"The Rise and Fall of American Soccer"
| None | Light | Moderate | Heavy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | ||||
| Violence | ||||
| Sex | ||||
| Nudity |
Watch:
What You Need To Know:
The film contains still photos of one of the early players posing nude and is marred by a few obscenities and references to immoral lifestyles of some star players. Much of the footage from the 1970s looks pale compared to today’s standards in sports broadcasting. The people interviewed are wonderful proof that memories differ widely about events 20-to-30 years old. The question is, “Who cares?” The movie will probably play to small audiences in small theatres because Americans still don’t care that much about soccer and the world doesn’t care that much about American soccer.
Content:
(Pa, Cap, L, V, S, NN, A, M), Light pagan worldview placing great importance on sports with capitalist portrayed in positive light for trying to make soccer popular in the U.S.A.; three obscenities; no violence apart from soccer competition; sexual immorality of star players implied; rear male still images of one player who posed nude for a magazine, some locker room images of players without shirts on; story told of players drinking excessively; no smoking or drugs; and, people interviewed had less than kind things to say about each other.
More Detail:
In the 1970s former Warner Communications head Steve Ross gambled on a effort make soccer a major spectator sport in the United States. ONCE IN A LIFETIME: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE NEW YORK COSMOS is a documentary about how that trial balloon was blown up and popped.
Initial attempts to create all American professional soccer teams failed because there were no star American players. The only press exposure they could get was to pose nude in magazines. Only 300 people, mostly friends and family of players, would show up at the early New York Cosmos games. The league rapidly went from Yankee Stadium down to venues not fit for a decent high school football game.
Then came the stars. Ross and staff managed to sign the Babe Ruth of international soccer: Pele of Brazil. The international press swarmed and attendance soared. The games moved back into large stadiums and additional international stars were drawn to the North American Soccer League. Large stadiums actually filled to capacity.
The balloon popped when ABC signed up to telecast a season of soccer and got ratings too low to qualify for last place. Without a lucrative television contract the league imploded.
If you’re a great soccer fan the tale is like a dream with top players from around the world playing for one glamorous team. But the dream ends in a series of conflicts, mistakes and misjudgments.
The film contains still photos of one of the early players posing nude and is marred by a few obscenities and references to immoral lifestyles of some star players. Much of the footage from the 1970s looks pale compared to today’s standards in sports broadcasting. The people interviewed are wonderful proof that memories differ widely about events 20-to-30 years old.
The question is, “Who cares?” The movie will probably play to small audiences in small theatres because Americans still don’t care that much about soccer and the world doesn’t care that much about American soccer.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +2