''Code Breakers'' is a 2005 American
sports drama
A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport, sporting event, athlete (and their sport), or follower of sport (and the spor ...
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
directed by
Rod Holcomb
Rod Holcomb is an American television director and producer, best known for directing the pilot and finale of '' ER''.
He has directed episodes of numerous television series, including ''Quincy, M.E.'', ''The Six Million Dollar Man'', ''Battlest ...
and written by G. Ross Parker, based on the 2000 non-fiction book ''A Return to Glory'' by Bill McWilliams. The film chronicles the real-life 1951
cheating
Cheating generally describes various actions designed to subvert rules in order to obtain unfair advantages. This includes acts of bribery, cronyism and nepotism in any situation where individuals are given preference using inappropriate cr ...
scandal at the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
, and the impact on
its football team. It stars
Zachery Ty Bryan
Zachery Ty Bryan (born October 9, 1981) is an American actor and film producer. He is best known for his role as Brad Taylor on the ABC sitcom ''Home Improvement''. He also appeared in the films ''True Heart'' and '' The Fast and the Furious: To ...
, Jeff Roop,
Jake Busey
William Jacob Busey is an American actor. Among his most prominent roles have been serial killer Johnny Bartlett in 1996's ''The Frighteners'', Ace Levy in 1997's ''Starship Troopers'', Kyle Brenner in 2001's '' Tomcats'', Aiden Tanner in the 20 ...
,
Corey Sevier
Corey Daniel Sevier (born July 3, 1984) is a Canadian actor. He is perhaps best known for his role on the Fox television series '' North Shore'' as Gabriel McKay and as Timmy Cabot in ''Lassie''.
Life and career
Sevier was born in Ajax, Ontario, ...
,
Theo Rossi
John Theodore Rossi (born June 4, 1975) is an American actor and producer. He portrayed Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz on the FX series ''Sons of Anarchy'' (2008–2014) and Hernan "Shades" Alvarez in ''Luke Cage'' (2016–2018). His film roles i ...
,
Robin Dunne
Robin Dunne (born November 19, 1976) is a Canadian actor who has had numerous leading roles in sequels throughout his career, but is perhaps best known for his role as Doctor Will Zimmerman in the science fiction television series ''Sanctuary''. ...
, Adam Grimes,
Jude Ciccolella
Richard Jude Ciccolella (born November 30, 1947) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for playing Mike Novick in the television series '' 24'' from 2001 to 2006.
Life and career
Ciccolella was born in Burlington, Vermont, and spen ...
,
Dan Petronijevic
Daniel Petronijevic (born March 28, 1981 in Scarborough, Ontario), known professionally as Dan Petronijevic, is a Canadian actor who has appeared in various feature films, including the '' American Pie'' franchise, and in TV shows such as '' 19- ...
, Richard Zeppieri, and
Scott Glenn
Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26) is an American actor. His roles have included Pfc Glenn Kelly in ''Nashville'' (1975), Wes Hightower in ''Urban Cowboy'' (1980), astronaut Alan Shepard in '' The Right Stuff'' (1983), Emmett in '' Silverado'' ...
as
Coach Earl "Red" Blaik.
The film aired on
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
on December 10, 2005.
Synopsis
The film chronicles the 1951 cheating scandal at
West Point
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...
and its impact on
Army's football team, which was forced to dismiss virtually its entire squad. The film begins going into the 1950
Army–Navy Game
The Army–Navy Game is an American college football rivalry game between the Army Black Knights of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, and the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapo ...
, the Cadets football team was heavily favored, yet went on to lose to a weak Midshipmen squad, 14–2. The Academy and football team were then thrown into a scandal when 90 cadets, including 37
lettering
Lettering is an umbrella term that covers the art of drawing letters, instead of simply writing them. Lettering is considered an art form, where each letter in a phrase or quote acts as an illustration. Each letter is created with attention to d ...
football players, resigned in a cheating scandal which broke the
Academy's Honor Code.
The film follows Brian Nolan, a cadet who is led to a ring of cheaters when he is need of academic help to pass. A serious piece of the film involves the relationship of Coach Blaik and his son Bob, one of the cadets responsible for cheating.
Cast
Production
Filming took place in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
. A principal shooting location was
Victoria College. Cinematographer
Thomas Del Ruth
Thomas Del Ruth (born May 1, 1942) is a retired American cinematographer.
Biography
Del Ruth was born in 1942 in Beverly Hills, California, as the son of film director Roy Del Ruth, and actress Winnie Lightner. He was educated at Van Nuys ...
used the 1950 film ''
The West Point Story'', directed by his father
Roy Del Ruth
Roy Del Ruth (October 18, 1893, Delaware – April 27, 1961) was an American filmmaker.
Early career
Beginning his Hollywood career as a writer for Mack Sennett in 1915, Del Ruth later directed his first short film ''Hungry Lions'' (1919) ...
, as a template in recreating West Point in the 1950s.
Release
The film aired on December 10, 2005 at 9 pm ET on
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
and
ESPN HD
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The co ...
.
References
External links
*
2005 films
2005 drama films
2000s English-language films
2000s sports drama films
American drama television films
American films based on actual events
American football films
American sports drama films
Army Black Knights football
Cultural depictions of players of American football
Drama films based on actual events
ESPN Films films
Films about academic scandals
Films based on non-fiction books
Films directed by Rod Holcomb
Films scored by Anthony Marinelli
Films set in 1950
Films set in 1951
Films set in the United States Military Academy
Films shot in Toronto
Sports films based on actual events
Sports television films
Television films based on actual events
Television films based on books
2000s American films
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