Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951)

Burt Lancaster: Jim Thorpe

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jim Thorpe : Which one of you guys is Lacey?

  Ed Lacey, Sportswriter Punched by Thorpe : I'm Lacey.

  Jim Thorpe : Well I'm Thorpe!

  [punches Lacey] 

• Peter Allendine : [to Jim]  Hey, you! Yeah, you, come here. Hey, just a minute. What's your name?

  Jim Thorpe : Jim Thorpe.

  Peter Allendine : Do you have a tribal name?

  Jim Thorpe : Wa-Tho-Huk.

  Peter Allendine : What does it mean?

  Jim Thorpe : Bright path.

  Peter Allendine : Bright path, huh? Well, Bright Path, do you know the school song?

  Jim Thorpe : No.

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : No, sir.

  Peter Allendine : That's right. Well, here are the words. You memorize them, be ready to sing for us tomorrow morning.

  [Jim starts to walk away] 

  Peter Allendine : Oh, uh, just a minute, Bright Path. Do you speak Indian?

  Jim Thorpe : Yes.

  Peter Allendine : Let's hear you recite the Gettysburg Address in Indian.

  Jim Thorpe : Why, I reckon I can't.

  Peter Allendine : You can't? Good, because when you recite the Gettysburg Address, you recite it in English. Indian isn't spoken here.

• Wally Denny : Hello, Pete.

  Peter Allendine : Hello.

  Wally Denny : What you got here, football material?

  Peter Allendine : From his attitude, I don't think he's even Carlisle material.

  Peter Allendine : [to Jim]  Ever play football before?

  Jim Thorpe : What's football?

  Peter Allendine : What's - You don't know what football is?

  Jim Thorpe : No.

  Peter Allendine : Well, football, Bright Path, is a white man's game, and it's played with a... leather skin, something like your suitcase here, and the object of this game is to take this leather skin and, uh... and try to run past Mr. Denny and me.

  Wally Denny : Well, frosh, come on, run past them.

  [Jim charges at Pete with his suitcase in his arms, and Pete knocks Jim to the ground] 

  Peter Allendine : I'm sorry, Bright Path, but that's football, very rough game. Indian boy got lot to learn.

  Jim Thorpe : Now you try it.

  Peter Allendine : Try what?

  Jim Thorpe : Run past me.

  Peter Allendine : Aw, forget it, Jim, you got plenty of chance next year.

  Jim Thorpe : You try it!

  [Jim tosses his suitcase at Pete and knocks him to the ground] 

  Wally Denny : Say, that wasn't bad! Come on, I'd like you to meet Pop Warner!

  [Jim picks up his suitcase and walks to his dormitory] 

• Ed Guyac : Hello.

  Jim Thorpe : They sent me up here to bunk with you.

  Ed Guyac : Sure, come on in. I'm Ed Guyac.

  Jim Thorpe : Jim Thorpe.

  Ed Guyac : This untamed aborigine here is Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear. Kind of a mouthful, so I just call him Little Boy.

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : How.

  Ed Guyac : Not 'how'. What have I been teaching you?

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : [Little Boy stands up]  Oh. Hi.

  Ed Guyac : He's full-blooded Chippewa, his old man's chief. Nothing like bunking with royalty. Where are you from?

  Jim Thorpe : Oklahoma, Sac and Fox.

  Ed Guyac : I'm Mohawk, heap smart New York Injun. Study law, make plenty wampum, take mortgage off tepee. How about you?

  Jim Thorpe : What about me?

  Ed Guyac : What are you going to prepare for? You know: doctor, lawyer. Indian chief, rich man, poor man?

  Jim Thorpe : I don't know.

  Ed Guyac : Well, you've come to the right place to find out. This is your cot right here.

  Jim Thorpe : Thanks.

  Ed Guyac : Matter of fact, you can take this one if you like; Little Boy never uses it.

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : Bed too soft, make Little Boy soft.

  Ed Guyac : 'Soft', listen to him. 220 pounds of skin and bone. These natives, I'll never get used to them.

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [inside the cafeteria]  You're Jim Thorpe.

  Jim Thorpe : That's right.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Glad to meet you Jim, I'm Pop Warner. You mind if I sit down? I'd like to talk to you a minute.

