{"id":73953,"date":"2021-07-14T23:24:02","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T06:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73953"},"modified":"2022-02-21T14:56:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T21:56:19","slug":"jim-thorpe-all-american-1951","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73953","title":{"rendered":"Jim Thorpe &#8212; All American (1951)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Tonight we pay recognition to a man who had more than a brief moment &#8212; a man who, during the past half-century, has carved a permanent place for himself in all our hearts.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster-197x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-73954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster-673x1024.png 673w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Poster.png 729w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAward-winning Native American athlete <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jim_Thorpe\">Jim Thorpe<\/a> (Burt Lancaster) marries his college sweetheart (Phyllis Thaxter) and enjoys a successful career under the tutelage of &#8220;Pop&#8221; Warner (Charles Bickford) &#8212; including setting numerous records at the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1912_Summer_Olympics\">1912 Olympics<\/a> &#8212; but experiences a rapid decline after the death of his beloved son.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Burt Lancaster Films<\/li>\n<li>Charles Bickford Films<\/li>\n<li>Football<\/li>\n<li>Michael Curtiz Films<\/li>\n<li>Native Americans<\/li>\n<li>Olympics<\/li>\n<li>Sports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMichael Curtiz directed this engaging biopic about Native American athlete and Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe, whose career trajectory and personal life were filled with both triumphs and tragedies. As the film opens, we see restless young Thorpe (Billy Gray) being convinced by his kind father (Nestor Paiva) to return to school: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t see nothing but a boy&#8217;s world. That&#8217;s all you&#8217;ll ever see here on the reservation&#8230; You can try to make something of yourself &#8212; be something! [You can be] whatever you want to be, boy; it&#8217;s all in the books, and the books are in the schools.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-1024x766.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Young-Boy.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Next we see grown Thorpe studying at the notorious <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carlisle_Indian_Industrial_School\">Carlisle Indian Industrial School<\/a>, where he quickly demonstrates his mettle as an extraordinary runner and track-and-field star (Lancaster is truly impressive performing his own athletic stunts here). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Impressing.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Soon Thorpe meets and falls for a young woman (Thaxter): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Thaxter2.png 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; who is also being wooed by a star football player (Steve Cochran): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-1024x775.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cochran.png 1363w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; thus leading Thorpe to attempt (and succeed in!) that sport as well. Meanwhile, Thorpe wows the entire world by setting new records at the Olympics:  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Olympics-Medals.png 1369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; only to face a major setback when his awards are rescinded based on a ridiculous technicality. He rallies at the birth of his son, but when unimaginable tragedy hits once again, Thorpe never really recovers. <\/p>\n<p>The screenplay simplifies Thorpe&#8217;s complicated personal life &#8212; he was married three times and had eight children, though only one of each are shown here &#8212; but we don&#8217;t mind this narrative elision given how powerfully we understand the depths to which he sinks. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-1024x756.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-1024x756.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Marital.png 1367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps most impressive is the attempt made to present Native Americans&#8217; perspectives on navigating through their newly colonized land &#8212; though we must also suffer through obnoxiously stereotypical &#8220;Indian music&#8221; pounding on the soundtrack: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-1024x775.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Leaving.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Regardless, this film offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Native Americans at the turn of the 20th century, and serves as a valuable semi-historical document about an enormously gifted athlete.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Burt Lancaster as Jim Thorpe<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Lancaster.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine direction and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-1024x762.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-1024x762.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Angle.png 1383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-1024x766.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-73957\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Jim-Thorpe-Cinematography.png 1379w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for its historical significance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0043687\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/jim-thorpe-all-american\/review\/2000094954\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2455burt.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/79770\/jim-thorpe-all-american#articles-reviews?articleId=88442\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Tonight we pay recognition to a man who had more than a brief moment &#8212; a man who, during the past half-century, has carved a permanent place for himself in all our hearts.&#8221; Synopsis: Award-winning Native American athlete Jim Thorpe (Burt Lancaster) marries his college sweetheart (Phyllis Thaxter) and enjoys a successful career under the tutelage of &#8220;Pop&#8221; Warner (Charles Bickford) &#8212; including setting numerous records at the 1912 Olympics &#8212; but experiences a rapid decline after the death of&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=73953\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73953"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81506,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73953\/revisions\/81506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}