The Longest Yard - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of The Longest Yard or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to The Longest Yard

[chad]

Two years after they appeared in "The Longest Yard," Burt Reynolds and Bernadette Peters would both appear in Mel Brooks' "Silent Movie," (1976) although they would not share any scenes together in the latter film.

[wallace]

One of the first football films to be made in which a wide receiver is shown standing at the line of scrimmage. From the early inception of American football until the late 1960's, the receiver (commonly referred to then as a flanker) would put his hand on the ground in a stance similar to that of the offensive linemen.

[kenneth]

In the DVD version, James Hampton said that he was originally supposed to play Unger, but wanted to play Caretaker instead. Charles Tyner was given the Unger role.

[toni]

Burt Reynolds not only meets up with Mike Henry in a couple of years in "Smokey and the Bandit" as Junior Justice, but Sonny Shroyer as the motorcycle cop, and Alfie Wise as the Traffic jam patrolman.

[kenneth]

The final shot of Paul Crewe and Pops leaving the stadium silhouetted in the tunnel was a homage to the famous final shot of "The Searchers".

[alyssa]

Producer Al Ruddy says that his inspiration for the film came from a friend of his who was a promising football player. After a career-ending injury, his life took a downward spiral. He was working a minimum-wage job at a sandwich shop and was being mistreated by his snobbish girlfriend. Ruddy took the scenario from there.

[willard]

Burt Reynolds' brother is the player wearing black jersey #65 seen running beside Reynolds in the final play of the game. (Source: Burt Reynolds/DVD commentary)

[sophie]

According to Hal Needham in an Atlanta radio interview, someone was standing by waiting as they filmed the chase. As soon as they pulled the Citroen SM out of the river, he paid for it and took possession.

[ronnie]

Then-Governor Jimmy Carter facilitated the production in Georgia.

[albert]

Bernadette Peters wears really big hair and is the only female in the film, other than those in the grandstands (and, of course, Crewe's girlfriend).

[wesley]

In DVD commentary, Burt Reynolds states that Dinah Shore and his parents are among the spectators seated in the end zone at game's end.

[ava]

The climactic football game takes up 47 minutes of running time.

[caroline]

Early examples of product placement on stadium signs include Eastern Airlines, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Tony Lama Boots, Gatorade, Rawlings, Coca-Cola, Continental Trailways, Adidas, Goodyear and Muriel Cigars.

[richard]

According to producer Al Ruddy, the story Crewe tells about his two blind parents is a reference to former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett.

[amber]

According to Al Ruddy and Burt Reynolds on the DVD commentary, Robert Aldrich didn't like Michael Conrad and would call him the "Polish Princess". When they filmed the scene between Paul Crewe and Scarborough, when Nate says, "There's only two things you've got left: Your pride and your balls . . . ", Aldrich liked the scene so much that he rewarded Conrad with a candy bar, which Aldrich gave to whoever did the best work that day. Conrad, who had endured Aldrich's insults throughout filming, was moved to tears. Aldrich stopped calling Conrad "Polish Princess" for the rest of the shoot.

[carla]

Burt Reynolds he wears the same jersey number as in the original film! Number 22

[albert]

Burt Reynolds and James Hampton appeared in four films together: 'Fade In' (1968), 'The Longest Yard' (1974), 'Hustle' (1975), and 'W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings' (1975).

[morris]

According to producer Albert S. Ruddy in the DVD commentary, in the original script when Paul Crewe goes to recover the game ball at the end of the game, Captain Knauer was supposed to shoot Crewe in the back because Crewe really was attempting to escape. But when it came time to film the scene, it was decided that the audience would be devastated by the death of Crewe. So the ending was altered as shown to Crewe recovering the game ball and Knauer realizing he wasn't escaping at the last moment.

[clayton]

Burt Reynolds and Mike Henry would meet again a few years later in the Smokey and the Bandit movies. Mike Henry played sheriff Justice's son.