  Jim Thorpe : No.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : That was quite an exhibition you put on this morning.

  Jim Thorpe : Exhibition?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Don't you know what you did? You ran the 2:20 flat in 23 seconds flat with your clothes on. Why haven't you come out for the team?

  Jim Thorpe : Well, I hadn't figured on coming out for the team.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : You just run for exercise, is that it?

  Jim Thorpe : I don't rightly know why I run.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : You don't like it here, do you?

  Jim Thorpe : No, I don't.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Then why have you come?

  Jim Thorpe : Because I promised someone; he's dead.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : You know, you're the first Sac & Fox I've met here. That's Oklahoma territory, isn't it?

  Jim Thorpe : Yes.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Originally from Wisconsin?

  Jim Thorpe : Illinois.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Oh yes, Illinois; part of the Algonquins?

  Jim Thorpe : Yes, that's right.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : A great warrior tribe, great traditions. What do they do now?

  Jim Thorpe : Oh, a little farming, a little weaving. They sell blankets at the railway station.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Yes, I know. That's why Carlisle was founded, Jim: so that your people can do more than sell blankets at the railway station. The trouble is, too many Indian boys take the easy way out; they quit school and go back to the reservation.

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : How are you getting along with your studies?

  Jim Thorpe : Well, not very good, I'm afraid. I never was much with books.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Yes, I know what you mean: studying, reading, doing a lot of things, they come awfully hard. I had the same problems when I went to school. It's always hard at the beginning.

  Jim Thorpe : Well, it's - it's more than that, Mr. Warner; I don't know what I want to do, or what I want to be.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Look around you, Jim, look at those faces. All of those kids have problems; a lot of them don't know what they want to be, what they want to do. They'll find out soon enough what they want most in life, so will you. All I'm trying to say is: give Carlisle a chance. And incidentally, don't be afraid of sports, Jim, they're good for you, teach you how to relax, make you sleep well. Look me up; you'll find me in my office or the athletic field. Been nice talking to you.

• Miss Benton : We've read all about you, Mr. Thorpe, and we're very proud of you.

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you.

  Miss Benton : [holding Jim's athletic sweater letter]  I'm sure we can have this sewn on for you. I'll get one of the girls; come with me.

  Miss Benton : Uh, Margaret?

  Margaret Miller : [from behind a dressmaker's mannequin]  Yes, Miss Benton?

  Miss Benton : Will you come here a minute, please?

  [Margaret walks to Miss Benton and Jim Thorpe] 

  Miss Benton : Margaret, this is Jim Thorpe. He's won his letter and wants us to sew it on for him. Do you think you can do that?

  Margaret Miller : Certainly, Miss Benton.

  Margaret Miller : [Margaret holds Jim's unsewn letter near his chest]  About here?

  Jim Thorpe : Yes, I guess so.

  Margaret Miller : Would you take your sweater off, please?

  Miss Benton : Yes, please!

  [Jim takes his sweater off and hands it to Margaret] 

  Miss Benton : Won't you sit down?

  [Margaret starts sewing Jim's letter to his sweater] 

  Margaret Miller : Here you are, Mr. Thorpe.

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you.

  Margaret Miller : There; oh, I'm sorry, a loose thread. Excuse me.

  [Margaret starts to fix the loose thread] 

  Margaret Miller : There, I think that will do it.

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you, ma'am.

  Miss Benton : [examining Jim's sweater]  Oh, that's fine, Margaret.

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you very much.

  [Jim leaves the room and stumbles into a mannequin on his way out] 

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you.

• Ed Guyac : See? Captain of the football team: that's how you get the prettiest girls and the biggest letters.

  Peter Allendine : [strolls by with Margaret at his side]  Hello, Bright Path.

  Margaret Miller : Hello.

  Ed Guyac : [reading a billboard notice]  "All candidates for football squad, please report to coach Glenn S. Warner at 3 p.m."

  Wally Denny : [elsewhere on campus]  Every time I look at this football schedule, I get dizzy! We can't play teams of this caliber, Glenn: Harvard, Army, Minnesota, Penn...

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Very impressive schedule.

