The Longest Yard (1974)

The classic comedy The Longest Yard (1974) centers around the criminally inane behavior of Paul “Wrecking” Crewe (Burt Reynolds), a former star pro quarterback that goes from the gridiron to the state prison when he “borrows” his wealthy girlfriend’s (Anitra Ford) sleek and fast sports car and gets into a chase with the pesky police. When Crewe’s felonious joyride comes to an end, he finds himself serving an eighteen-month sentence in the state prison run by the evil warden Rudolph Hazen (Eddie Albert), a sports fanatic who manages a semi-pro team comprised of prison guards. The warden eyes Crewe as a potential coach that will help his beloved team clinch a championship. Instead, the imprisoned QB scrapes together a squad of his fellow inmates and challenges Hazen’s team to an exhibition game. But when Hazen dangles the offer of a pardon in return for Crewe to throw the game, the conniving ex-pro takes him up on his dishonest offer. But as the X’s and O’s take the field for the life-changing game, Crewe’s competitive spirit eventually trumps his desire for freedom, and he leads his rough and tumble teammates to victory. It wouldn’t be a film if Burt Reynolds kept his clothes on, and he treats us to a bare-chested look at his hairy upper body. We’d love to do hard time with Burt!