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Pat O'Brien as Rockne and Ronald Reagan
as Gipp in the
Warner Bros film Knute Rockne All American.
The January 25, 1941, edition of Motion Picture Herald, under the heading 1940-41 Feature Service Data, to aid showmen in checking, production numbers, running time, round table exploitation, audience classification, dates and page numbers of Herald reviews, ran this item:
Knute Rockne-All American (Warner Bros.)
Release Date October 5, 1940
Production No. 502
Running Time 98 Minutes
Reviewed October 12,1940, Page 46
Audience Classification-General
Legion of Decency Rating--Class A- I
Round Table Exploitation-Sept. 28, '40, Page 147; Oct. 19, '40, Pages 67, 7 1; Oct. 26, '40, Page 52; leading to Jan. 11, '41 , Pages 57, 58.
Feature Release Credits for Knute Rockne--All American included Warner as Distributor, the complete cast, Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis as Producers, Robert Fellows as Associate Producer, Lloyd Bacon as Director, Screenplay by Robert Buckner, Leo F. Forbstein as Musical Director, and more, and the film was listed with, among others, KING OF THE LUMBERJACKS, with John Payne and Gloria Dickson; KIT CARSON, with Jon Hall, Dana Andrews, Ward Bond and Lynn Bari; and KITTY FOYLE, with Ginger Rogers and Dennis Morgan.
This reprint of an article from the FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK, 1941, under the title "Warner's Campaign on
KNUTE ROCKNE-ALL AMERICAN," tells it all:
That was more than fifty years ago and Notre Dame is still exploiting "Knute Rockne-All American". It is still being shown to all incoming freshmen as part of their orientation. It is still considered THE representative film and, for the most part, any attempts at a more modem, more "adult" production of a screenplay about Rockne and Gipp and the relationship between the two has been thwarted by University administrators.
Going back less than fifteen years, I have been witness to a half dozen projects, reaching varying levels of progress, involving the writing and producing of George Gipp scripts. The most recent of these projects involved Jason Miller of "Exorcist" fame, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for his Broadway play, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
According to an article in the Scranton, Pa., SUNDAY TIMES, March 5, 1989, Gipp is a favorite subject with Miller-Gipp and Notre Dame football-and the Scranton-born actor, playwright, screen writer wanted to take a fresh look at both in a movie he hoped to write for Columbia Pictures. His son, Jason, Jr., would play the role of Gipp.
According to Miller, "George Gipp was a very complex man...He was filled with self-doubts and anxiety ... He was an enigma." According to the author of the article, "Gipp was a gifted player, the very best of his time and, some feel, the greatest ever. He could do anything and do it exceptionally well. He passed. He ran. He kicked. People who saw him say he often beat teams single handedly.
"Off the field, Gipp was an incorrigible card player and billiards shark. In an era when billiards was a "gentleman's pastime" played in ornate hotel lobbies, like that of The Oliver in South Bend, IN., Gipp took on every challenger and beat them all. Frequently he'd leave Notre Dame for weeks at a time to play in billiards tournaments, or for marathon card games.
"Besides focusing on Gipp and Rockne-who Miller would like to see played by Robert Duvall-the film will depict football as it was then-a brutal, vicious, even savage game. Face guards were unheard of. Helmets were a farce. In those years after World War 1, it was a violent game played by violent men, many of them back from the war in which they became accustomed to sticking bayonets in other men."
"Miller said the only obstacle to the film being made, now that Columbia has given the go-ahead, would be if Notre Dame won't give its blessing. He insists he will not pursue it any further against Notre Dame's wishes."
Miller said in the article that it would be a "controversial" film. "Anytime you deal with a myth, there's controversy."
Miller intended to spend some time in Laurium, Michigan, Gipp's birthplace, with his son and Jim Crowley, grandson of the late Jim Crowley of Four Horsemen fame. After that, Miller planned to travel to Notre Dame to brief officials, including the president, Father Edward A. Malloy. That was the last anyone heard of that project.
The Scranton SUNDAY TIMES article was courtesy of a friend, Tony DiMarco, a Hollywood producer and screen writer who entered into my life in 1981 by virtue of a mutual friend, Emil Klosinski. At that time DiMarco, who owns the movie rights to the Pat Chelland book "ONE FOR THE GIPPER," was working hard to secure financial backing for a movie of the same name. During this time, I, too, was attempting to generate interest in a Gipp movie and only weeks before hearing from DiMareo for the first time had written a letter to Mr. Robert Redford, he of Hollywood fame. Here's how the letter reads:
- Dear Mr. Redford,
- This letter was prompted partly by my admiration for you as a talented actor and
- partly by my strong desire to some day see a truly reflective, in-depth screen portrayal of the Notre Dame legend, George Gipp. I happen to believe that Gipp provides an excellent subject for a screen play and that, physically and characteristically, you would be ideal for the role. In spite of some distasteful aspects of Gipp's behavior to which some people might object, I believe that in a delicately handled screen play the young man would definitely emerge a hero to millions.
- I enclose photocopies of three pages from last Saturday's official Notre Dame football program which featured George Gipp's life and legend. 'This account of his life, exploits and accomplishments is probably as interesting and comprehensive as you will find in so brief an article, though there is much more depth and color to be found about the man, including his pal "Jinks," who drank with him, chalked his pool cue, and happened to be a midget.
- In 1978, Mr. Frank O'Connor, of Frank O'Connor Productions, Hollywood General Studios, contacted me about his plans to produce a movie about Gipp. Jason Miller (Author's note: here's that name again, proving the 1989 attempt at a Gipp movie was not Miller's first.) was to do the writing. I have heard no more about the project since 1978. To the best of my knowledge, George Gipp is a public domain character.
