Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 | Full Documentary Movie

Harvard Stadium — November 23, 1968. With Vietnam raging, Nixon in the White House, and issues from civil rights to women's lib dividing the country, Harvard and Yale, both teams undefeated for the first time since 1909, meet for the annual climax of the Ivy League football season. On the blue-blooded Yale campus, gridiron fever has made local celebrities out of a Yale team led by quarterback Brian Dowling, who hadn't lost a game that he finished since the 7th grade, and who was the role model for Doonesbury's "B.D." At civil unrest scarred Harvard, a melting pot team of working class players, antiwar activists, and a decorated Vietnam vet set aside their differences for the Big Game. Together, Yale and Harvard stage an unforgettable football contest that baffled even their own coaches. Using vintage game footage and bracingly honest contemporary interviews with the players from both sides, including Harvard lineman and future Oscar® winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men), Rafferty crafts an alternately suspenseful, hilarious, and poignant portrait of American lives, American sports, and American ideals both tested on the playing field and transformed by turbulent times.

Cast
Vic Gatto
Brian Dowling
Tommy Lee Jones

Directed by Kevin Rafferty
Composed by Greg Smith

#movie #film #documentary #football #collegefootball #harvard #yale #sports #americanfootball

[michaelscarlato]

Great work on this documentary! As a college football fan, I see both teams as a credit to college football. It was a hard fought game. A game for the ages.

[hdips]

I had an amazing experience to meet Mr Rafferty and go down into the basement in Manhattan where he was cutting this movie together. We smoked hand rolled cigarettes and marvelled over his Steinbeck editing station. He showed me and my class the raw cuts from Mr Jones and the rest of the players. I will NEVER forget how amazing and curmudgeonly welcoming Mr Rafferty was. RIP x

[bobmja]

Tremendous documentary. The unscripted nature of sports is wondrous. Listening to Don Gillis' play-by-play I was also struck by how less is more. Unlike today's typical football broadcast -- with every moment endlessly dissected and verbally assaulted -- Gilllis' crisp, clean commentary carries the day. The pictures, the plays, the score, the time. That and a nice, rhythmic call were the only things necessary. Mission accomplished.

[jerryferko]

one of the best sports documentaries ever brian dowling play high school ball for st. ignatius HS in cleveland in the 1963 and 1964 cleveland city championship football games , played at old municipal stadium in front of 38, 000 and 41, 000 boith games, vs benedictine HS won in 63 ....iggy got even big time in 64

[dokukarmagad]

What a great game. I watched this video with much joy and a smile on my face. I wasn't pulling for either team, but I witnessed two great groups of men both playing and recollecting a wonderful event. An excellent documentary.

[Jugglingtedchannel]

What a tremendous documentary with the characters sharing their thoughts and reflections years later. Great game too!

[DianaMartini]

6 days earlier (11/17/68) was the "Heidi Game". Best football week ever!

[kennethcollins]

I’ve watched this on more than one occasion and recommend it often, these guys are so real, humble class act guys and during an iconic time. The announcer doing the game broadcast was outstanding. What more can one say. Hang in to your hats boys and girls

[wreckanchor]

Great documentary. Have watched it a dozen times.

[Aidanryry]

On of my high school coaches was on harvard during this game

[pjm]

i was at The game. I was 15 years old and had snuck into Harvard Stadium. Most of the game is was in the stands, near the Yale bench. As the game came down to its final moments i made my wat down the Yale bench. i found myself standing besides Calvin Hill who was the fullback for Yale. We both watched in amazement as Harvard went on to score 16 points in 42 seconds. Calviin and I exchanged words as i told him Harvard was going to make the comeback. calvin responded that " we are a machine" As the game ended i turned to Calvin and said " what happened to your machine?" He looked at me smiled and said " Wasn't that something' He threw me his chin strap and said we both will always remember this moment.

[jasonbrandt]

That's a pretty ballsy call running a draw play on 3rd and 10 with under :30 to go in the game!

[tracymathis]

I really enjoy it every time I watch it. Such a classic game.

[davidx]

What a great documentary! Really well put together and edited- it's one of those films that even though you already know the outcome, still holds the excitement! But FK! I hate the constant grammarly and aramco ads! I swear to avoid them both!

[goldenagenut]

Terrific documentary I've leant to several friends who all said they really enjoyed it! It's like a real-life Twilight Zone episode and a really fun watch!

[JorgeDiaz-lyqp]

A piece of lovely Americana crafted from the memories of a tumultuous period. That said, pretty sad that Calvin Hill did not appear - he was quite conspicuous by his absence.

[andrewhatez]

An entertaining game indeed. The body language of the Yale team, as Harvard got them in a twist, is epic.

[sidDkid]

36:00 ... *_yeah, Tommy Lee, that Al Gore was HILARIOUS!_* 😬

[eliaz]

I watched, along with many others, at the New Haven Arena, on Closed Circuit TV. The game was not on regular TV and tickets for the game itself were being scalped for big money.

[saltydog]

The sportscaster "don Gillis" was a real pro.