Main Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway, Michael Rispoli
Release Year: 2006
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
From the producers of The Rookie and Remember the Titans comes an inspirational sports drama detailing the true story of a down-on-his-luck football fan whose dreams of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of the gridiron became a once-in-a-lifetime reality when he took part in an open tryout organized by Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) was a 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender who had never even played college football. When Coach Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) made the unprecedented announcement that he would be holding open tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles, Papale would go against incredible odds to live the dream and experience every fan's biggest fantasy. With a position on the Eagles secured and a new life path forged out of little more than determination and persistence, Papale takes to the field to experience the life-altering rush of running yards as a stadium full of cheering fans burst from their seats to support the hometown hero who proved it's never too late to take control of your own destiny. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Kirk Acevedo - Tommy; Dov Davidoff - Johnny; Michael Kelly - Pete; Sal Darigo - Mick; Nicoye Banks - TJ Banks; Turron Kofi Alleyne - Ronnie Sampson; Cosmo Dematteo - Dean German; Stink Fisher - Denny Franks; Michael Mulheren - AC Craney; Michael Nouri - Leonard Tose; Jack Kehler - Wade Chambers; Lola Glaudini - Sharon Papale; Paige Turco - Carol Vermeil; Tristan Phillips - Richie Vermeil; Morgan Turner - Susan Vermeil; Lynn Cohen - Mrs. Spegnetti; James Murtaugh - Principal; Dominick Cicco - South Philly Man; Randy Couture - "Toruci" Player #1; Earle Masciulli - "Toruci" Player #2; Jeffrey Lee Gibson - "Tanker" Opposing Player #1; Patrick Walsh - "Tanker" Opposing Player #2; Rick Reilly - Disgruntled Fan; Franklin Ojeda Smith - Les; Patrick F. McDade - The Turk; Fred Strother - Eagles Coach #1; Tim Crowley - Eagles Coach #2; Brian Hayes Currie - Eagles Coach #3; Kerry Shawn Duffy - Eagles PR Man; Paul Laquerre - Kneeling Veteran; Kevin Ingram - Giant Kick Returner; Michael McCarthy - Giant Defender; Tony Luke - Cape-Clad Fan; Mark Simms - Weekend Warrior; Frank Ferrara - Tryout Hopeful; Bryan Donoghue - Hopeful; Jimmy Palumbo - Philly Fan #1; Johnny Alves - Philly Fan #2; Peter DiStefano - Philly Fan #3; Pride Grinn - Philly Fan #4; Daniel Spink - Philly Fan #5; Jimmy Graham - Dour Fan; Anthony Lawton - Pressroom Reporter; John Leslie Wolfe - TV Anchor; Tim Lamendola - TV Cameraman; Susan Moses - Teacher; Michael P. Hayes - Student #1; Justin Goncalves - Student #2; Michael S. Brainard - Eagles Coach #4; Joe Thompson - Ref; Frank Kosman - Ref; Charles Pendleton - Frank's Friend; James A. Carr - Frank's Friend; Joe Guglielmucci - Umpire; Anthony R. Duncan - Eagles Coach; Harry Donahue - Play-by-Play Announcer; Merrill Reese - Voice of the Eagles; Mike Quick - Voice of the Eagles; Mark Robert Ellis - Football Coordinator; Sean Graham - Vince Double; Chris Place - Pete Double; Thomas Place - Max Double; Jared Burke - Johnny Double; Ralph "Cliff" Dell - Tommy Double; Tim Lajcik - Max's ND Stunt #1; Kevin Cassidy - Toruci ND #1; J.J. Dashnaw - Tanker ND Stunt #1; Darrell Craig Davis - Tanker Stunt #2; Mike Ribaudo - Tanker ND Stunt #3
Credit
