Code Breakers is an ESPN Original Entertainment television film[1] that was first broadcast December 10, 2005 at 9 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN HD.[2] The movie followed the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Synopsis
Based on the first three chapters of the 2000 novel A Return to Glory,[3] the movie chronicles the 1951 cheating scandal at West Point and its impact on Army's football team, which was forced to cut loose virtually its entire squad. The film begins going into the 1950 Army–Navy Game, the Cadets football team was heavily favored, yet went on to lose to a weak Midshipmen squad, 14–2. The Academy and football team were then thrown into a scandal when 90 cadets, including 37 lettering football players, resigned in a cheating scandal which broke the Academy's Honor Code.[4] The film follows the cadet Brian Nolan, who is led to a ring of cheaters when he is need of academic help to pass. A serious piece of the film involves the relationship of Coach Blaik, played by Scott Glenn, and his son Bob Blaik played by Corey Sevier. Bob, who was a cadet responsible for breaking the Academy Honor Code by cheating in academics deals with the guilt along with the other football players also involved.[5]
Cast
- Scott Glenn as Earl "Red" Blaik
- Zachery Ty Bryan as Brian Nolan
- Jeff Roop as George Holbrook
- Corey Sevier as Bob Blaik
- Jude Ciccolella as Commandant Harkins
- Theo Rossi as Desantis
- Robin Dunne as Trager
- Adam Grimes as Culpepper
- Jake Busey as Straub
- Dan Petronijevic as Corely
- Richard Zeppieri as Vince Lombardi
- Shane Daly as Doug Kenna
- Jonathan Walker as Bellingham
- Sarah Gadon as Julia Nolan
Production notes
A principal shooting location was Victoria College, Toronto. Director Thomas Del Ruth used his father's 1950 film The West Point Story as a template in recreating West Point in the 50s.[6]
References
- ^ Brian Lowry (8 December 2005). "Review: 'Codebreakers'". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ "ESPN's Latest Original Film, "CodeBreakers," Debuts Saturday". SportsBusiness Daily. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ Mcilliams, B. (n.d.). CODE BREAKERS (Movie). Retrieved from http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20315/CB.htm
- ^ Mel Bracht (9 December 2005). "ESPN original movie 'Codebreakers' ESPN tracks the Code' Former OU assistant featured in movie on West Point scandal". NewsOK.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Deford, F. (2000). Code Breakers. Sports Illustrated, 93(20), 82. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sph&AN=3750230&site=ehost-live&scope=site
- ^ Sandomir, R. (2005, December 09). Recapturing West Point, With Help. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/09/sports/ncaafootball/recapturing-west-point-with-help.html
External links
- Code Breakers at IMDb