Harmon of Michigan

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david f This is a short movie about the end of Tom Harmon's career playing football for the University of Michigan and the beginning of his career as a coach. It starts off with a highlight reel of his playing days followed by his dated marriage proposal to a coed who works at the school newspaper and helps him answer his fan mail. She suggests that he agree to write an essay about what football means to him for a magazine for $1,200 but he protests saying he couldn't write such an essay. Ahhh, I see that a University of Michigan education has prepared Tom Harmon very well indeed for life. She agrees to write it for him and later, when she complains about having to look for a job he tells her that "no wife of mine is going to work." This is meant as a proposal. It goes downhill from there, as he takes one assistant coaching job only to have the coach who hired him get replaced by another coach he can't get along with. It looks like Mrs. Harmon might have to find a job, but he reminds her that they can live of the $1,200 dollars they have-that she earned! Next he goes to work as an assistant to legendary coach Pop Branch at Reserve. He impresses the powerful alumni of Reserve's rival, Webster, particularly in a health related absence of Pop's when he takes over temporarily as coach, and Webster offers him the head coaching position at their school in the middle of the season, hoping to beat Reserve in their traditional, end of season rivalry matchup. Harmon takes the job over Pop's objection, pursuing personal glory over all else, including friendship, loyalty, and the spirit of fun which, it is the position of this film, is the true meaning of football. In the climactic game of Reserve versus Webster, protege versus mentor, Harmon resorts to a dangerous, borderline legal play in his bid for victory which results in both ruined careers and devastating personal injury. Harmon does learn a lesson from the suffering brought on by his actions but the film doesn't let you avoid coming to the conclusion that there is something about football that brings out the worst in people. That those who align themselves with what the film points to as the "high ideals of college football" will end up marginalised, cast out into some lesser league populated by losers, far from the sellout crowds salivating over the big and important rivalries. By introducing these values the film saps whatever joy the audience might take from seeing the hero's team win and Harmon's ability to find a job where he can support his wife (who, after bankrolling their honeymoon with her ghostwritten essay has little to do besides sit on the sidelines in one exotically pretty hat after another) is not exactly the kind of triumph that will appeal to a modern audience (at least I would hope not). This film suffers many deficiencies, from its archaic values, to substandard acting, and even the football scenes lack excitement. Ultimately, though its main attraction was the leading college football player of the time (who is also considered one of the greatest college football players of all time) it perversely makes a strong case against college football as a formerly pure arena now polluted by cruel coaches, sleazy alumni, and win-at-all-costs values, egged on by large cheering crowds who hunger only for victory. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Harmon of Michigan

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