Code Breakers (film) explained

Genre:Drama
Director:Rod Holcomb
Music:Anthony Marinelli
Country:United States
Language:English
Executive Producer:Orly Adelson
Producer:Frank Siracusa
Editor:Michael Brown
Cinematography:Thomas Del Ruth
Runtime:128 minutes
Company:Orly Adelson Productions
Network:ESPN

Code Breakers is a 2005 American sports drama television film directed by Rod Holcomb and written by G. Ross Parker, based on the 2000 non-fiction book A Return to Glory by Bill McWilliams. The film chronicles the real-life 1951 cheating scandal at the United States Military Academy, and the impact on its football team. It stars Zachery Ty Bryan, Jeff Roop, Jake Busey, Corey Sevier, Theo Rossi, Robin Dunne, Adam Grimes, Jude Ciccolella, Dan Petronijevic, Richard Zeppieri, and Scott Glenn as Coach Earl "Red" Blaik.

The film aired on ESPN on December 10, 2005.

Synopsis

The film chronicles the 1951 cheating scandal at West Point and its impact on Army's football team, which was forced to dismiss 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.[1] The film follows Brian Nolan, a cadet 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 and his son Bob, one of the cadets responsible for cheating.[2]

Production

Filming took place in Toronto.[3] A principal shooting location was Victoria College. Cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth used the 1950 film The West Point Story, directed by his father Roy Del Ruth, as a template in recreating West Point in the 1950s.[4]

Release

The film aired on December 10, 2005 at 9 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN HD.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Mel . Bracht . ESPN original movie 'Codebreakers' ESPN tracks the Code' Former OU assistant featured in movie on West Point scandal . NewsOK.com . 9 December 2005 . https://archive.today/20160911202027/http://newsok.com/article/2923121 . 11 September 2016 . dead . 11 September 2016 . dmy .
  2. DeFord . Frank . Frank DeFord . November 13, 2000 . Code Breakers . . December 7, 2023.
  3. Web site: Lowry. Brian. Codebreakers. Variety. December 8, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20151107184331/http://variety.com/2005/tv/reviews/codebreakers-1200519777/. November 7, 2015. July 14, 2022.
  4. Web site: Recapturing West Point, With Help. Sandomir. Richard. Richard Sandomir. The New York Times. December 9, 2005. December 5, 2018.
  5. News: ESPN's Latest Original Film, "CodeBreakers," Debuts Saturday. November 7, 2015. SportsBusiness Daily. December 9, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20151107183131/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2005/12/Issue-62/Sports-Media/Espns-Latest-Original-Film-Codebreakers-Debuts-Saturday.aspx. November 7, 2015.