The Longest Yard (1974 film)
| The Longest Yard | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Aldrich |
| Screenplay by | Tracy Keenan Wynn |
| Story by | Albert S. Ruddy |
| Produced by | Albert S. Ruddy |
| Starring | Burt Reynolds Eddie Albert Ed Lauter Mike Conrad |
| Cinematography | Joseph Biroc |
| Edited by | Michael Luciano |
| Music by | Frank De Vol |
Production companies | Albert S. Ruddy Productions Long Road Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 121 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.9 million |
| Box office | $43 million |
The Longest Yard is a 1974 American prison sports comedy-drama film directed by Robert Aldrich, written by Tracy Keenan Wynn, based on a story by producer Albert S. Ruddy, and starring Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad and James Hampton. The film was released as The Mean Machine in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The film follows a former NFL player recruiting a group of prisoners and playing football against their guards. It features many real-life football players, including Ray Nitschke of the Green Bay Packers.
The film has spawned three remakes: the 2001 British film Mean Machine starring Vinnie Jones; 2005's The Longest Yard starring Adam Sandler and featuring Reynolds as coach Nate Scarborough; and the 2015 Egyptian film Captain Masr. In the two international remakes, the sport was changed from gridiron football to association football.