This 1973 classic is one of De Niro’s earlier films, pre-Godfather and Taxi Driver. Flashes of the great actor to come are plentiful, but it was Vincent Gardenia as coach Dutch who got the Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in 1974, while De Niro won its counterpart from the New York Film Critics Circle—the first major recognition of his career. Michael Moriarty’s role as De Niro’s best friend is flawless. As sports movies go, this one is pretty good. My only big complaint is the cheesy soundtrack. I had almost forgotten the poor taste many directors had in background music in the early 1970s. John Hancock provides a painful reminder here.