- Should this letter ignite a spark of interest on your part, perhaps you might check it out with prospective producers, or even give some thought to producing such a film yourself. As keeper of Notre Dame's athletic memorabilia, I would be happy to assist in any way possible. Any further private interest on my part has been explained above.
- I believe the Gipper story could be beautiful and dramatic. His copper-mining country background, his burial in a blinding snowstorm, his attitudes and mannerisms, all add up to a kind of mysticism. In these days of "Rocky" and "Brian's Song," why not one for the Gipper? He seemingly came out of nowhere, made his indelible mark as an American sports hero, and even more unexpectedly left us.
- Do be assured of my gratitude for your attention.
- This letter was prompted partly by my admiration for you as a talented actor and
I mailed that letter on October 5, 1981 . A couple of weeks later Tony DiMarco and I discovered each other. On October 21 DiMarco put in a telephone call to my office at Notre Dame and, later that same day, followed up on it with this letter:
- I just wanted to thank you again for
your courtesy on the phone today.
- As I told you, we are very enthusiastic over our George Gipp project and we will continue to pursue it either as a television movie of the week or as a feature motion picture.
- I'll keep you informed as to what progress we make and I'd be interested in hearing what, if any, reaction you get from Robert Redford.
- As I told you, we are very enthusiastic over our George Gipp project and we will continue to pursue it either as a television movie of the week or as a feature motion picture.
- Mr. Redford wanted me to thank you for sharing your idea with him. It does sound as if the life of George Gipp could serve as the basis of an intriguing film; unfortunately, however, it's not one to which Mr. Redford feels he could commit himself-especially in light of the large number of projects that he has in development already. It really would be pointless for him to look further at this stage.
- But Mr. Redford did appreciate your sending the suggestion along, and we will keep it on file for possible future reference.
- Mr. Redford wanted me to thank you for sharing your idea with him. It does sound as if the life of George Gipp could serve as the basis of an intriguing film; unfortunately, however, it's not one to which Mr. Redford feels he could commit himself-especially in light of the large number of projects that he has in development already. It really would be pointless for him to look further at this stage.
- We had no luck with "One for the
Gipper" at ABC. Our next meeting is scheduled with CBS on
September 28. If they pass on the project, we're going to be out of
luck for a while because NBC is not taking any meetings until after
the first of the year. They have a money problem and there are just no
funds available for movies- of-the-week at this time.
- Interestingly, President Reagan read our outline for the Gipp movie and was very enthusiastic about it. Our executive producer, who is a good friend of the President's, sent him the outline and Mr. Reagan telephoned him at home and discussed it with him for about fifteen minutes. The President said it is exactly the kind of movie he thinks the American public would like to see. Too bad he is not president of one of the television networks!
- Interestingly, President Reagan read our outline for the Gipp movie and was very enthusiastic about it. Our executive producer, who is a good friend of the President's, sent him the outline and Mr. Reagan telephoned him at home and discussed it with him for about fifteen minutes. The President said it is exactly the kind of movie he thinks the American public would like to see. Too bad he is not president of one of the television networks!
"We have entered into an agreement with RPR Productions, who recently purchased the entire film library of Tel Ra Productions for the purpose of producing commercial cassettes on the "History of Notre Dame Football." The Tel Ra library includes a valuable amount of Notre Dame game footage from 1948 to 1980. Included in this agreement is our consent to make available for use all footage in our film library.
The agreement also contains provisions for all Notre Dame footage in the RPR library to be turned over to Notre Dame as a gift in 1991. However, if RPR decides to sell or liquidate its library sooner, Notre Dame shall receive the film at that time.
Under the terms of the agreement, RPR will provide Notre Dame with 100 copies of the program for non-commercial use.
The Athletic Administration feels this film project will be a valuable public relations tool and fulfills a real need in having a composite film history of Notre Dame football.
One other important aspect of the project is that it will be produced by NFL Films under the direction of Ed and Steve Sabol who are nationally recognized as being the best in the business in producing sports-oriented films."
The memorandum introduced me to what was to be one of the most exciting and rewarding phases of my Notre Dame sports career, comparable to my years with the Irish Football Network, my supervision of the purchase and integration of the 56-ton Adco Sports Book Exchange inventory into the International Sports and Games Research Collection, or any other exciting and rewarding venture. A day before the memorandum was written, Mr. Valdiserri had written these words to Peter Retzlaff, President, RPR Productions:
"Dear Pete:
Enclosed is the signed agreement covering the proposed cassette project on ... The History of Notre Dame Football." We are excited about the project and will assist you in any way possible.
I have talked to Steve Sabol regarding his request to go through our own film collection here at the University. Our Sports and Games Collection librarian is Mr. Herb Juliano who is probably the most notable authority on what our film collection contains. He will be of invaluable assistance to Steve and his group.
Finally, we are pleased that we were able to agree on the final disposition of all the Notre Dame film in your current library; as provided for in paragraph 8 of our agreement. The gift of all this footage will be a welcomed addition to our own collection."
The signed agreement consisted of eight paragraphs, stipulating in effect that Notre Dame agreed to provide RPR, on an exclusive basis, the use of all films, tapes, recordings and related materials for the purpose of producing a one hour program featuring the history of Notre Dame football (The finished product was 53 minutes in length). Upon completion of the production, estimated to be approximately February 1, 1982, (actual completion was in September of 1982), RPR would pay Notre Dame a fee of $10,000 and provide Notre Dame with 100 copies of the program. In addition, RPR was to pay Notre Dame an amount equal to 10 percent of all royalties received by RPR from commercial exploitation of the program. Prior to production, RPR was to submit to Notre Dame its proposed scripts, as one might suspect.
Finally, it was agreed and understood that, upon the expiration of ten years from the date of the agreement (August 27, 1981), RPR would make a gift to the University of Notre Dame of that portion of its film library, as of the date of this agreement (August 27, 1981), which depicts Notre Dame football. As mentioned earlier, provisions were made for Notre Dame to receive this gift earlier in the event RPR attempted to sell or liquidate its film library.
