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The Deadliest Season

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The Deadliest Season
GenreDrama
Sport
Written byErnest Kinoy
Directed byRobert Markowitz
StarringMichael Moriarty
Kevin Conway
Meryl Streep
Music byDick Hyman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerHerbert Brodkin
ProducerRobert Berger
Production locationHartford, Connecticut
CinematographyAlan Metzger
EditorStephen A. Rotter
Running time98 minutes
Production companyTitus Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 16, 1977 (1977-03-16)

The Deadliest Season is a 1977 American made-for-television sports drama film aired on CBS on March 16, 1977. It was directed by Robert Markowitz, written by Ernest Kinoy and produced by Titus Productions. The film stars Michael Moriarty, Kevin Conway and Meryl Streep.

Plot

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Gerry Miller (Michael Moriarty) is a professional ice hockey defenseman relegated to the minor leagues because his play is not aggressive enough. In an effort to get back to the majors, he plays dirty and gets into fights on the ice, which gets him back to the majors. His aggressive play results in the death of a former friend (Paul D'Amato) playing for an opposing team who sustained a ruptured spleen during a game. Miller appears largely indifferent to the situation, appearing to view it as a normal part of playing top-level ice hockey. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by the district attorney and is under pressure to accept a plea bargain while his team and the league dissociate themselves from the scandal. He is defended by George Graff (Kevin Conway), a disabled lawyer who is one of the few people that believes he can get Miller exonerated in court.[1][2]

Cast

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In The Deadliest Season, Michael Moriarty plays the main character.[3][4] Kevin Conway also starred in this film.[5][6] Sully Boyar, Jill Eikenberry, Walter McGinn, Andrew Duggan, Paul D'Amato and Mason Adams also appeared on The Deadliest Season.[7][8] Conway played the attorney who defended Mortiarty's character.[9] Adams' appearance as the team owner in the film helped land him a role in Lou Grant.[8][10]

The film was written by Ernest Kinoy,[11] who had already written several television dramas by that time.[12] It was directed by Robert Markowitz,[13] and produced by Titus Productions.[14] Meryl Streep made her television debut.[13][15][16] She also made her film debut role for Julia in the same year.[17][18] Streep, playing Moriarty's wife, received fifth billing in what was her first role.[19]

Airing

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The Deadliest Season was a 98-minute-long courtroom and sports drama[19] made-for-TV movie that originally aired in the United States on CBS in 1977.[20][21] In Canada, the movie aired in August 1979 on CBC.[3] In Australia, the film first aired in November 1980,[7] and later aired on March 23, 1982, on ATN7.[5] In 1984, it reran in New York on Channel 2.[22] It re-ran on television in Alaska in November 1986.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Connor, John J. "TV: The Making of a Hockey 'Killer,'" The New York Times, Wednesday, March 16, 1977. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Barnes, Mike. "Paul D’Amato, Tim 'Dr. Hook' McCracken in Slap Shot, Dies at 76," The Hollywood Reporter, Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Moriarty stars in hockey film". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal. August 22, 1979. p. 39. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  4. ^ David Quinlan (November 2000). Quinlan's Film Stars. Batsford. p. 374. ISBN 978-0-7134-8651-3. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b "TUESDAY MARCH 23". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 24 March 1982. p. 140. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Movies". Anchorage Daily News. Anchorage, Alaska. November 16, 1986. p. 102. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Wednesday TV". The Age. Australia. November 13, 1980. p. 36.
  8. ^ a b Douglass K. Daniel (1996). Lou Grant: The Making of Tv's Top Newspaper Drama. Syracuse University Press. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-0-8156-0363-4. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Network Sports and Specials". The Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. March 12, 1977. p. 11.
  10. ^ Buck, Jerry (August 13, 1989). "Knight and Day'; Mason Adams: Looking for Another 'Bad-Guy' Role". The Washington Post. p. y.05. Retrieved October 19, 2012.[dead link]
  11. ^ "MOViE GUiDE". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 24 March 1982. p. 142. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  12. ^ Alvin H. Marill (2009). Sports on television. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-35105-1. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  13. ^ a b Jerry Roberts (15 June 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-8108-6138-1. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  14. ^ Steven A. LuKanic (January 1991). Film actors guide. Lone Eagle. ISBN 978-0-943728-38-4. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Streep, Meryl Louise (1949-).(Narrative biography)". Encyclopedia of World Biography. Gale. 1998. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  16. ^ "IT'S A FACT", Europe Intelligence Wire, Financial Times Ltd, 2012-01-07, retrieved 19 October 2012
  17. ^ Liz Sonneborn (1 January 2002). A to Z of American Women in the Performing Arts. Infobase Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-4381-0790-5. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  18. ^ Ray B. Browne; Pat Browne (15 June 2001). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Popular Press. p. 794. ISBN 978-0-87972-821-2. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  19. ^ a b Hal Erickson (2008). "The Deadliest Season". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. New York. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  20. ^ Didinger, Ray; Macnow, Glen (2009). The ultimate book of sports movies : featuring the 100 greatest sports films of all time. Philadelphia: Running Press Book Publishers. p. 316. ISBN 9780762435487. OCLC 316825645.
  21. ^ K. Edgington; Thomas L. Erskine; James Michael Welsh (29 December 2010). Encyclopedia of Sports Films. Scarecrow Press. p. 509. ISBN 978-0-8108-7652-1. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  22. ^ New York Media, LLC (2 July 1984). "New York Magazine". Newyorkmetro.com. New York Media, LLC: 185–. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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The Deadliest Season at IMDb

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