  Wally Denny : What am I gonna do for material? Half the kids think a pigskin's something to eat for breakfast.

  Jim Thorpe : Pop.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Hi, Jim.

  Jim Thorpe : I saw your notice on the bulletin board. Kind of thought I might want to look into this game of football.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Forget it, Jim, you're a track man. Those legs of yours are too valuable to be risked in a tough game like football.

  Jim Thorpe : But I thought maybe if you needed someone for...

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Thanks for trying to help; forget it, Jim.

  Ed Guyac : Any chance of using me, Mr. Warner?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : What for?

  Ed Guyac : Well, some kind of executive job. I've been taking a class in business management, I thought perhaps I could help out...

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : I've got just the job for you.

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [Jim shows up in a football uniform]  What are you doing in that outfit?

  Jim Thorpe : I thought I'd come out for the team.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Jim, how many times do I have to tell you? Go back inside and take off those clothes.

  Jim Thorpe : I'm coming out for the team.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Oh, so you're coming out for the team, no matter what I say? All right, what do you know about dropkicking?

  Jim Thorpe : Nothing, but I can learn.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Get over there with those men.

  [Jim goes over and starts practicing dropkicking] 

  Wally Denny : I thought you were saving him for track?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Just because he's on the squad doesn't mean I'll let him play.

• Jim Thorpe : Miss Miller? Miss Miller?

  Margaret Miller : Well, hello Mr. Thorpe.

  Jim Thorpe : Do you mind if I walk with you?

  Margaret Miller : Why no, not at all.

  Jim Thorpe : Miss Miller, there's something I'd like to tell you.

  Margaret Miller : Yes?

  Jim Thorpe : I think I'm in love with you.

  Margaret Miller : You're what?

  Jim Thorpe : I think I'm in love with you. I can't be sure because I've never been in love before, but... well, I thought you ought to know.

  [Jim walks away] 

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [Jim and Pop Warner enter the infirmary]  Nurse, will you check this man, please?

  Jim Thorpe : Margaret.

  Margaret Miller : Hello, Jim.

  [Pop Warner leaves] 

  Margaret Miller : i'm working in the infirmary; Pop got me the job. I've been reading a lot about you in the newspapers.

  Jim Thorpe : Why did you do it?

  Margaret Miller : I don't know; I was confused and mixed up. For both our sakes, it seemed the best thing to do.

  Jim Thorpe : Why didn't you write?

  Margaret Miller : There was nothing I could say. You spoke about background and heritage; they seemed to mean so much to you. It's taken me all this time to realize that they aren't really important. What counts is that we're people.

  Jim Thorpe : I told you once I loved you. I still love you. Does that answer you?

  Margaret Miller : Oh, Jim!

  [Jim and Margaret hug each other] 

  Jim Thorpe : Oh, I've missed you, Margaret; more than I've ever missed anybody in all my life. Will you marry me?

  Margaret Miller : That's why I came back to Carlisle.

  Jim Thorpe : Are you sure you won't mind being married to a coach?

  Margaret Miller : A coach? Jim, where?

  Jim Thorpe : Anywhere, whenever they get around to making me an offer.

  Margaret Miller : They will; darling, you'll be a wonderful coach!

  [Jim and Margaret hug again] 

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [in the locker room]  All right boys, your attention. Boys, I've never made a speech to you before. I don't have to make speeches, and I don't have to tell you that Penn is a powerhouse, a football team that's been unbelievable for 2 years. But I'll say this: If there's any team that can beat them, it's this Carlisle bunch right here with me. Believe me, boys, I'm proud of you, but remember this: This is going to be the toughest football game you've ever played. Penn is a hard-hitting, rough bunch that asks no quarter and gives no quarter; that's why they're champions. Also, they have one of the greatest breakaway runners in the country: Tom Ashenbrunner, All-American for 2 years. We've got an All-American too.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [the players cheer]  I guess I don't have to say any more. All right, Carlisle, take the field.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [quietly]  All right, here we go fellas. Come on, let's go.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [to Jim]  Jim?

  Jim Thorpe : Yes, Pop?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : This game may be more important than you think. I've just learned that Allegheny's scouting for a football coach; they've got their eye on you and Tom Ashenbrunner.

