Blood Sport
Synopsis
A searing commentary on the "win at all costs" mentality of American high school sports. David Lee Birdsong is the smalltown quarterback hoping to escape with a college scholarship and a pro career. David's father is the overbearing taskmaster vicariously living through his son. The third side of the triangle is Coach Marshall, a hypercritical and cruel man who sees David as the key to his future success. David's lockstep commitment to his father and coach is altered when he witnesses a teammate die after a grueling practice.
Top Cast
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Ben Johnson
Dwayne Birdsong
Gary Busey
David Lee Birdsong
Larry Hagman
Coach Marshall
William Lucking
Dennis Birdsong
David Doyle
Mr. Schmidt
Mimi Maynard
Mary Louise Schmidt
Peggy Rea
Mrs. Birdsong
Craig Richard Nelson
Michael Braun
Michael Talbott
Bubba Montgomery
Val Avery
Frank Dorsdale
Jan Clayton
Blanche Birdsong
Misty Rowe
Holly
William Hansen
Mr. Millsaps
Michael Lembeck
Reuben
Asher Brauner
C.C.
Lee Delano
Besco
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jerrold Freedman
- Screenplay & Story
- Jerrold Freedman
- Original Score
- Randy Edelman
- Original Title
- Blood Sport
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 13m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox Television
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jerrold Freedman
Jerrold Freedman
Randy Edelman
Richard C. Glouner
Gerald Shepard
Tony Thomas, Paul Junger Witt
Department Leadership Roster
Jerrold Freedman
Director
Jerrold Freedman
Writer
Randy Edelman
Original Music Composer
Richard C. Glouner
Director of Photography
Gerald Shepard
Editor
Tony Thomas
Producer
Jack Bear
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Blood Sport.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Blood Sport.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Blood Sport
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Blood Sport about?
A searing commentary on the "win at all costs" mentality of American high school sports. David Lee Birdsong is the smalltown quarterback hoping to escape with a college scholarship and a pro career. David's father is the overbearing taskmaster vicariously living through his son. The third side of the triangle is Coach Marshall, a hypercritical and cruel man who sees David as the key to his future success. David's lockstep commitment to his father and coach is altered when he witnesses a teammate die after a grueling practice.
Who directed Blood Sport?
Blood Sport was directed by Jerrold Freedman.
Who stars in Blood Sport?
The principal cast of Blood Sport includes Ben Johnson, Gary Busey, Larry Hagman, William Lucking, David Doyle.
When was Blood Sport released and how long is it?
Blood Sport was released in 1973 with a total runtime of 1h 13m.
Who composed the musical score for Blood Sport?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Blood Sport was composed by Randy Edelman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Blood Sport?
Blood Sport holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).