The next twelve months afforded a welcome respite from activity on the Gipper film front and an opportunity to concentrate on birds in the hand- assisting NFL Films with the production of "Wake Up The Echoes: The History of Notre Dame Football," and looking into the disposition of 91 reels of film which had surfaced unexpectedly after forty years of storage under the football stadium, unknown to anyone save the eccentric Mr. Francis Clark, who had recently passed away without divulging his secret to me.
All of the films in this cache were 35mm nitrate-dangerous to store, dangerous to handle and subject to corrosion. Certainly, it was not in their best interest to be stored in the inconstant temperature of a room beneath the football stadium.
When Clark, himself a collector of films and other memorabilia, working as a microfilm technician in the Notre Dame library, learned about these films, he had them removed from the football stadium and stored in the private warehouse of a friend. A couple of years later, following Clark's untimely death at age 43, the warehouse owner telephoned me at my International Sports and Games Research Collection office and asked that the films be removed from his premises. This was the first I learned about them.
Wasting no time, I borrowed a station wagon, picked up the film-handling it with care, you can be sure-and arranged to have it placed in a room with constant temperature located in the radiation laboratory close to the library, while we pondered its disposition.
Of the 91 cans of film, approximately half were labeled, giving some indication of their content, but the unmarked half whetted our curiosity, and the search was on for a film laboratory with a low bid to convert these films to 16mm safety film.
Some laboratories declined outright to work with the 35mm nitrate film. One laboratory agreed to enter a bid to do the work, but insisted that, should its bid be accepted, we would have to ship the film to them one can at a time. Finally, success. Guffanti Film Laboratories in New York said it could do the work and we could ship the film to them en mass. There was a catch, however; their bid of $ 10,000 would have to be open ended.
Libraries, of course, never have monies for this kind of thing. So, once again we turned to Father Edmund Joyce and his "secret" accounts. Guffanti, meanwhile, began returning the films to us piecemeal, as they converted them from 35mm nitrate to 16mm safety. And the delightful surprises began.
Up until the discovery of this film, Notre Dame had no football game highlights prior to 1943. The "unearthing" of this film took us back to 1924. The film included games with Southern Cal from 1930 and 1931 in their entirety, rare footage from games played under Rockne going back to 1924, scenes from victory celebrations at the railroad station in South Bend and, praise God, six reels representing the full-length, uncut version of the Warner Bros. picture. "Knute Rockne, All American." All of this just in time to help us produce the award-winning documentary on the history of Notre Dame football.
Pat O'Brien takes his
first look at Sorin Hall, his first home at
Another rare film which I "dug up" for Steve Sabol and his crew was called "Notre Dame Thunder" and had been produced many years earlier by Notre Dame students as a work project for a communications course. The students, acting out the roles, showed how the Shea brothers came to write the Notre Dame Fight Song in 1906 and how it evolved into the most famous college fight song in the world.
These and other rare films, programs, newspapers and still photos all contributed to the delight of a packed house when "Wake Up the Echoes" had its world premiere at the Morris Civic Center in downtown South Bend in the fall of 1982, and in presenting Notre Dame with its single, most effective football recruiting tool. I had hardly received my pats on the back for a job well done when the Gipper film parade again began to strut its stuff.
By August of 1982, Tony DiMarco, still pursuing a deal with his "One for the Gipper," had left Columbia TV and joined forces to launch Ketchum/ DiMarco Productions. Tony, still convinced the viable project would someday get made, felt they could do better on their own for a while.
By March of 1983, things began to heat up. Bill Frye, an associate of Ketchum/DiMarco, had heard from Notre Dame. He had written Father Ted Hesburgh at the suggestion of Irene Dunne, famed actress, to tell him about DiMarco's interest in doing "One for the Gipper." The reply came from Father Joyce, who wrote that, exactly one year earlier, Notre Dame had been contacted by John H. Gerken, president of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Orange County, Calif., who said he had been approached by Richard Hatch and Robyn Knapton to act as intermediary with Notre Dame in the production of the picture. Gerken mentioned Pat Chelland's book, President Reagan's interest in the project and Dave Ketchum and Tony DiMarco as writers. When Father Joyce suddenly got a letter from Bill Frye about the same project, he became confused over who was doing what, and so stated in his letter to Bill Frye.
Joyce said that at the time he received Gerken's letter he was willing to give tentative approval to die project, but when he learned that the Gerken- Hatch-Knapton group was trying to raise the capital from Notre Dame alumni and friends, he immediately withdrew his offer of cooperation because he is "unalterably opposed to this approach."
The way the Richard Hatch thing came about in the first place was, about a year earlier, Richard and Robyn asked DiMarco if they could try to raise money for the film--Richard was quite eager to play Gipp--and Ketchum/ DiMarco said they had no objection to their trying. Obviously, Hatch and Knapton made a mistake in going through the Notre Dame Club, per se. Better the men should have been contacted individually so that there was no possible way that the Notre Dame Club or Notre Dame itself could have been held liable for the venture.
Granted, Bill Frye knew nothing about any of this and so he wrote to Father Joyce. He explained his involvement in the project and the fact that Ketchum/ DiMarco held the rights to Chelland's book and he had the connection with President Reagan. DiMarco was hopeful the letter would clarify matters with Notre Dame because, certainly, he would need their cooperation in order to film part of the picture on campus.
Then, too, there was the worry about someone stealing the idea. While Ketchuni/DiMarco owned the book rights, there was probably enough public domain material to do the story, albeit, they felt, it wouldn't be as good as one taken from Chelland's book.
At this point, it looked as though a Gipp movie would be made by who ever got there first with the money. At least five other producers besides Ketchuni/DiMarco had pitched the idea to the networks.
