Be True to Yourself

While shockingly profane (particularly for the time in which it was filmed) and infused with over-the-top, satirical levels of hockey violence, Slap Shot is an entertaining, fantastic, and fun movie set in the world of 1970s minor league hockey. It is one of my all-time favorite movies.

There is a lot going on during the movie. One big, story-shaping event is the announcement that one of the town’s largest employers is closing and laying off its workforce. It is subsequently decided that the local ice hockey team, the Charlestown Chiefs, are going to fold as well as a result of the steel mill closing.

In the wake of the bad news, the team comes to embrace a more aggressive, violent style of play when it becomes apparent that such play draws fans and it intimidates other teams and leads to Chiefs victories. The new style of play earns the approval of their player-coach, Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman), who encourages it.

One of the Chiefs players, Nick Braden (Michael Ontkean), refuses to go along with the violent tactics of his more willing teammates that are encouraged and often incited by the antics of the sometimes criminally violent Hanson Brothers (Steve Carlson, Jeff Carlson, and David Hanson). This causes Reggie and Nick to butt heads and even results in the star player being benched. In time, Reggie comes to respect Nick’s principled stand and his refusal to “goon it up.” That doesn’t mean, however, that the Charlestown Chiefs remain steadfast in their short-lived attempt to play it straight by embracing old-time hockey. The championship game eventually sees Nick watching a violent, “bench-clearing” brawl from the bench.

However, Nick isn’t above a little mischief motivated in part by his apparent desire to show off for his estranged wife, Lily Braden (Lindsay Crouse). The last scene on the ice is one of the most memorable scenes both in the movie and on film. Click on the link below to enjoy that scene. And remember that being true to your principles can be a winning experience.

“Slap Shot (10/10) Movie CLIP - Braden's Striptease (1977) HD”