  Jim Thorpe : Thanks, Pop. Better tell Ashenbrunner to stay out of my way; I need that job.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Yes, I know; Margaret told me.

• Jim Thorpe : [in the infirmary room]  You sure made me look good out there today, Little Boy. Thanks. If I had half a brain, I'd have taken you out of the game. I'm sorry about the knee.

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : Don't feel bad, Jim, I'll get better. I have to get better; I'm in love, too.

  [Little Boy looks up at the nurse tending to him] 

• Ed Guyac : In case anybody's interested, I just spoke to the doc. He expects the patient to lead a long and lusty life, on two legs.

  Ed Guyac : Hey Jim, Pop wants to see you.

  Jim Thorpe : Thanks.

  Ed Guyac : Hi, Chief.

  Jim Thorpe : Has he heard anything?

  Ed Guyac : Don't know, he just sent me over to you from his office.

  Jim Thorpe : See you later, Margaret.

  Ed Guyac : How ya feeling, Chief?

  Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear : Bed soft, make Little Boy soft.

  Ed Guyac : "Soft", how do you like this guy? If every Indian was as soft as you, the population of this country would still be in Rhode Island.

  [chuckles] 

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [Jim enters Pop's office]  Hello, Jim. Sit down.

  Jim Thorpe : What's all the mystery about? They're sure taking a lot of time to make a decision.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : They've already made the decision: Ashenbrunner.

  Jim Thorpe : That's too bad. Margaret will be disappointed.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Don't let it get you down. You have lots of other chances.

  Jim Thorpe : Well, I... that's that. Thanks, Pop.

  [heads for the door, turns around and talks with Pop again] 

  Jim Thorpe : Maybe I shouldn't say this, Pop, but I outplayed Ashenbrunner.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : You did everything a man could do on a football field.

  Jim Thorpe : Then why?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Evidently, they thought Ashenbrunner was better equipped for the job.

  Jim Thorpe : You don't believe that, Pop.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : There's a lot more to coaching than simply being a great player. The second half, you knew Little Boy had a bad knee; you kept it from me and let him play.

  Jim Thorpe : We tied up the game, didn't we?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : That's not the point!

  Jim Thorpe : Pop, that job was important to me, I needed it!

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Not that way.

  Jim Thorpe : The reason I didn't get it is because I'm an Indian, isn't it?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : I don't know, Jim. I honestly don't know. But supposing it was, that's simply another hurdle for you to take. From what I've seen, that shouldn't be too difficult, not for you. You'll clear it, I'll make sure of it. What's on your mind?

  Jim Thorpe : [Looking at the poster for the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm]  I want to go over there, to the Olympics. I want to make a record they won't be able to ignore.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Good boy, that's the spirit. Which event would you like to compete in?

  Jim Thorpe : What events are there?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : The 100 meter, the 200 meter, the hurdles, the pentathlon...

  Jim Thorpe : The pentathlon. That's five events, isn't it?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : That's right.

  Jim Thorpe : And this, the decathlon, that's ten events?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Right.

  Jim Thorpe : Enter me into both.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Jim, you're crazy.

  Jim Thorpe : Am I?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : That's fifteen events. You'll be competing against the greatest athletes in the world.

  Jim Thorpe : Pop, I've worked hard, hard to make a name for myself. If it isn't enough that I'm an Indian, I'll just have to work that much harder to get the kind of coaching job that I want. I'm not in this for glory; I just want a chance to prove myself. Will you help me? Will you?

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : You know I will.

• Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : [narrating]  For three solid days, Jim Thorpe gave an exhibition of physical prowess such as the world has never seen. The five events of the grueling pentathlon: sprinting, jumping, the javelin, the discus, the torturous 1,500 meter run, and a great victory, which would have been sufficient glory for any athlete. But almost without cause and without precedent, Jim tackled the supreme test: the decathlon, ten events covering every form of track and field competition.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : Merely to compete in these events would have been accomplishment enough, but Jim achieved victory again. Another great victory for himself and for his country.

  Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner : When it was over, the King of Sweden asked to meet Jim Thorpe, to pay personal tribute.

  King Gustav : Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.

  Jim Thorpe : Thank you, your Majesty.