The danger, where Notre Dame is concerned, is that the picture could very well be made without their cooperation by some unscrupulous producer. And, it could easily be made into an "R" rated film by making Gipp's love affair far more torrid and sexy than it actually was. Ketchum/DiMarco claimed they would never do that. They had too much affection, they said, for Notre Dame and the whole project. When Hatch asked DiMarco if he would be interested in turning the rights to the book over to him, DiMarco responded: "There's no way we're going to let go of them now, not after all the blood, sweat, and tears we've put into the project."
A month later I received a telephone call from Notre Dame's Director of Public Relations, Richard Conklin, who advised me, "Go slow on cooperation with the CBS project until Father Joyce has a chance to contact an earlier group interested in producing a Gipp movie. Be courteous, but introductory."
The call was prompted by a letter Conklin had received from Marvin E. Mirisch of The Mirisch Corporation of California. It read:
- Please be advised that our company, in
cooperation with the CBS Television Network, is developing a project
based upon the life of George Gipp, which we expect will be televised
nationally by CBS.
- We have engaged Mike Robe to write the screenplay, and I believe that you have had some telephone conversations with him.
- We trust that we can call upon you for your cooperation in making this biographical film of George Gipp one that we can all be proud of.
- We have engaged Mike Robe to write the screenplay, and I believe that you have had some telephone conversations with him.
- With respect to the preparation of the
script, we and Mr. Robe are doing in-depth research in newspapers,
libraries, etc., and we hope to develop the script in a manner of
which we will all be proud.
- Let me assure you that we will be pleased to submit the script to you for your examination and will happily discuss with you any facets of it which you may feel require attention or alteration.
- Let me assure you that we will be pleased to submit the script to you for your examination and will happily discuss with you any facets of it which you may feel require attention or alteration.
- I think the best way to proceed is
step-by-step. Since there is nothing to talk about until there is a
script, we will provide Mr. Robe access to Gipp materials in our
possession to aid his research.
- At the point where there is a shooting script we would expect to be able to review it in order to insure a reasonable portrayal of the University. Our further collaboration such as allowing the copying of archival photographs or films or permitting access to the campus for shooting would be contingent upon reaching an agreement with you about the depiction of Notre Dame in the script.
- At the point where there is a shooting script we would expect to be able to review it in order to insure a reasonable portrayal of the University. Our further collaboration such as allowing the copying of archival photographs or films or permitting access to the campus for shooting would be contingent upon reaching an agreement with you about the depiction of Notre Dame in the script.
- I still haven't been able to get to
the bottom of the proposed George Gipp movie of the week that CBS is
working on with The Mirisch Company, but I do want you to know that we
are still pursuing the project as a feature motion picture and hope to
have some positive information to announce in the next three weeks.
- Meanwhile, it is still a mystery to us as to why CBS turned down our project just this past June when it was presented to them by Producer William Frye and then turned around and made a deal with Mirisch. To say the least, the situation shows a certain lack of ethical practices on the part of the network.
- Inasmuch as we do have some definite interest in the project from some financial people we of course want to keep the door open at Notre Dame so that we will be able to get your cooperation. And, quite naturally, we are going to be very protective of the information in Pat Chelland's biography of Gipp plus the title, "One for the Gipper." Father Joyce had written Bill Frye that Notre Dame will insist upon script approval (I assume this will hold true for the CBS script as well) and we want to assure you that this is perfectly agreeable with us.
- Meanwhile, it is still a mystery to us as to why CBS turned down our project just this past June when it was presented to them by Producer William Frye and then turned around and made a deal with Mirisch. To say the least, the situation shows a certain lack of ethical practices on the part of the network.
- I sincerely want to thank you and your staff, not only for your aid in my research effort, but for making the trip so pleasant. It's always a pleasure to work with pros, and you guys are the best.
- I especially want you to know that I am most indebted and very grateful for the talents and assistance of Mr. Herb Juliano. He was invaluable in his tireless efforts to make sure I went home with the information I needed. Herb was completely on top of the project when I arrived and continued to contribute in an incisive and professional manner until the moment I left.
- I now feel we are going to have a thorough, well-researched and entertaining biography on George Gipp when all is written and done. And I'm quite certain, come that time, I'll be looking back and thanking my lucky stars I had Herb Juliano on my team in the early going.
- Along with Walter Mirisch, I again offer my thanks for your cooperation. We'll keep the Department posted as we progress toward what I believe will be a fine tribute to George Gipp and the University of Notre Dame.
- I sincerely want to thank you and your staff, not only for your aid in my research effort, but for making the trip so pleasant. It's always a pleasure to work with pros, and you guys are the best.
- I bring you news of "THE GIPPER," which I wish were more positive. The head of programming at CBS, the last executive whose approval was needed to put the show in production, has "passed" on the project. Technically, this means Walter Mirisch is free to take the show to other networks or studios. In reality, it means CBS does not wish to pursue it at this time. It's been my experience ... indeed it was my experience on the show I just directed for CBS that sometimes they will pick up a script later when circumstances change (ie. when they believe public viewing tastes have shifted.) But they are obligated to say yes or no by a certain date to Mr. Mirisch and for the time being, it's no."
- Walter Mirisch, however, does not plan to dally. As of this writing, he is taking the project to Home Box Office with the idea of turning "THE GIPPER" into a pay TV film. And that may very well produce the positive results we want.
- I'll let you know. Meanwhile, I'm sorry about CBS' decision, but I hope you'll keep the faith. Anything could happen. And after all, George Gipp never gave up, did he?"
