Yesterday's Hero (1979)
1h 35m | PG-13
Successful soccer player Rod Turner spirals into drunken self-pity until he develops a friendship with an inspirational orphan and a beautiful singer. Learning from them what truly matters in life, Rod regroups and returns to form.
Director: Neil Leifer
Studio: Cinema Seven Productions
Genre: Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Ian McShane
as Rod Turner
Suzanne Somers
as Cloudy
Adam Faith
as Jake
Alan Lake
as Georgie Moore
Paul Nicholas
as Clint
Sandy Ratcliff
as Rita
Reviews
Banal and cliched story of former great footballer, now alcoholic and playing non-league, who is given a lifeline by pop star Nicholas, owner of a team on the rise and in the midst of a cup run. Bleary egomaniac McShane treats his lady friends callously but old flame Somers, now singing partner to Nicholas, somehow convinces him to reform and shape up. Faith is the coach forced to accept him. Pitches were muddy in those days and pop duos were as bland as ever. Written by Jackie Collins, so the characters are cliched and one-dimensional, while the situations are turgid. Nicholas and Somers enthusiastically perform several upbeat pop songs. McShane looks the part of an out of shape sportsman and Faith is on target as a frustated cockney coach. The football scenes offer the only excitement here. Can McShane stay off the bottle long enough and learn to co-operate with others to help his team win?