Champions: A Love Story is a 1979 American made-for-television drama sport film directed by John A. Alonzo and starring Shirley Knight, Tony Lo Bianco, Jimmy McNichol, Joy LeDuc, and Anne Schedeen.
| Champions: A Love Story | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Drama Sport |
| Screenplay by | John Sacret Young |
| Directed by | John A. Alonzo |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | John Rubinstein |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Philip Mandelker |
| Producer | John Sacret Young |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Editor | Bernard J. Small |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production company | Warner Bros. Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | January 13, 1979 |
Plot edit
Peter is a teenage ex-hockey player who falls in love with Carrie, a figure skater.[1]
Cast edit
- Shirley Knight as Barbara Harlich
- Tony Lo Bianco as Damschroeder
- Jimmy McNichol as Peter Scoggin III
- Joy LeDuc as Carrie Harlich
- Anne Schedeen as Diane Kachatorian
- Jennifer Warren as Camille Scoggin
- Richard Jaeckel as Peter Scoggin Jr.
- Philip Brown as Ernie Perella
- Elizabeth Cheshire as Lisa
- Tiffany Ann Francis as Laura
- Missy Francis as Sally
- Eddie Deezen as Eric Philpot
Production edit
The film's screenplay was written by television writer and producer John Sacret Young, who himself was a former hockey player.[2] Prior to writing the screenplay, Young had been unsuccessfully working as a novelist in Vermont.[2] Commenting on the setting, Young said: "Skating is filled with stories that are very intense - the romances, the hatreds. I don't think that story's ever been told. Skating is a loose fraternity. They share something, the early morning practice, the rigorous training. It's like war veterans without the pall of death."[3]
Young spent six months frequenting ice skating rinks in Colorado, and based many of the characters in the film real people he met there: "You go to any rink and 6 a.m. and here are these burly women in overcoats. They give their lives to this."[2] Young was partly inspired to write the film after the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 plane crash that killed the entire U.S. Figure Skating team.[2]
Reception edit
People magazine deemed the film a "surprisingly compelling 1979 TV movie."[4] Jerry Buck of the Associated Press praised the film as "a warm story that bursts at the seams with vitality and life."[5]
References edit
- ^ "Champions: A Love Story". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "'Champions': A love story on ice". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 12, 1979. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Champions: A Love Story". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. January 13, 1979. p. 12.
- ^ People Staff (August 3, 1981). "Picks and Pans Review: Champions: a Love Story". People. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ Buck, Jerry (January 13, 1979). "Skating tale bursts with vitality and life". Albany Democrat-Herald. Albany, Oregon. Associated Press – via Newspapers.com.