- I bring you news of "THE GIPPER," which I wish were more positive. The head of programming at CBS, the last executive whose approval was needed to put the show in production, has "passed" on the project. Technically, this means Walter Mirisch is free to take the show to other networks or studios. In reality, it means CBS does not wish to pursue it at this time. It's been my experience ... indeed it was my experience on the show I just directed for CBS that sometimes they will pick up a script later when circumstances change (ie. when they believe public viewing tastes have shifted.) But they are obligated to say yes or no by a certain date to Mr. Mirisch and for the time being, it's no."
Fast forward to 1985. Out of an office on North Michigan Street in downtown South Bend, I was single-handedly operating the National Fighting Irish Subway Alumni Association which I had founded the year before, shortly after the Mike Robe "GIPPER" project fizzled. On the wall of my office hung a framed poster which once advertised the film "Knute Rockne, All American." A large image of Knute Rockne as portrayed by the late Pat O'Brien was surrounded by football players, beneath three flapping pennants which in order read, "Great Coach," "Great Guy" and "Great American." My friend from California who sent it to me said it was worth $125. I'm only sure of one thing, it cost me $60 to have it framed. But it is worth every penny. It is a constant reminder of the history, heritage and tradition that is Notre Dame football.
But it reminded me, too, that the city of South Bend was planning a re-enactment of the gala world premiere of the film which had taken place in 1940, as described earlier in this section. This time around Ronald Reagan was invited, but did not attend. The affair was attended, however, by a mysterious young man named Mike Bynum. On November 12,1985, I received this letter from Tony DiMarco:
- "To give you a little
background on the situation, (Mike) Bynum popped up on the scene
around late June. He had contacted Pat Chelland about the rights to
his book, "One for the Gipper," and Pat told him he should
talk to me because we held the movie/TV rights. So, he called me and
said he had interest from some rich Notre Dame alumnus in doing a
film on Gipp and Rockne and could he read our script? I finally sent
it to him, figuring I'd call his bluff. He stayed in touch and has
even made two trips out here, and seemed to be a nice enough kid
(he's 27, lives in Alabama) but he was always a bit elusive when we
asked him how and where he earned a living. He says he does
"research" for books on famous football coaches he plans
to write. At any rate, I finally arranged for him to meet with my
agent who told him that if there was interest in our script a
financial deal would have to be structured before anything could
happen. That's about where we left him maybe two weeks ago other
than his giving us about 40 pages of what he calls "notes"
on the screenplay and changes he wants in it. He also assigned
himself sole writing credit on his "screen
treatment-notes" and I was quick to let him know you don't
tamper with someone else's material (ours) before you own it.
Coincidentally, Emil's letter arrived the next day and if we were a
little leery of Bynum before, after getting your input we put a big
flashing red warning light next to his name.
- "I was curious to see how he resolved his book deal with Notre Dame? Did he refund the money? I would think he had to otherwise he was involved in a Federal, mail fraud offense, was he not? He must be in good stead at the school because he tells us he does research there and he also says he was in attendance at the "Rockne Returns" screening which you mentioned. He even gave us a copy of the program and says he sat with Norm Barry and his wife."
- "I was curious to see how he resolved his book deal with Notre Dame? Did he refund the money? I would think he had to otherwise he was involved in a Federal, mail fraud offense, was he not? He must be in good stead at the school because he tells us he does research there and he also says he was in attendance at the "Rockne Returns" screening which you mentioned. He even gave us a copy of the program and says he sat with Norm Barry and his wife."
- "As I told Emil (Klosinski),
I've known Mike Bynum for nearly ten years now. In that time, he has
been trying to find a way to capitalize on Notre Dame's football
fortunes and history. He tried very hard to get me to invest $15,000
in his plan to publish a set of three books on America's three
greatest coaches-Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi and Bear Bryant. Mike
spent a lot of time with Bryant while he was still alive. He had all
the legal documents drawn up, etc., but something told me to back
off and I did. He spends a lot of time when he is at Notre Dame with
Col. Jack Stephens, former assistant athletic director to
"Moose" Krause. Stephens told me a while back that Bynum
was sued for plagiarism several years ago. I can't say if that is
true. As for the "Rockne Returns" re-enactment of the
world premiere, anybody who bought a ticket could attend, and it was
the kind of affair a Mike Bynum would want to be in on.
- "As for Bynum's advertising a book "Knute Rockne, All American," a book which to my knowledge does not exist, and asking people to send in $17.45, I do not know at this time how that was resolved. Roger Vaidiserri, Notre Dame's Sports Information Director, who handles ads in the football programs, wrote to Bynum and said, "I hope we are not going to be embarrassed by a plethora of such letters since I don't think the University deserves to be put in such a position." The University was beginning to receive complaints, as was I from my members. Bynum was trading as Autumn Football, Ltd. The Bethlehem, PA, Globe Times ACTION LINE printed another complaint of identical nature. My monthly "Fighting Irish Sports Reports" has carried two stories on the situation with warnings to members.
- "For your sake, I hope Bynum is on the level, but I can't imagine why any wealthy Notre Dame benefactor, particularly the Stepans, would need to go through Mike Bynum to finance a new Rockne movie. They would work through the University. Anyway, keep in mind that if you ever do go into production of a Gipper/Rockne movie, my expertise in that area is at your service-and I would seek only the satisfaction I would get from working on such a project. Incidentally, we are currently negotiating an agreement whereby Notre Dame will assume full control and ownership of the National Fighting Irish Subway Alumni Association, but I don't think I'll be running it for them."
- "As for Bynum's advertising a book "Knute Rockne, All American," a book which to my knowledge does not exist, and asking people to send in $17.45, I do not know at this time how that was resolved. Roger Vaidiserri, Notre Dame's Sports Information Director, who handles ads in the football programs, wrote to Bynum and said, "I hope we are not going to be embarrassed by a plethora of such letters since I don't think the University deserves to be put in such a position." The University was beginning to receive complaints, as was I from my members. Bynum was trading as Autumn Football, Ltd. The Bethlehem, PA, Globe Times ACTION LINE printed another complaint of identical nature. My monthly "Fighting Irish Sports Reports" has carried two stories on the situation with warnings to members.
