The Guy Who Came Back (1951)
Directed by Joseph M. Newman / Joseph L. Mankiewicz / Joseph Newman
Genres - Drama, Spy Film |
Sub-Genres - Sports Drama |
Release Date - Aug 16, 1951 (USA - Unknown), Aug 16, 1951 (USA) |
Run Time - 91 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The title character (Paul Douglas) is a pro football player of the early 1940s at the end of his career. Douglas is offered a coaching job, but he stubbornly turns it down in hopes of making a comeback. Day after day he sits in his den watching movies of his past gridiron triumph, much to the dismay of his wife (Joan Bennett). When she chews him out for living in the past, Douglas walks out and takes up with a younger woman (Linda Darnell). To prove that he's still in top shape, Douglas takes a job as a professional wrestler. His new girl friend, realizing that Douglas is miserable without his wife, conspires with the other woman to get Douglas back on his old team. The wartime need for warm bodies allows Douglas a few more years in football, but eventually he gets wise to himself and takes the coaching job. Ironically, Guy Who Came Back star Paul Douglas was in his youth an football pro who retired from active play to become a sports announcer.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
athlete, career, chance, coach, comeback, disillusionment, employment, extramarital-affair, flashback, football, friendship, girl, glory, hope, life-choices, modeling, past, player [sports], profession, sports, team, wife, woman, wrestling-Greco-Roman
