rerecorded the rest of his commentary of the game but insisted they use the original recording because he thought he couldn't replicate the emotional impact the win put into his original call. I don't know if anyone has remarked on this, but player Buzz Schneider was played by his own son, Billy.
The special features are so fun to watch. We hear the director tell the story, and he asked Billy if he was related to Buzz Schneider, and he said “yea that’s my Dad.” And the director thought “we’ll you’re gonna have a part in this.” But it’s extra cool he could pull off playing Buzz.
There were a lot of great men from the 20th century. He’s definitely one of them. Unfortunately, being nice in life only gets you so far. Earning Respect is a step greater.
For those of us who were teenagers at this time from New England, this is the most important sports event of our lifetime. Cold war tensions were at their highest and the US needed a pick-me-up after declines in the 70's. This group of college kids were given no chance against the Soviet juggernaut. Everyone watched this and for a moment there was a great national pride and unity. "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"
Couldn’t agree more. I was in 6th grade and, like a lot of kids in the area, played hockey. We were all in on this team from the first game. I knew every player. I remember seeing the score on the news before they even showed the game (it was on tape delay). It was the greatest single sports memory of my life.
@@gobucs7870 For sure. Jimmy Craig and Mike Eruzione were from our part of Massachusetts so it was extra special. The moment at the end of the gold medal game when Craig was skating around the rink looking for his Dad in the crowd with the flag draped over his shoulders was moving beyond words.
And today, the greatest Russian players and the greatest American players share accountants and agents Their kids go to the same schools. Wives discuss if they'd rather go to the game or Nordstroms
Mine too. I saw Miracle opening day. I was on my feet chanting USA at the end. Most of the theater was right there chanting along! Great movie. Perfection in my opinion.
It's hard to comprehend just how amazing this game made the country feel if you weren't around at that time. Another great hockey movie that y'all would enjoy is Mystery, Alaska.
This movie allowed for my imagination to take me back to that time, I remember this however I was too young to truly appreciate the full meaning of this team and their winning of the gold, but I do remember the adults going nuts about it all.
Mike Eruzione said that before the final game, after beating the Soviets, Herb was in the locker room before the game and said "If you lose this game, you will take it to your f**kin' graves" Went to walk out, turned around and said loudly "YOUR F**KIN' GRAVES"
Great reaction. Your wife's crying at parts hit more than some of the parts themselves LOL. Yes, Coach Brooks was tough, but you have to realize he had to motivate a bunch of young men with a lot of energy and lack of focus. These men are young and needed an older harsher coaching style to show them how to focus and become focused and he had limited time to do so he really didn't have time to really shall I say be gentle. They all came from different teams, so he needed them to understand they are playing for their nation now. It is just like military when you put on uniform you have to watch your action and strive for excellent because you represent your nation. Also, sometimes young men needed fire under their butt and that why he would rile them up.
Hockey sticks are flat when you first get them. Each player curves the blade according to their own personal style, within rules, of course, so that they can control the puck the way they want. Lefty, righty, etc, the curve is customized to the player. In order to curve them, they have to heat the blade up.
actually TBR schmitt & his WIFE did this film last yr, and they loved it. I agree that more Y tubers should def see this terrific film, Brooks coached my NY Rangers for a few yrs before he went back to MINN and tragically died in a car crash during the making of this film
At the time, only amateurs were allowed to play in the Olympics. The Soviet players were in the Red Army. Their job in the army was to play hockey. They were paid to play hockey. Therefore, technically, they were not amateurs. It’s always stuck in my craw. But, these college kids beating the best team in the world was amazing. I was 10 years old when this happened, I still get emotional whenever I hear that call from Al Michaels!
Not sure if anyone has mentioned, but Buzz Schneider was played by his son Billy Schneider. They mentioned in the behind the scenes feature that they didn't know his dad was on the team, and he looked very similar to how his dad looked at that age.
Kurt Russel is such a legend. Get that he has been acting since age 12 (1963) - 6 friggin decades - without really messing up or ending up in rehab. Also love Toni ;)
His dad, Bing, was also an actor as well as a minor league baseball team owner - the Portland Mavericks. There’s a great documentary about the team called The Battered Bastards of Baseball. Kurt also played for the team as a DH in addition to playing in the Angels farm system for a brief time before his acting career really took off.
The making of this film is actually pretty incredible too. They didn't want actors who could skate. They wanted hockey players that could act--and then had to find hockey players who could act that also look like their real life counterparts. But they succeeded--the players came to the set and said it was like going into a time machine.
The Soviets were the Red Army Team. They were paid soldiers who all they did was play hockey, even in the Soviet Pro League and played together as a team for decades. that's why they were older and bigger, they were basically pro hockey players that had been together for years but being 'Army' kept them theoretically Amateurs for the Olympics.