- "I was not surprised to see
that Bynum had been sued for plagiarism. In essence, that's what he
did with our material. He has since phoned me about the letter I
sent him warning him about using our material without authorization
and he says he understands, but I'm not so sure he does. He says his
attorney advised him to put copyright on the material, which leads
me to believe he doesn't have a very bright attorney or he's lying.
- "Also, it was interesting to see the name of his company-Autumn Football, Ltd. That's the name of the company he says will fund the Rockne-Gipp film. I asked him where he fit into the company and he said he was president, that he has $4 million in funds, of which he put up 20%. That's $800,000 if my math is accurate. Naturally, I don't believe it.
- "As for his so called book, "Knute Rockne, All American," as Pat Chelland pointed out, Harry Stuhldreher wrote a book on Rockne in 1931 and they used that title on the dust jacket. Curiously, the title page of the book reads, "Knute Rockne, Man Builder." I have a copy of the book as does Pat.
- "By the way, I also phoned Paul Stepan last week and had a nice chat. He is interested in the project, but not as the sole financier. He was very cooperative on the phone and I told him I was just checking to see if he was connected with Bynum, as Bynum has been telling us. He said Bynum is not his representative, although he knows Bynum. I have a feeling he's a little leery of Bynum and he suggested we keep our call to ourselves and not tell Bynum."
- "Also, it was interesting to see the name of his company-Autumn Football, Ltd. That's the name of the company he says will fund the Rockne-Gipp film. I asked him where he fit into the company and he said he was president, that he has $4 million in funds, of which he put up 20%. That's $800,000 if my math is accurate. Naturally, I don't believe it.
- "The mysterious Mike Bynum has
vanished from my life completely, which is fine by me. The last I
heard from him was several phone calls over the holiday season when
he assured me he had cleaned up his act at Notre Dame on that phoney
book deal he was involved in. I hope so, not for his sake, but for
the University which I'm sure was embarrassed by what he did. I
haven't heard from Paul Stepan either. I suspect that Bynum has
gotten Stepan back in his corner although Stepan was very upset with
Bynum and the Notre Dame situation the last time I talked to him. My
guess is that Bynum is pursuing his Rockne project with someone
else."
- "These are eventful days for
me. I'm still running the Association single-handedly and still
trying to negotiate a settlement and release agreement with Notre
Dame. The University's first proposed agreement was so
overwhelmingly one-sided in their favor and so ridiculously binding
that my directors and I would not sign it with a ten-foot pen, so to
speak.
- "Mike Bynum may have vanished from your life, but he is very much evident in mine. He has been spending a lot of time on campus lately, doing his "research" or what have you. But you guessed right-he is still pursuing the Rockne project- this time with Mike Robe of Mike Robe Productions, Inc., Studio City, CA. Mike is a dear friend whom I assisted with research for a screen play to be called "THE GIPPER." Mike was commissioned to do the script for CBS-TV and Walter Mirisch Studios. It got rave reviews, until the topman at CBS squelched it, claiming that sports movies were too risky, based on the network's sour experience with a show called "DEMPSEY." Mirisch then tried to interest Home Box Office in the script. All this happened a couple of years ago. Now Mike Bynum has contacted Mike Robe and is trying to work something out with him. He borrowed the script (again) and told me he thinks it is the best Gipper script he has ever read. Of course, again he wants to re-write it, to make it feature Rockne more. I suppose he is still waving Paul Stepan's money in front of Robe. Bynum flew to California to see Robe last week. Mike Robe is a good friend, but I have not said a word to him about Bynum."
- "Mike Bynum may have vanished from your life, but he is very much evident in mine. He has been spending a lot of time on campus lately, doing his "research" or what have you. But you guessed right-he is still pursuing the Rockne project- this time with Mike Robe of Mike Robe Productions, Inc., Studio City, CA. Mike is a dear friend whom I assisted with research for a screen play to be called "THE GIPPER." Mike was commissioned to do the script for CBS-TV and Walter Mirisch Studios. It got rave reviews, until the topman at CBS squelched it, claiming that sports movies were too risky, based on the network's sour experience with a show called "DEMPSEY." Mirisch then tried to interest Home Box Office in the script. All this happened a couple of years ago. Now Mike Bynum has contacted Mike Robe and is trying to work something out with him. He borrowed the script (again) and told me he thinks it is the best Gipper script he has ever read. Of course, again he wants to re-write it, to make it feature Rockne more. I suppose he is still waving Paul Stepan's money in front of Robe. Bynum flew to California to see Robe last week. Mike Robe is a good friend, but I have not said a word to him about Bynum."
appreciatively:
- "I appreciate your
"warning" with regard to Mike Bynum. Indeed, he has
contacted me. He has represented himself as your friend and as the
front for some "very wealthy Notre Dame-Chicago alumnus."
In fact, he has given me pretty much the same story he handed Tony
DiMarco, apparently.
- "Unfortunately by the time your letter arrived, having no particular reason to distrust him, I already had given Mr. Bynum a copy of my screenplay about George Gipp. What he has done with it, at this point, I don't know. He has lead me to believe he likes my version above all others he has read and is pursuing the financing of my screenplay for production.
- "Fortunately I have made it very clear to him that Walter Mirisch of Universal City, CA, currently owns my screenplay, and he must deal with Walter if he wants to acquire it.
- "I must admit, however, that if it's true he actually put his own name on Tony DiMarco's script at one time, I'm concerned that he now has possession of mine. I haven't spoken with Mr. Bynum since your letter arrived. He has been trying to call me from time to time, but I have been out of town. If and when he reaches me, you can be assured we're going to have a serious discussion."
