It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, It’s the size of the fight in the dog.|Sep. 17, 1993|United States|114 Min.|PG
Genre: Drama;History
Description: “Rudy” is a 1993 American biographical sports film directed by David Anspaugh, telling the inspiring story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger. Despite facing numerous challenges, Rudy dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. This film marked the first time since 1940 that the Notre Dame administration permitted filming on campus. In 2005, ESPN recognized “Rudy” as one of the top 25 sports movies of the past 25 years, ranking it #24 by sports experts and #4 by ESPN.com users. Additionally, it was listed as the 54th most inspiring film of all time by the American Film Institute’s “100 Years” series.
The movie, released on October 15, 1993, by TriStar Pictures, stars Sean Astin as Rudy, with supporting roles by Ned Beatty, Jason Miller, Robert Prosky, Charles S. Dutton, Jon Favreau, and Vince Vaughn. The screenplay was written by Angelo Pizzo, who also penned “Hoosiers” (1986), another film directed by Anspaugh.
Set in the late 1960s in Joliet, Illinois, Rudy dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. However, his lack of academic qualifications, financial resources, and physical stature make it seem impossible. After high school, he works at a steel mill with his father, a Notre Dame enthusiast, and his brother. Tragedy strikes when his best friend, Pete, dies in a mill explosion, pushing Rudy to pursue his dreams.
In 1972, Rudy visits Notre Dame but cannot enroll due to academic ineligibility. With the help of Father John Cavanaugh, a former Notre Dame president, Rudy enrolls at Holy Cross College, hoping to transfer later. He also secures a job at Notre Dame Stadium through Fortune, the head groundskeeper, inching closer to his goal.
Cast director: David Anspaugh
Cast actor: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Lili Taylor, Charles S. Dutton, Vince Vaughn, Greta Lind, Christopher Reed, Deborah Wittenberg, Kevin Duda
Original name: Rudy