Iron Claw--It's Good

[Chop]

The Von Erich movie. It’s a good movie, very good. The acting is well above average. Kerry is not as muscled up as in real life, but it doesn’t
matter. The tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy is hard to take in.

Fritz is not shown in the most positive light. They also show David’s death in Japan as a freak intestinal virus and not a suicide. I think they got this correct, but there’s a lot of debate about this.

The primary focus is on Kevin, but Mike’s sub story steals the show for me. The Non-athletic kid didn’t even want to be a wrestler. He wanted to be a musician and had his own band. But poor Mike got sucked into the vortex after David’s passing and Fritz needed 3 Von Erich sons to take on the Freebirds.

A surprisingly (to me) classy personal move by Ric Flair after a match was depicted. What the public saw was cartoonish bitter enemies, but they looked after each other after the shows.

Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, go see this one.

 

[Chop]

Stanley Simons—in his first major Hollywood production—should get consideration as best supporting actor for playing the musician/non-athlete Mike Von Erich who got sucked into the deadly family business of professional wrestling, leading to his tragic downfall. He stole the show.

 

[Chop]

Zac Efron as Kevin acted really well.

Jeremy Allen White as Kerry acted pretty good.

Holt McCalleny (the “Mindhunter” star) as Fritz came across as the sort of father that predominated the country about 100-150 years ago. At the funeral of their brother —“Take off your sunglasses and don’t cry! Men don’t cry!” The sons live to impress their father. (until Kevin doesn’t anymore…) McCalleny actually shows one of the best old school tough fathers I’ve seen depicted on the screen.

Simons, Efron, and McCalleny should get some Oscar consideration.

 

[SabreHorn]

Dave Campbell named his All Half Century HS team. Jack Adkisson was one of the two guards on the offensive team; the other being Gene Mayes. Obviously never saw Adkisson play, but to be named with Garland great is, as they say on the High Plains, in high cotton

 

[Chop]

Dave Campbell named his All Half Century HS team. Jack Adkisson was one of the two guards on the offensive team; the other being Gene Mayes. Obviously never saw Adkisson play, but to be named with Garland great is, as they say on the High Plains, in high cotton

They say Jack (Fritz) didn’t last long in the NFL and not long in Canadian football either. He was recruited to join Canadian pro wrestling so he started his career up there.

 

[SabreHorn]

I met him one time at Love Field; IIRC he was going to Amarillo to meet with the Funk family. I thought he said he played or signed for one year with the original Dallas Texans before they moved to Baltimore and became the Colts.

Yes, there was a Dallas Texans in the NFL about 1952 before Lamar Hunt helped start the AFL, which moved to KC to be the Chiefs.

 

[Chop]

They say Jack (Fritz) didn’t last long in the NFL and not long in Canadian football either. He was recruited to join Canadian pro wrestling so he started his career up there.

And the movie revealed that Jack (Fritz) was also a trained, and highly skilled, classical musician. He said he went into sports/wrestling because the money was better.

 

[Chop]

Fathers (and Mothers)—-

Don’t try to live vicariously through your children.

 

[SabreHorn]

Along those lines, does anyone know what has happened with the Duncum brothers?

 

[Chop]

Observe this video of Harley Race to see some of the level of abuse these athletes/performers put themselves through. (check out his forehead)