- "Unfortunately by the time your letter arrived, having no particular reason to distrust him, I already had given Mr. Bynum a copy of my screenplay about George Gipp. What he has done with it, at this point, I don't know. He has lead me to believe he likes my version above all others he has read and is pursuing the financing of my screenplay for production.
- I'm sorry to hear you're still
having problems with Notre Dame. I guess they can be very stubborn
when they want to be. Also, I would think they would be leery of
having you counter sue since they are so protective of their image
and what with all the negative press a lot of the major universities
have been getting lately. We just had a big story in the LA Times
this morning about the Dan Quinn affair at Notre Dame and USC. You
may recall he was the kid who enrolled at USC and then blew the
whistle on their recruiting practices because he decided he wanted
to go to Notre Dame. It cost USC an assistant coach and several
scholarships over the next two years. Quinn is now at Notre Dame,
but from the tone of the article, he is not going to be the easiest
kid in the world for the school to handle.
- "As for Bynum, I'm not surprised that he is still up to his old tricks. In fact, I had heard through a studio friend that Mike Robe had some interest in his script from private financiers and I figured it might be Bynum."
- "As for Bynum, I'm not surprised that he is still up to his old tricks. In fact, I had heard through a studio friend that Mike Robe had some interest in his script from private financiers and I figured it might be Bynum."
The article about "bad boy " Dan Quinn which appeared in the Los Angeles
Times and which, with their permission, I reprinted in its entirety in my "Fighting Irish Sport Reports" newsletter before ceasing operation of the National Subway Alunini Association, seems to have been well founded. In the spring of 1987 he was suspended from football drills at Notre Dame because of disciplinary action (the school would not say for what reason) and rumor had it that the previous spring he was suspected of cheating on one of his final exams.
With regard to my Hollywood cronies, in an update on May 6,1987, Tony DiMarco wrote:
- "That was interesting about Dan
Quinn. I'll bet USC is glad to have him out of their hair, even
though it cost them with the NCAA. I don't know what's with these
kids today. I just read in today's TIMES that USC has suspended
Aaron Emmanuel for several games and possibly the whole season for
getting into an off-campus fight. You may remember, he was a highly
recruited tailback out of high school but has been somewhat slow to
develop at USC. He will be a junior this year, but new coach Larry
Smith is a tough disciplinarian and obviously is making the kids
know they have to tow the mark. I think things got much too lax
under Ted Tollner.
- "Things are kind of quiet on the Gipper movie front. I don't think the recent problems the President had (The Iran-Contra affair) helped the project any. It's amazing how people so closely identify Gipp with Reagan. In fact, I wonder if many people know who Gipp really was or that he was a real person---especially the younger generation, which wasn't around when the Rockne movie came out.
- "Mike Bynum seems to have vanished, although I suspect he's still out there somewhere trying to peddle whatever it is he's doing re Gipp and Rockne."
- "Things are kind of quiet on the Gipper movie front. I don't think the recent problems the President had (The Iran-Contra affair) helped the project any. It's amazing how people so closely identify Gipp with Reagan. In fact, I wonder if many people know who Gipp really was or that he was a real person---especially the younger generation, which wasn't around when the Rockne movie came out.
A Notre Dame football film was in the works. A new film about University of Notre Dame football by the maker of Oscar-winning films "Chariots of Fire" and "Ghandi" was apparently being planned. The November Film Corp. (Remember Mike Bynum's "Autumn Football, Ltd."?) and Golderest Films would formally announce plans for the new film on November 9th in the Heisman Trophy Room at New York's Downtown Athletic Club. This was according to Chicago public relations official and Notre Dame graduate Robert Quackenbush. Still no mention of Bynum.
Quackenbush, whom I knew as a student, authored a book called "Gipper's Ghost" and had recently co-authored a book called "Knute Rockne: Life and Legend" with-guess who? Mike Bynum is correct.
The next day, November 10th, a press conference was held in Chicago on what happened to be the 60th anniversary of the famous Notre Dame upset of Army in 1928, the game in which Coach Rockne delivered his famous "Gipper" speech. Invitations to the two press conferences described "a film celebrating the life of one of the greatest legends in the history of Notre Dame football."
On November 9th, USA TODAY ran a story which read in part:
- Now, they want to film one for the
Gipper. Goldcrest Films and Television, Ltd., which produced Oscar
winners GHANDI and CHARIOTS OF FIRE, want to add GOLDEN GLORY, a
story about Notre Dame All American George Gipp, to its list.
- The movie is not all football. GOLDEN GLORY is also a love story chronicling Gipp's relationship with Iris Trippeer.
- The movie is not all football. GOLDEN GLORY is also a love story chronicling Gipp's relationship with Iris Trippeer.
Was Bynum up to his old tricks? No matter. The proposed movie on the life of Notre Dame star George Gipp would not get the University's endorsement. Goldcreast Films and Television, Ltd., would not be permitted to film on the South Bend campus and would not have access to Irish archives.
Dick Conklin, associate vice president of university relations, said Notre Dame is open to news and documentary requests, but has a policy against made-for-TV or theater films about Irish football. "GOLDEN GLORY" author Mike Bynum had received the university's decision in 1987.
"We're proud of our athletic achievements, but we're trying to keep football in perspective at an academic institution," Conklin added. "Football doesn't need any more publicity. We don't want to do anything to indicate football consumes the mentality here."
Would Bynum take this lying down? Not hardly. The very next day, November 10th, the South Bend Tribune ran this headline: GIPP FILM TO PROCEED WITHOUT N.D.'s BLESSING.
- "The go-ahead to make the film
came despite a letter from the University to Michael Bynum, chief
executive of November Film, restating the university's official policy
against endorsing such projects.
- "Richard Conklin, associate vice president for university relations, explained that the university has had the policy in effect for the last five years.
