The Longest Yard
(Paramount Region 2 PAL DVD)
(1974)
review by Billion$Baby

When I was a little kid, I recall watching this film (under it's alternative Mean Machine title) and thoroughly enjoying it. As an adult I can see why as The Longest Yard is an outstanding comedy drama and one of the very best non-horror films in my entire collection. This perfectly crafted Robert Aldrich film is certainly Burt Reynold's finest two hours at the very least and in my opinion, one of the best films of the seventies.

Reynold's plays a highly talented one time professional quarterback Paul Crewe, infamous for having thrown games for money. Crewe is arrested and convicted for stealing (and destroying) a car, drunk and dangerous driving, and resisting arrest. Pleasingly Aldrich actually shot The Longest Yard at the Georgia State Prison, and it's a film about brutality and control which rather shrewdly intercuts the tactics of American football with the underhand tactics of a corrupt prison regime and domineering warden.

This is a comedy drama so there's plenty of laughs (and some disturbing moments) to be had here when the unpleasant warden devises a warm-up football game between the prisoners and the semi-pro team of guards. The film all leads up to the game itself which occupies a staggering final third of the feature. I've never been a fan of watching any sport so if you feel the same way as I, you certainly shouldn't let that put you off.

That final exciting third is brilliant stuff and it's one of the rare cinematic moments when split-screen effects were used very wisely (hold your head in shame De Palma). The ensemble cast (especially Reynolds at his most charismatic), the screenplay, the direction and music are all excellent. The Longest Yard is a very rare thing indeed - a PERFECT film. Flawless and recommended to all!

I should imagine that most people have already seen this film on the television at some point (and hopefully appreciated it!) but I was very keen to see the film in it's original and superior widescreen ratio. The slightly washed out anamorphic print has some minor scratches and blemishes throughout but that doesn't detract from my enjoyment too badly. The sound is mono only and disappointingly Paramount don't even offer a trailer when by rights, The Longest Yard clearly deserves a special edition release.

For shame. Still, I'd rather own this widescreen copy of the film on dvd rather than on skanky vhs. Recommended at the right price and hey, at least Aldrich's powerful film has been released in the UK under it's original title. If anyone out there still hasn'tseen this classic emotion soaring feature then you've sure missed out! BTW Please don't mention the naff Vinnie Jones UK remake.