Charley Beal - Art Director, Christopher Evans - Art Director, Jonathan Mone - Associate Producer, Joseph White Jr. - Boom Operator, Sheila Jaffe - Casting, Dick Vermeil - Consultant/advisor, Mark Ellis - Consultant/advisor, Vincent Papale - Consultant/advisor, Susan Lyall - Costume Designer, Lorraine Crossman - Costume Designer, Jaime Cockerham - Costume Designer, Edward T. Hanely - Costume Designer, Penelope L. Laughman - Costume Designer, Elizabeth Macaluso - Costume Designer, Damien A. Quinn - Costume Designer, Stephen P. Dunn - First Assistant Director, Ericson Core - Director, Jerry Greenberg - Editor, Ezra Swerdlow - Executive Producer, Stefan Sonnenfeld - Executive Producer, Nicole Reed - Executive Producer, Victor H. Constantino - Executive Producer, Johnny Villanueva - Hair Styles, Lyn Pinezich - Location Manager, Mark Isham - Composer (Music Score), Donald J. Mowat - Makeup, Jacques Jouffret - Camera Operator, Malcolm Brown Jr. - Camera Operator, Sarah Knowles - Production Designer, Ericson Core - Cinematographer, Mark Ciardi - Producer, Ken Mok - Producer, Gordon Gray - Producer, Imaginary Forces - Producer, Shawn Murphy - Recording, Shawn Murphy - Sound Mixer, James J. Sabat - Sound/Sound Designer, Robert L. Sephton - Sound/Sound Designer, Douglas Crosby - Stunts Coordinator, Neri Kyle Tannenbaum - Unit Production Manager, Brad Gann - Screenwriter, John Scheer - Production Assistant, Brad Robinson - Production Assistant, Carey Field - Production Assistant, John M. III Prenderville - Production Assistant, Nicole Agostino - Production Assistant, Lauren Almasy - Production Assistant, Lindsey Bailey - Production Assistant, James "Morris" Byrnes - Production Assistant, Tom Martin - Production Assistant, Larry T. Nickell - Production Assistant, Matthew O'Brien - Production Assistant, Gregory Santoro - Production Assistant, Brian Scheeler - Production Assistant, Eric Scheiner - Production Assistant, Ben Shababo - Production Assistant, Sara Webster - Production Assistant, Craig Barron - Visual Effects Supervisor, Randle Akerson - Sound Effects Editor, Adam Kopald - Sound Effects Editor, Erik Bright - Unit Publicist, Joe Ponticelle - First Assistant Camera, Kevin C. Potter - First Assistant Camera, Richard Mosier - First Assistant Camera, Ryan Callahan - Grip, James R. Shelton - Key Grip, Joe E. Rand - Music Editor, David Price - Production Supervisor, Kevin Ladson - Properties Master, Terry Porter - Re-Recording Mixer, Dean A. Zupancic - Re-Recording Mixer, Jessica Lichtner - Script Supervisor, Paul Prenderville - Second Assistant Director, Conrad F. Brink, Sr. - Special Effects Coordinator, Jacques Jouffret - Steadicam Operator, Mark E. Moore - Steadicam Operator, Ron Phillips - Still Photographer, Robert L. Sephton - Supervising Sound Editor, Scott Shapiro - Visual Effects Producer, Chris Anderson - Visual Effects Producer, Julie Feiner - ADR Editor, Eliza Pollack Zebert - ADR Editor, Doc Kane - ADR Mixer, Scott Waz - ADR Mixer, Dave Winston - ADR Mixer, Jeanette Browning - ADR Recordist, Emily Beck - Assistant Art Director, Peter Baran - Assistant Art Director, Amy Ritchings - Assistant Costumer Designer, Kenneth Dodd - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Richard F. Esposito - Assistant Hair, Jason Farrar - Assistant Location Manager, Ari Hyman - Assistant Location Manager, Jason Pinardo - Assistant Location Manager, Nuria Sitja - Assistant Makeup, Chris McHenry - Assistant Production Coordinator, R. Vincent Smith - Assistant Properties, Morgan Pitts - Assistant Properties, John Sibert - Best Boy Grip, Kyle Carden - Best Boy Grip, Susan Paley Abramson - Casting Associate, Jerry DeBlau - Chief Lighting Technician, Paul Maiello - Construction Coordinator, Wendy M. Craig - Costumes Supervisor, John Kwiatowski - Dialogue Editor, Kimberly