JohnHowardReid This entertaining, believable account of a gormless football player's freshman year at uni, was co-written by actor Robby Benson, who is perfectly cast in the central role. The support players are also first rate, particularly G.D. Spradlin as the coach. Lamont Johnson's inventive direction with its fluid camera work, fast cutting and splendid use of actual locations at Colorado State, reveals a suddenly acquired feeling for the medium that is absent from many of his previous films. The music score is a second rate imitation of that used in The Graduate, but it serves its purpose nevertheless. Donald Maxwell Morgan's fine location lensing (good to see that he is still going strong) and other credits are first-rate. Production values are unstinting with crowds of extras. Best of all, the screenplay is keenly observant, not only of the machinations and politics of college basketball, but even in regards to the patter between TV commentators. Annette O'Toole (good to see that she is still going strong!) is splendid as the girl who gives young Benson his comeuppance. And Melanie Griffth (also still going strong) is equally effective as a shakedown hitchhiker.

John T. Ryan BEING SORT OF yet another entry into the underdog vs. the rest of the known world genre, we review and respectively submit for your approval, our recollections and perspective on this Robby Benson vehicle. . And proud it should be as this ONE ON ONE joins in lock step with such entries as the recent THE BLIND SIDE, ROCKY (and his friends: II, III, IV, V, BALBOA & now CREED) and HOOSIERS. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE dared to classify this perhaps forgotten little family picture from 1977, it does have some inherent elements that fly in the face of any attempt at pigeon holing it. In addition to the obligatory struggle that indeed is at the center of any drama like this, ONE ON ONE dares to break away on its own, pursuing a definite different route in its path to a successful conclusion.MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE film introduces an additional obstacle to the chagrin of protagonist, Henry Steele (Robby Benson). The iron fisted and authoritarian rule by Head Basketball Coach Moreland Smith (G.D. Spradlin).* The Coach takes as a personal affront the young Steele's open display of being a free spirit. The Coach pulls the rug out from beneath him; voiding his athletic scholarship.IT IS AT this juncture that the young student athlete's future becomes most dependent on his student tutor, Janet Hayes (Annette O'Toole). Whereas the slightly older co-ed had been less than sympathetic to his plight, her attitude quickly shifts as her prepping him for his various courses continues after her stipend is also spiked by the coach. In spite of earlier hostilities, the two become L-O-V-E-R-S!THE STORY REACHES a climax, a crescendo and a conclusion (all three)when young Steele, who managed to not only remain on the Varsity hoops squad, but also manages to win the big game. Rather than offering any apology with his congratulations, the coach offers to reinstate his tuition free ride. To this, young Steele replies by referencing the coach. Quoting a previous tirade of Coach Smith's of: "Up your ass with a red hot poker.THE TWO YOUNG lovers are the shown going off somewhere, embracing and enthusiastically swapping spits. (Shocked, Schultz?)THE ENDNOTE * Veteran character actor was well cast in the role of Coach Moreland Smith, which was very similar to his characterization of head Coach B.A. Strothers in NORTH DALLAS FORTY (1979). As a matter of fact, Mr. Spradlin most usually played unsympathetic, snake in the grass types. Remember him as Senator Geary in THE GODFATHER: PART II? The only "good guys" in his resume that we recall are those appearances as a LAPD Police Captain on the DRAGNET TV Series in the late 1960's o mid '70's!

boyfmbalcatta1 I saw many years ago and thought it the best I had seen. I saw it as funny, sad and true for all players whose bubble is burst. A movie for the player who wants to see how coaches treat players and how players think they should be treated. It also shows how some view the world of sport and don't appreciate the effort and trauma that can be involved in reaching the top, or trying to. Tutors also can be unfriendly to the player who is not an academic. It also shows how high school coaches do not always teach to players how to play, only how to win for them. As I come from a country does not have basketball stadiums of this size I was amazed at the size of the stadium and the crowds etc involved in a game.

the_old_roman Robby Benson and Annette O'Toole have good enough chemistry to make their unlikely pairing a crowd pleaser nonetheless. Benson is very good as the jock who is first coddled, then spurned, stirring the man within him. The movie has a great deal of fun with the special treatment given Jocks. Benson's work-study job is to turn the sprinklers on and off, but the sprinklers work automatically. Gail Strickland and (Director) Lamont Johnson are marvelous in small but hilarious supporting bits.But the true star of the movie is G.D. Spradlin as the humorless and amoral hard-nosed basketball coach. Best exchange is when Benson says: "You're a great molder of character, coach" and Spradlin retorts, "You never asked me to mold your character." Spradlin is 100% true to his character as a John-Wooden-type of basketball coach. All in all, One on One shouldn't be taken too seriously but is quite enjoyable on its own terms.