Just had to mention that I think Svenson had the role of his career as Jo Bob here. Jo Bob was too funny hanging the girl off the balcony and bullying everybody around throught the movie. Another standout performance in an underrated gem of a film.
shareYou're confusing Jo Bob with a similar character from "Semi-Tough."
In "Semi-Tough" the mean lineman is Brian Dennehey.
The "struggling girl-hanging-from-the-balcony" scene is performed by Brian Dennehey in "Semi-Tough." She is rescued by Kris Kristofferson playing a similar role to Nolte's.
The "struggling girl-held-over-the-big-guy's-head" scene is performed by Bo Svensen in "North Dallas Forty." She is almost rescued by Nolte playing a similar role to Kristofferson's.
Both occur at team parties.
And they say there is no originality in Hollywood anymore.
You're right about the girl-over-the-balcony scene being in Semi-Tough, but Nolte had nothing to do with the girl Jo-Bob held over his head (whose top magically disappeared). Nolte tried to rescuse Dayle Haddon when Jo-Bob picked her up by her arms and held her out in front of him.
But, I'm nitpicking. Both movies are hilarious, but ND40 is probably more realistic.
Semi-Tough was really about Werner Erhard's EST training...the football was secondary to the plot. The sport was basically a backdrop for the characters and their experiences with each other and the training. It was a lot more tongue in cheek and was played for laughs. Although the one scene where Brian Deheny holds the girl over the balcony was tense, I'm struggling to recall any other scenes in the film that played as this scene. It was more of a straight-up comedy.
NDF was brutal & realistic. Although there was a lot of humor in the film it certainly was not played for laughs. It does a great job of reinforcing the statement "We're not the team, we're the equipment."
And man, I don't think anyone plays a sadistic coach better than GD Spradlin...
The book had no such plot regarding EST training. In the movie, the EST connected all the sub-plots.
shareThe book had no such plot regarding EST training. In the movie, the EST connected all the sub-plots.
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I always figured with the movie of Semi-Tough, director Michael Ritchie must have been developing a comedy script about EST but worried it couldn't get sold -- so he stuck the material in Semi-Tough.
I may be wrong.
Movies are filled with cliches, especially football movies.
Bo Svenson did a pretty good Southern accent for a guy born and raised in Sweden.
Next time you see ND40, watch Svenson in the background when Matuzak goes into his "You call it a business, I call it a game" speech. Amazing expressive, non-verbal acting.
"Dadoo4050: and who, disguised as a mild-mannered schoolteacher. . ."
He also called Notle a "goddamn bird turd."
share"Joe Bob's Fast Food.....Eat Here or I'll kill ya!"
Best scene ever for Jo Bob seeing Elliot flee after saying it :P
Joe Bob (to Dayle Haddon): "I love your legs...they got your feet on one end and your pussy on the other, and I wanna *beep* you!"
What a charmer!
"I shall wear this (bruise) as a badge of honor"
"Wear it in silence, or I'll honor you again"
Scary dude! He was pretty good as Buford Pusser as well. I swear that wrestler Sid Vicious based his gimmick off of Joe Bob.
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