A few really interesting things about the movie. 1. They recreated the actual game play of the Soviet game. 2. They used Al Michaels and Ken Dryden, the same announcers as the actual game. The pair redid their entire broadcast and they switched over to the actual 40 year old call for the last few seconds. 3. They used hockey players not actors (except for Jim Craig) to play the roles of the players. And the guy who played Buzz Schneider was his son.
4. For the "Again!" scene, the players weren't acting, they agreed to get skated to death just like the team was in order to make it as authentic as possible.
Remember The Titans is another great Sports movie!!! Yes motivational, teamwork, and great soundtrack for Toni!! And starring Denzel Washington!! What more do you need??!!👍
Remember the Titans is good. Other great sports movies are The Express (2008), My All-American (2015), McFarland, USA (2015), Rudy (1993), 42 (2013) & Friday Night Lights (2004).
I remember the actual games in February 1980. I was in eighth grade and recall watching at least the last three games-the game that sent the US into the medal rounds, the game against the Soviet Union, and the final game against Finland that gave the US the gold medal. The "Miracle on Ice" was, of course, just referring to the USA-USSR game, but I found the US-Finland game just as exciting because the gold medal was at stake for that one.
@@popculturallychallenged Yes, We are Marshall is a true story about a football team. Radio is a really good movie about a coach and football team and on the side a racial story as well.
Herb Brooks players were still thinking they played for college teams they used to play for. In the beginning he asked who you play for. They all said colleges. NOT the team they were part of. He beat them down like that to make them realize that they played for the TEAM they were part of now. The USA.
I was 13 years old when the USA hockey team won the gold metal in 1980. I remember seating around the TV watching with my family and how proud and excited we all were. This coming from a Texan at the time had no idea much about hockey, but it was exhilarating to watching it all unfold to historical event.
Another great sports movie that nobody has reacted to yet is “Glory Road” a fantastic basketball film filled with tons of topical elements! Please please please give it a chance!
Great reaction! Hockey is my favorite sport to watch, and I saw this in the theater. Such an amazing story. When you mentioned you were afraid Herb was going have a car accident, you were unfortunately not far from the truth. It was a car accident that he died in. He apparently fell asleep at the wheel.
Another great Sports movie is: SECRETARIAT Beautiful movie!! Great story!!!! Love rewatching his amazing triple crown races!! Still get goosebumps and happy tears!!!!!
@@popculturallychallenged You will love it, and will shed some to alot of tears, so have the tissues handy...It's a beautiful story that will make both very happy.
“Cinderella Man” with Russell Crowe and Renee Zelwieger, is a great movie about James J Braddock. A true story of a champion boxer during the depression years. Very emotional.
One of my favorite little moments is hearing Jim McKay’s voice. Takes me back to my youth, watching Olympic coverage on ABC as well as Wide World of Sports on Saturdays.
I was just a kid seeing this game live on TV. It was a dream come true about 8 years ago visiting Lake Placid and standing in the hockey arena this game was played on which they renamed the “Herb Brooks” arena ❤️🙏🏻
And now we don't care that much about the Olympics anymore: the overhyped, commercialized sportsworld is not any kind of behavior to strive for. It's all professionals and money, money, money.
When Brooks cut the last guy, he knew exactly how that player felt. Herb was the last guy cut from the 1960 team that won the gold medal in Squaw Valley, CA I was a senior at Notre Dame when this happened. I saw most of the US players from U of Minnesota, U of Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota play against the Irish in earlier seasons.
The Natural, Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game, Moneyball, The Sandlot, Bull Durham, Hoosiers, League of Their Own, Rudy, Invincible, The Replacements, Remember the Titans, We are Marshall, Tin Cup, Wind, American Flyers, 8 Seconds, Rocky (except Rocky V) , Secretariat, Hidalgo, Seabiscuit, Ford vs Ferrari
The 1960 Olympic team was the last team to BEAT the Soviets for the gold prior to the 1980 team. Herb was cut from that team a week before the Olympics.
Heating the stick blade with a blowtorch softens the wood and laminate enough to slightly bend and shape the curve of the stick blade. Different players like a different curve shape on their stick, within a set of rules predetermined by the league/organization.
They used hockey players for most of the actors, the director said it would be easier to teach hockey players to act rather than teach actors to play hockey. You mentioned you hated the coach for a bit (Herb Brooks), that was his strategy, to have the players hate him so they would band together and become a real team. Eddie Cahill played Jim Craig, the goalie. He also play Rachels boyfriend in Friends for a bit, that may be where you recognize him from.
