The Games

1970
G
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Four marathon runners (one from England, one from the U.S., a Czechoslovakian, and an Australian Aborigine) prepare to run in the Olympic games. The film follows each one and shows what thei... Read allFour marathon runners (one from England, one from the U.S., a Czechoslovakian, and an Australian Aborigine) prepare to run in the Olympic games. The film follows each one and shows what their motivations are for running in the games.Four marathon runners (one from England, one from the U.S., a Czechoslovakian, and an Australian Aborigine) prepare to run in the Olympic games. The film follows each one and shows what their motivations are for running in the games.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

520

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
A then-unknown Sir Elton John sang the Francis Lai and Hal Shaper-penned "From Denver to L.A." as part of the film's soundtrack, which was issued in the U.S. by Viking Records (LPS-105). He was so little-known at that point, that he was credited on the label as "Elton Johns". The label planned to issue the song as a single (VIK-1010, backed with "Warm Summer Rain" by The Barbara Moore Singers), and promotional copies were pressed, but John, who first hit stardom towards the end of 1970, had the record withdrawn before commercial copies could be pressed. Upon his reaching superstar status, promotional copies of the "From Denver to L.A." single have become prized collector's items and an interesting curio in John's recorded catalogue.

Goofs
At once stage during a particularly twisty and narrow part of the race on Rome's streets, the pace vehicle is forced to go so slow that it forces leader Hayes almost to a standstill to avoid colliding with it. Such things occasionally do happen in real foot and cycle races on roads - but surely it was unplanned in the movie.

Connections
Referenced in Vsechnopárty: Episode dated 14 April 2017 (2017)

Soundtracks
From Denver To L.A.
Music by Francis Lai
Lyrics by Hal Shaper

User reviews21

Review

Featured review

5/10

Well-cast athletic drama suffers from a low-budget...

Tedious, occasionally absorbing drama chronicling the stories of four male runners from different parts of the globe preparing themselves for the Rome Olympics. Michael Crawford, as the British dairy-deliverer who is found to have an uncanny track time, is the central focus of the film and his early scenes wowing all the hardened experts are fresh and well done; Ryan O'Neal, as the American jock with the (uh oh!) heart condition, is engaging simply because he's so young and eager (he would re-team with screenwriter Erich Segal the same year for "Love Story"). British-made film from erratic director Michael Winner supposedly travels around the world, yet the various locations are not captured to any particular advantage (the look of the picture is stuck in a British rut). The relationship between Crawford and his demanding coach is the most intriguing part of the movie--yet the closer we get to the Olympics finale, the faster interest tends to wane in these characters. ** from ****