The Spirit of Stanford
Cast & Crew
Charles Barton
Frankie Albert
Marguerite Chapman
Matt Willis
Shirley Patterson
Kay Harris
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Inside Stanford University's trophy room, a couple of students discuss the famous Stanford football player, Frankie Albert. When a janitor overhears their discussion, he says that he knows Frankie from their days together at Glendale High School. The janitor then recounts Frankie's career at Stanford: Frankie and another football player named Cliff Bernard are on their way to school, when the self-absorbed Frankie criticizes Cliff's performance on the gridiron. After Cliff, who is driving, orders Frankie to get out and walk the rest of the way, another student, Fay Edwards, stops and gives him a lift. On the way, Frankie reads a glowing newspaper account of his last game, then tries unsuccessfully to give Fay his football pin. When they arrive, Frankie reports to the dormitory and meets his roommate, Link Wyman, who also plays football. Later, upperclassmen Don Farrell and Buzz Costello, try to sell the freshmen a chair which they claim used to belong to football star Ernie Nevers. Later, at practice, student reporter June Rogers takes some photographs of Frankie for the school paper. That evening, Frankie fills in for Link, who serves food at the women's dormitory, and gives his football pin to June. In her psychology class, Fay is given an assignment to pick an acquaintance and try to find out "what makes him tick." After settling on Frankie for her assignment, June attends a few games, where she takes note of his egomaniacal behavior. Later, Frankie breaks his date to take June to the freshman dance, so she returns his pin and writes a scathing review of him for the paper. Soon, Fay and Frankie begin seeing each other regularly, and she begins wearing his pin. During Stanford's game against UCLA, Frankie decides to ignore the coach's instructions and pass the ball. The pass is intercepted, however, and after Stanford loses, the paper blames Frankie's hubris. This humiliation seems to humble Frankie, who no longer brags about his ability. Some time later, the paper reports that Fay has received special praise for her thesis. When Don and Buzz read a description of the thesis, they surmise that Frankie was the subject of Fay's research and inform him of it. Meanwhile, Frankie is once again praised for leading his team through an undefeated season. Frankie's egotism returns, and he spurns June in favor of the fawning national press. Then, suddenly, the team begins losing, so Frankie decides to abandon them for a professional team. Link, who has caught a severe cold, begs Frankie to stay, then follows him into the pouring rain. When Link calls him a quitter, Frankie punches him in the mouth and leaves him in a puddle of mud. At the office of his new team, Frankie meets Ernie Nevers, who advises him to enjoy his college years while he can. After Frankie learns that Link has contracted pneumonia, he visits him in the hospital. Once again humbled, Frankie decides to return and play for Stanford, while Link listens to the game on the radio. Back in the trophy room, Link comes in, and after the janitor leaves for his coffee break, he informs the students that they have been speaking with none other than Frankie Albert.
Director
Charles Barton
Cast
Frankie Albert
Marguerite Chapman
Matt Willis
Shirley Patterson
Kay Harris
Robert Stevens
The Vagabonds
Lloyd Bridges
Forrest Tucker
Billy Lechner
Harold Landon
Volta Boyer
Ernie Nevers
Dale Van Sickel
John Gallaudet
Arthur Loft
Stanley Brown
Ed Laughton
John Tyrrell
Ray Walker
Winstead Sheffield Weaver
Richard Hogan
James Westerfield
Crew
Gene Anderson
Lionel Banks
William Brent
William Brent
Irving Briskin
Dick Charles
Jeff Cravath
James M. Crowe
Jimmie Davis
Lambert Day
Sammy Gallop
Howard J. Green
Art Kassel
Norman Litman
Nick Lukats
Nick Lukats
Larry Markes
Charles Mitchell
Paul Murphy
Jack Owens
Franz F. Planer
M. W. Stoloff
John Stumar
James Sweeney
Sam White
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this picture was The Stanford Spirit. The film includes running voice-over narration by Frankie Albert. Albert started playing on the Stanford football team as a freshman in 1938 and eventually lead his team to two unbeaten seasons and a Rose Ball victory, for which he was named All-American quarterback. Jeff Cravath, who served as technical advisor on the picture, was a football coach at USC.
