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The Program
Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently, some turn to drinking, others to drugs, and some to studying.
1993 · Directed by David S. Ward · 112 min · Drama · Action · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 7 frames
Tagline
Pressure surrounds them. Competition divides them. Glory unites them.
Plot
ESU Timberwolves coach Sam Winters must win this season or be fired. Sophomore quarterback Joe Kane spends Christmas with his alcoholic family while junior Alvin Mack gives his mother a door knocker for the house he will buy when he turns pro. Running back Darnell Jefferson is recruited to ESU. Autumn, an ESU student, gives him a tour; they bond and kiss.
Kane introduces Jefferson to Mack, backup quarterback Bobby Collins and senior Steve Lattimer who has gained 35 pounds of muscle since last season. Fumbling at practice, Jefferson must carry a football with him at all times. Jefferson discovers Autumn is dating starting tailback Ray Griffen when he goes to her for tutoring. Mack tells Jefferson he will stay eligible if he's talented; he only needs to know how to sign an NFL contract. Jefferson is neither surprised nor worried when he fails the test; he convinces Autumn to tutor him. Sports Illustrated declares Kane a Heisman Trophy candidate; the pressure and stress cause him to drink. He meets tennis player Camille after riding on his motorcycle and they start dating.
Mack is shown to be barely literate, but has a strong ability to understand complex football strategy during film study. Meanwhile, the offensive coordinator fears Lattimer is on steroids, but Winters trusts him. When Lattimer is named starting defensive end, he shatters car windows with his head, screaming, "STARTING DEFENSE!! PLACE AT THE TABLE!!" Witnessed by the coordinators, they do not tell Winters, but warn Lattimer the NCAA will be drug-testing at the start of the season.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: David S. Ward, Aaron Latham
- Cinematography: Victor Hammer
- Edited by: Paul Seydor, Kimberly Ray
- Music: Michel Colombier
- Production design: Albert Brenner
- Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Cast
- James Caan as Sam Winters
- Halle Berry as Autumn Haley
- Omar Epps as Darnell Jefferson
- Craig Sheffer as Joe Kane
- Kristy Swanson as Camille Shafer
- Abraham Benrubi as Bud-Lite Kaminski
- Duane Davis as Alvin Mack
- Jon Pennell as Bobby Collins
- Andrew Bryniarski as Steve Lattimer
- Michael Flippo as Coach Humes
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Touchstone Pictures, The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- Box office: $23,042,200
- Themes: sports, american football
More by David S. Ward
On this film
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