The Jesse Owens Story (1984) (TV)

Director:

Richard Irving

Writer:

Harold Gast (writer)

Release Date:

9 July 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Sport

Plot:

A biopic of the greatest of the modern olympic athletes.

Plot Keywords:

Athlete | Olympics | African American | Racism | Runner

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Dorian Harewood	...	Jesse Owens
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Ammerman	...	Coach Robertson
Bob Banks	...	Henry Owens
Tom Bosley	...	Jimmy Hoffa
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Lew Gilbert
LeVar Burton	...	Professor Preston
Bernard Canepari	...	Attorney Grossfeld
Robert Chidsey	...	Governor Aide
Glenn Colerider	...	OSU Professor Overman
Barry Corbin	...	Judge
Ronny Cox	...	Coach Larry Snyder
Chris Douridas	...	Jerome
Norman Fell	...	Marty Forkins
Lynn Hamilton	...	Mamma Solomon
Robert Hibbard	...	Police Lieutenant
George Kennedy	...	Charles 'Charley' Riley
Chuck Long	...	Friend at table
Gary Moody	...	Angry Customer
Randy Moore	...	Coach Cromwell
Debbi Morgan	...	Ruth Solomon Owens
Greg Morris	...	Mel Walker
Tonye Patano	...	Laverne Owens
Lee Ritchey	...	Brashears
James Sikking	...	Avery Brundage
Vic Tayback	...	Abe Saperstein
Donald Thompson	...	Hitler Youth
Weyman Thompson	...	Herb Solomon
Arnold F. Turner	...	Ralph Metcalfe
John Vargas	...	Pasqual Martinez
Ben Vereen	...	Herb Douglas
Kai Wulff
Craig 'Junior' Miller	...	Runner (uncredited)
Paul Osborne	...	Uncredited (uncredited)
Brian Walker	...	Runner (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Irving

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Harold Gast		writer

Produced by
Harve Bennett	....	executive producer
Harold Gast	....	producer
Arnold Turner	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Charles Correll

Film Editing by
Richard Bracken
Robert F. Shugrue

Production Design by
John E. Chilberg II

Set Decoration by
Tom Pedigo

Makeup Department
Dino Ganziano	....	hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair department head
Rod Wilson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bill Coker	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Hockridge	....	first assistant director
Ken Stringer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Derek R. Hill	....	lead man
Joseph Musso	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Alan Bernard	....	sound mixer
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
B. Tennyson Sebastian III	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Joseph P. Mercurio	....	special effects

Stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator

Casting Department
Jody Hummer	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie K. Chan	....	wardrobe: women
Bob E. Horn	....	wardrobe
Thomas Welsh	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Other crew
Bruce Lawhead	....	location manager
Paul Tinsley	....	script supervisor
Randall D. Wilkins	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Harve Bennett Productions
• Paramount Television

Distributors

• Operation Prime Time (OPT) (1984) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

USA:174 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company:

Harve Bennett Productions

Trivia:

Races were shot at Fouts Field at North Texas State (now University of North Texas).

Quotes:

Mel Walker: Being a champion meant staying at the same hotel as the White athletes, at least in New York. It did not mean going in the *front* door.
[Black athletes entering through loading dock and riding in freight elevator to their rooms]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Beast of Yucca Flats (#7.21)" (1995)

This is a real "It's a wonderful life".

When I watched this movie it made me think that it's a real "It's a wonderful life". Cause like in the movie, Jesse Owens always tries his best but in the end he seems to be left with very little. And if anyone has a reason to be sore at the world it's him. But in the end when it seemed like he was up against the wall, all of his friends rallied to help him. Just as in "It's a wonderful life" no man is a failure who as friends and Jesse Owens had more than enough, when it counted.