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Slap Shot is a 1977 Hollywood film production starring Paul Newman and directed by George Roy Hill. It is written by Nancy Dowd based in part on her brother's experiences playing minor league hockey in the United States in the '60's and 70's when violence was the selling point of the game.
It is considered a classic sports movie and many consider it the best sports movie ever made.
It popularised a fictitious 'Federal League' team called the Charlestown Chiefs. Chiefs sweaters are still sold in sporting goods stores! The Hanson brothers, violent goons with child-like mentalities brought in to fill seats for the dying team have become classic symbols and characters throughout the hockey world
Strother Martin plays the rude hardened team manager who is duping all the players when he knows the team is about to fold. The character is well developed and memorable.
Newman is Reggie Dunlop the washed up player coach and Michael Ontkean is the flashy but jaded college trained star.
It is a movie with a well developed plot, full of memorable characters and lines that has stood the test of time.
Seldom does a pick up game of hockey conclude without someone quoting a character in 'Slap Shot' - it has such a standing for players of the game of hockey.
And if Dickie Dunn says so, it must be true.
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