The Spirit of Notre Dame (Vigour of Youth) (1931)

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This drama is set at Notre Dame and follows the exploits of a great football coach (patterned after Knute Rockne) who is conflicting with a promising but arrogant freshman running back. The story centers on the coach's struggle to help Bucky O'Brien understand that his glory hog ways will not help… More This drama is set at Notre Dame and follows the exploits of a great football coach (patterned after Knute Rockne) who is conflicting with a promising but arrogant freshman running back. The story centers on the coach's struggle to help Bucky O'Brien understand that his glory hog ways will not help the team. Bucky ends up getting demoted to blocking for his more talented teammate, Jim Stewart. Bucky is frustrated by his new role and refuses to play. He is promptly benched during the big Notre Dame vs. Army bout. In the end, the Army is beating the pants off the Fighting Irish, and at the last moment Bucky is put into the game. This time he plays for the team and they win. A sub-plot involves the caring coach's efforts to help an ailing player who is hospitalized. The film was dedicated to Rockne, who died a few months before its release, and features several real players from Notre Dame, including the Four Horsemen--Don Miller, Elmer Layden, Jim Crowley, and Harry Stuhldreher. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi