The Longest Yard (1974) (1974)
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81% of critics liked it
(32 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(80,720 ratings)
Ex-football star Paul Crewe (Burt Reynolds) ends up in a prison run by sadistic sports-nut Warden Hazen (Eddie Albert). Strong-armed into forming an inmate football team, Crewe manages to instill an esprit de corps previously lacking in the prisoners' lives. Besides, they now have the chance to… More Ex-football star Paul Crewe (Burt Reynolds) ends up in a prison run by sadistic sports-nut Warden Hazen (Eddie Albert). Strong-armed into forming an inmate football team, Crewe manages to instill an esprit de corps previously lacking in the prisoners' lives. Besides, they now have the chance to beat the guards' football team, headed by the hissable Capt. Knauer (Ed Lauter). Hazen orders Crewe to throw the match; otherwise, Crewe will never get the pardon he's been promised. The football game that follows consumes nearly a third of the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Aldrich
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 30, 1974 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
An outstanding action drama, combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life.
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
What saves it, aside from good performances by Burt Reynolds and a thundering herd of supporting grotesques, is, of all things, a tough, tiny nut of valid social criticism.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Very exciting, very witty, and elevated above its action-movie status by Aldrich's deliberate references to Nixon in Albert's characterisation of the warden.
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Nora Sayre, New York Times
Though The Yard is a terrible picture, I'll admit to having unwillingly enjoyed some of the football practice and parts of the final game -- even though it's much too long.
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, Film4
If it ultimately descends into macho nonsense, then that's all part of the fun.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Burt Reynolds
as Paul Crewe
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Eddie Albert
as Warden Hazen
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Pervis Atkins
as Mawabe
- Malcolm Atterbury
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Harry Caesar
as Granville
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J. Don Ferguson
as Referee
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Anitra Ford
as Melissa
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James Hampton
as Caretaker
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Chuck Hayward
as Trooper I
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Joe Jackson
as Little Joe
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Joe Kapp
as Walking Boss
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Richard Kiel
as Samson
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Ed Lauter
as Capt. Knauer
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Mort Marshall
as Assistant Warden
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Pepper Martin
as Shop Steward
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Ray Nitschke
as Guard Bogdanski
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Bernadette Peters
as Warden's Secretary
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Sonny Shroyer
as Tannen
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Sonny Sixkiller
as The Indian
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John Steadman
as Pop
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Robert Tessier
as Shokner
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Charles Tyner
as Unger
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Dino Washington
as Mason
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Ernie Wheelwright
as Spooner
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Alfie Wise
as Trooper
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Michael D. Ford
as Announcer
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Mike Henry (I)
as Rassmeusen
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Joseph Dorsey
as Bartender
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George Jones
as Big George
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Tony Reese
as Levitt
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Michael Conrad
as Nate Scarboro
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Ray Ogden
as Schmidt
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Tony Cacciotti
as Rotka
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Jack Rockwell
as Trainer
- Jim Nicholson
- Joe Dorsey