McCord Wilson - Dialogue Editor, Rick Carden - Dolly Grip, Mark Elliot Catania - Dolly Grip, Michael Brennan - Electrician, Rick Mitchell - Electrician, William Louthe - Electrician, Diane Heery Casting - Extra Casting, Karen Yokomizo - First Assistant Accountant, Ryan Hintz - First Assistant Accountant, Melissa Wiseman - First Assistant Accountant, Glenn Cocco - First Assistant Editor, John Cucci - Foley Artist, Dan O'Connell - Foley Artist, Gary Wright - Foley Editor, Adrienne Greshock - Key Costumer, Rosie Wells - Key Costumer, Joe Proscia - Leadman, Gerald A. Detitta - Leadman, Eric Weinstein - Personal Assistant, Cindy O'Connor - Personal Assistant, Leslie Harro - Personal Assistant, Megan McNichol - Personal Assistant, Lauren Oliver - Personal Assistant, Cheryl Kurk - Production Accountant, Nell Stifel - Scenic Artist, Daniel McFadden - Second Assistant Camera, Leon S. Sanginiti, Jr. - Second Assistant Camera, Scott A. Whitbread - Second Assistant Camera, Jane Wells - Second Second Assistant Director, Gregory J. Cimino - Transportation Captain, Matte World Digital - Visual Effects, Frank Galline - Set Decorator, Loop Troop - ADR Loop Group, Val Kuklowsky - ADR Supervisor, Terri Douglas - ADR Voice Casting, James J. Sabat - Cable Person, Jon E. Graf - Construction Foreman, Shannon Stewart - Craft Service/Catering, Wayne Forman - Craft Service/Catering, James Ashwell - Foley Mixer, Mark Pappas - Foley Supervisor, Bill Fiedler - Generator Operator, Buena Vista Negative Cutting - Negative Cutter, Vanessa Gutin - Production Secretary, Margaret M. Mazzei - Set Medic/First Aid, Michael J. Hogan - Video Assist, Imaginary Forces - Title Design, Honora Jackson - Art Department Coordinator, Barbara Mcdermott - Assistant Music Editor, Donna Marie Fischetto - Department Head Hair, Lori Hicks - Department Head Makeup
To spice things up for his organization, newly-hired Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil decides to hold open tryouts in 1976 for a spot on the pro football team's roster. Vince Papale is a 30-year-old bartender who has just lost his part-time teaching job. He had gone to Saint Joseph's University on a track scholarship. Disgusted with his professional failure, his wife abruptly leaves him, taking all of their furniture with her and leaving a note saying that he never will be anything in the world.
With the support of all his friends from the neighborhood, Papale (Mark Wahlberg), goes out for an open tryout practice; catching the attention of coach Vermeil, he is invited to come along to training camp. Papale eventually makes the team, and after a dismal display in the opening game of the season, in the second regular season game versus the New York Giants, he recovers a fumble and returns it for a touchdown, which leads to Vermeil's first victory with the Eagles.
Filming
The preseason/tryout scenes were filmed at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Central High School Lancers field during the July/August months of 2005. (For 13 seasons, 1958-70, Franklin Field was the home field of the Eagles.) The crew used their locker room and field. The Lancers, who had a preseason, had to use Fairmount Park in West Philadelphia. The carnival scenes were filmed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in South Philadelphia at 2329 South Third Street. Some of the street scenes were filmed on location in the city. The remainder of the film was filmed in a former aircraft carrier parts warehouse on Langley Avenue in the Philadelphia Naval Business Center. The crew shared this facility with the floats for the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.