- "Conklin said film makers are warned that the university has "a built-in bias" against another football movie about Notre Dame, and Bynum was so informed in 1987 when the matter first came up."
- "Richard Conklin, associate vice president for university relations, explained that the university has had the policy in effect for the last five years.
It's interesting to note how these attempts at a new Rockne/Gipp movie always seem to occur during or immediately following years in which Notre Dame won national championships in football. Will they ever end? As to the Jason Miller attempt at a movie which would show the "dark side" of the Gipper, I think it's an act of Providence that Notre Dame has such a strong connection with Columbia Pictures by way of Mr. Donald Keough. Mr. Keough is chairman of Notre Dame's board of lay trustees. He is also president of the Coca-Cola Company which owns Columbia Pictures.
In conclusion, some final words from Tony DiMarco:
- "I find it interesting that
(Dick) Conklin has asked you to his office with the Gipp movie file.
I'm not surprised that Conklin has not seen a Bynum script, because
I'm beginning to think none exists. The only thing I've ever seen
written by him was something he called ... The Glory of
Notre Dame," which was about 30 pages of part script, part notes
on the Gipp-Rockne story. He wrote this after he read my script
and, basically, lifted the majority of his material from our
screenplay. I told him, you don't go around lifting other people's
already copy written material without permission-it's called
plagiarism."
On January 22, 198 1, shortly after Gerry Faust was named to succeed Dan Devine and about the time I purchased a Pontiac Safari station wagon from Faust-one which quickly was dubbed "the Faustmobile" (I told friends I bought it because I thought, like its previous owner, it wouldn't quit for at least five years)-the Department of Information Services issued a news release which pretty much summarized another Rockne film project with which I was involved:
- "The University of Notre Dame's
fabled Knute Rockne is the subject of a new documentary to be seen at
5:30 p.m. Saturday on WNDU-TV (Channel 16). The made- for-television
film stars Cliff Robertson and was filmed in late August at several
campus and South Bend locations.
- The half-hour film recaptures highlights of Rockne's career at Notre Dame, first as a football player and then as coach after a brief stint as a chemistry instructor. The 50th anniversary of Rockne's death in an airplane crash will be observed March 31.
- Robertson narrates the story of Rockne while being filmed in front of the University's Golden Dome, Sacred Heart Church, The Grotto of Lourdes, Sorin Hall, St. Mary's Lake and Notre Dame Stadium. Interior scenes were completed in Sorin Hall, Nieuwland Science Hall and the stadium locker room, and South Bend locales were Rockne's last home and a vacant lot near downtown where area youths participated in football and baseball sequences.
- The American Life Style Series, of which the film is a part, focuses each year on notable Americans who have made a lasting mark on history. Subjects of other shows this year are George Eastman and Paul Revere."
- The half-hour film recaptures highlights of Rockne's career at Notre Dame, first as a football player and then as coach after a brief stint as a chemistry instructor. The 50th anniversary of Rockne's death in an airplane crash will be observed March 31.
The list of still photos, newsreel footage, locations, actors and props needed was lengthy, to say the least. The script for the movie was written by Bob Shanks, husband of its producer/director Ann Shanks. Again, my dear friend and cohort "Chet" Grant, now in his eighty-eighth year, was utilized through his Rockne expertise to read and comment on the script. Grant reported to University officials:
- "I am thrilled by the implicit
recognition in this multum in parvo script of the true source
of Rockne's genius-the strength rooted in true humility.
- "This appreciation is eminently, warmly worthy of the real Rockne. Can I say more? My relationship with Rockne, I should append, was not callow. He was only four years older."
- "This appreciation is eminently, warmly worthy of the real Rockne. Can I say more? My relationship with Rockne, I should append, was not callow. He was only four years older."
- "In the every autumn of the
American nation, from Maine to Malibu, the ritual takes place. On the
white plain geometry of the neat green fields of a thousand arenas,
young adrenalated males, from pee-wee league beginners to the pros of
the NFL, dressed in their half-ballet, half "Star- Wars"
attire, act out the stylized combat to the accompaniment of marching
bands and bare-legged girls making handstands--cheered on by paunchy
alums and women wearing chrysanthemums. Millions more attend-and never
leave home-through the unblinking eye of television."
- Football. And the nation is
possessed."
- "This is just to thank you and
Jamie for your splendid help and cooperation during the filming of our
forthcoming documentary, "Knute Rockne: A Coach for All
Seasons." Needless to say, the University of Notre Dame was
essential to the film, and the stills and film almost more so. The
film is being edited and looks wonderful, thanks a good deal to you
and Jamie."
I close this chapter with excerpts from my reply to Ann Shanks:
- "Aside from a still photo of
Rockne in boxing gear, the only other photo we were unable to produce
while you were on campus is one of Rockne's father. Enclosed are
photocopies of Rockne's entire family, including mother, father and
both
- grandfathers. If you are still interested, we could have 8x10 glossy prints made of any or all of these photos. Just let me know.
- "We found the enclosed photos during an intense search of all Rockne materials prompted by a telephone call, several days ago, from the president of the Hamilton Watch Company. If we could produce evidence, he said, that Rockne ever owned or wore a Hamilton watch, the company would manufacture a Rockne commemorative watch as a collectible, with part of the proceeds from its sales funneled into a fund for the International Sports and Games Research Collection. We have thus far uncovered three photos clearly showing Rockne wearing a wrist watch. Was it a Hamilton? Stay tuned for further details. When it comes to watches, we're a plucky band!
- "Good shooting and may God bless."
- grandfathers. If you are still interested, we could have 8x10 glossy prints made of any or all of these photos. Just let me know.
To read previous installments of Herb's
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September
1998
October
1998
November
1998
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1999
March
1999
May
1999
July
1999
August
1999
October
1999
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1999
January 2000