Review of Jim Thorpe -- All-American

Today we would recognize this as a biopic but in 1951 Hollywood was just coming off its heyday (the 30s and 40s), musicals were disappearing, consumerism was coming in, and styles were changing. First this is a 50s film with 40s sensibilities. That's important because, as any cinephile will tell you, the 50s -- when Hollywood "discovered" teenagers, and wasted its time catering mainly to that market -- is the closest thing to a lost decade in film history that we have. It is an OK film but not a great one. What is astonishing is Lancaster. I have reviewed several of his films on IMDb and, before this exercise is over, I may just review a few more. The versatility of the actor is still the stuff of legend, and rightly so. In 1951 Burt was was in his late 30s but HERE HE IS PLAYING A WORLD CLASS ATHLETE IN HIS 20s and, typical of Lancaster he pulls it off. Five years later, in his 40s, Lancaster in his 40s did Trapeze, another role that showcased his athletic prowess. And 10 years after this film, he did Judgement at Nuremberg, one of the best portrayals of his career, playing a much older judge with "second thoughts" on morality. Bottom line: for Lancaster fans only.