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Jim Thorpe, All American

Released Aug 24, 1951 1h 47m Biography List
Reviews 56% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
In this stirring biographical drama, young Native American Jim Thorpe (Burt Lancaster) pursues his dreams of athletic stardom. Mentored by a devoted coach (Charles Bickford), Thorpe succeeds at track before becoming a renowned football hero and an Olympic athlete. While remarkably accomplished on the field, Thorpe faces obstacles in his pursuit of becoming a professional coach, and also finds challenges in his love life, with its disappointments and heartaches that he must struggle to overcome. Read More Read Less
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Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
Ian Kane Epoch Times “Jim Thorpe, All-American” is a finely-crafted film that not only holds historical significance, but also delivers an entertaining portrayal of an American legend. Rated: 4/5 May 1, 2024 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Burt Lancaster in a rather slow but interesting bio... physically at least, [he] re-creates the mighty Thorpe with considerable vividness... Jan 28, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (23) audience reviews
CodyZamboni Movie is a compelling and inspiring bio pic of the famous Native American athlete. Narrated by Pop Warner, film is thrilling , detailing how successful Jim was in football, baseball, track and field, and Olympic events. That would be an impressive enough movie, But then Jim's story turns dark, when tragedy stikes. Jim's downward spiral, I really felt for him, even when he's acting like a jerk. How he deals positively with the setbacks, and turns his life around was kinda abrupt, but it's still satisfying. Movie is anchored by the first rate performance by Burt Lancaster. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/09/23 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 47 minutes based on the life and career of Jim Thorpe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Steve D Flawed but really powerful. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Another well directed picture by Michael Curtiz. The film's major failing, though, is its miss-telling of several aspects of Thorpe''s life. Nonetheless, its intent is myth building and Burt Lancaster's performance makes this picture a success. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Frances H Lancaster does a good job in this biopic of the great Jim Thorpe, but I had a problem right off the bat by how the Indian School idea was treated, as if they were a great boom to the Native Americans, when in truth they were the instrument used to try to destroy Native American culture, and alienate the Native American young from their parents and their people. They were an instrument of suppression and used to impress young Native Americans with the superiority of white people and their European ancestry. Students who resisted the mandate against any show of Native American culture were beaten The use of a a white actor to play a Native American is again showing the prejudice of the time period, a prejudice with which Jim Thorpe, according to this film, was all too familiar. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/12/20 Full Review Audience Member I thought it was great. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Jim Thorpe, All American

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this stirring biographical drama, young Native American Jim Thorpe (Burt Lancaster) pursues his dreams of athletic stardom. Mentored by a devoted coach (Charles Bickford), Thorpe succeeds at track before becoming a renowned football hero and an Olympic athlete. While remarkably accomplished on the field, Thorpe faces obstacles in his pursuit of becoming a professional coach, and also finds challenges in his love life, with its disappointments and heartaches that he must struggle to overcome.
Director
Michael Curtiz
Producer
Everett Freeman
Screenwriter
Douglas Morrow, Everett Freeman
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 47m
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