That's so interesting and makes total sense, hockey looks really hard. Herb did his job! I definitely didn't like him for a bit. I've watched Friends a few times several years ago and the light bulb turned on now. That's definitely where I saw him. - Toni 😊
I was a month shy of my 14th birthday when this game was played. That entire Olympics was amazing to watch (still love Eric Heiden to this day!), but this game was burned into my brain, even though I am not a hockey fan at all. I cried when USA won. Two great sports films, both produced by Disney, are The Rookie and Invincible. They have similar storylines, are both based on true stories, two different sports, and great performances by the lead actors, Dennis Quaid and Mark Wahlberg, respectively.
Phenomenon is an amazing, tender movie!! It’s got a lot of heart to it , lots of feels and tears for Toni !! It’s Not scary!!! I’ve seen it at least four times and it gets me every time!!! John Travolta , Kyra Sedgwick!!
I saw this when it happened. Was a most proud moment for sure for this USA citizen. We laughed, we cried, we jumped for joy!! It was the most incredible time for our country. It's a shame we need this kind of moment today to bring our country back together.
My grandfather & I were there for this game. I was 7yrs old & it was amazing, especially being a huge hockey fan. Of course, it wasn't till I was much older I realized the real significance to the country this game was.
@popculturelychallenged MOST DEFINITELY RUDY!!!! Trust me you both will love it!! Along with Remember the Titans with Denzel… PS Get your tissues ready!!
12 of the 20 players on the USA team were from Minnesota. In Minnesota every year they have the High School Hockey Tournament, many of the kids on those teams go on to play in the NHL.
The 1960 US Olympic hockey team WON the gold medal. They never had before. It was not their first time not winning the gold. Herb Brooks was the last man cut from that team.
I've always found it funny how this movie doesn't even show the gold-medal game. Herb's pregame speech was simply "if you lose this game, you'll take it to your fucking grave." then as he walked out of the door, he yelled "Your FUCKING GRAVE!"
I watched the game on television and it was incredible! At the time I was living in Atlanta and James Craig was going to play for the hockey team in Atlanta. I saw him in the grocery store I shopped at; it was a thrill!
The guy who played for Brooks was Rob McClanahan. The guy who plays for the USA was Mike Euruzione, who was named Captain. And played for arch enemy Boston U.
I was 7 years old, playing peewee hockey back then. Every kid on the team was Mike Eruzione scoring that fourth, game winning goal. Except for our goaltenders, of course. They were all little Jim Craigs.
The 1960 US Team WON the Gold Medal. Yes, Herb was cut. He Got his Gold in 1980. No American Men's Hockey Team has won Gold since. The US Women picked up some slack though!!
16:40 I played Ice hockey form 11-17 yrs old. My first tryouts for Bantam League 13-14 years old was incredibly hard especially the boards drill. After our first loss we did the S***de drill until 2 people gave up because they threw up and the coach finally stopped it. I'm not saying it was okay but lets just say during those years I was very disciplined.
I had the good fortune of getting to see this film when it premiered. The whole theater cheered every goal and every one of Jimmy Craig's saves, like we were actually at the game!
I met Neal Broten, and coach Brooks. We talked a little on this but one of the proudest moments to each other. Also met Nate Miller who played for Gophers also portrayed John Harrington in this film. Actually watched Miracle the morning of meeting Nate. Told him about it. Everyone was cool about it. Coach Brooks and I talked more golf than hockey, and Broten and I bought each other beers. It was cool and great memories for me now.
@@popculturallychallenged it truly was. Neal Broten was my idol as a kid playing hockey in Minnesota. So for me to meet him was a dream come true. Even to meet Herb. Once in a life time opportunity.
In case nobody answered, the reason players heated up their sticks with torches was to bend the blades of the stick to their preference. Sticks came with basic curves back then, so heating up the blade would soften it up a bit, and then you could mold it with your foot or a door jam to put more hook or loft on the blade.
As good as the film is, the reality of this story was a million times better than the film. It's difficult to explain to people just how crazy this accomplishment was. Without question, it was THE greatest upset in the history of team sport.....and it came at a time when the country really needed it, against the perfect foe. Way beyond storybook.......
Another inspirational sports movie is "Invictus". It also tells the story of the end of the apartheid era in South Africa. It stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
Interesting about Miracle is that apart from Jimmy Craig, they brought in hockey players and taught them all to act versus teaching actors how to play hockey. Which is why the on-ice action looked so good.
Love Kurt Russell!!!! He always seems so sweet!!! Recognize the actress playing his wife??!! Patricia Clarkson you saw her in The Green Mile and The Untouchables!!
There really isn't all that much fighting in the NHL any more. Not like it was back in the 1970s, not even as much as there was in the early 2000s, and I think that the change is for the better.
