Roger Ebert called "Breaking Away" (1979) a “cinematic miracle.”

“Breaking Away” is much more than a sports movie or a film about cycling. This fantastic "feel-good" movie is for everyone. You can watch it with your friends or with your kids. In his review of the film when it was released in 1979, film critic Roger Ebert called it a “cinematic miracle.”
Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We appreciate all the feedback we're getting on this fantastic film.
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#movies #movieexplained #moviescenes #sportsmovies #cycling #bestmovies #70smovies

[@steveoatway7001]

I was living in Edmonton in the YMCA looking for work on the Oil Rigs when I went and saw this. I knew right away it was a superb movie but most of all it inspired me to keep following my dreams and helped me overcome the challenges of doing so. I went on to become a professional Actor over 10 years later and in 1996 when acting as a "Judge Rubey" on the Millennium TV Series walked on Set and there was Paul Dooley (the father in the movie). He was now playing a very nasty man whom was the defendant in our courtroom scene. I said hello and told him how much I enjoyed his performance in "Breaking Away", so we sat down and had a great conversation. There were some actors who were not nice to me but Paul was and not only that, he was the most caring "professional". It was a 14 hour day and my closeups were at 1 am after hours of shooting. Some of the other Hollywood B Grade Stars left so I had to Act intensely with crew members reading lines. Paul Dooley who didn't have a line with me, stayed to support me and I never forgot that.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for sharing!

[@caseypark69]

I saw this movie when I was 10 and probably have seen it around 30 times since. Each time we revel in Paul Dooley’s performance and it is great to hear not only your story, but that Paul was such a decent person

[@kevinwhelan9607]

One classy guy recognizing another. Lovely story - thanks for sharing it. I loved Breaking Away too🎉

[@tommym321]

I love this movie. Could be the best sports film of all time. Top three, for sure.

[@johnjones5354]

Best three sports movies ever made, Hoosiers, Rudy, Breaking Away. One thing in common.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

We have to concede that Indiana has been the setting for some incredible sports movies!

[@glenbard657]

@@johnjones5354 I agree with you on two of those. I'm not a fan of Rudy. It's too long and boring. I'd probably replace it with Rocky or Brian's Song.

[@andyinoregon]

My wife and I saw movies based on the recommendations of Siskel & Ebert on their PBS show, "Sneak Previews." After watching "Breaking Away," I immediately wanted to give the Best Supporting Actor Oscar to Paul Dooley.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

I loved that old show and then all the subsequent versions of it.

[@phaedrussmith1949]

"Zucchini!? That's Iti food. I want American food, damn it I want French fries!"

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Lol

[@stevemeredith9022]

This is one of my all time favourites and I watch at least once a year. I know that I am old as I have watched this on VHS,DVD,BLU-RAY & Digital lol.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

That's great!

[@sjg5994]

😂

[@BarberBobDetecting]

“Refund? REFUND!?!?”

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Love that scene :)

[@mc76]

I graduated from IU the summer before Breaking Away was filmed. In fact, one of the scenes features the house I rented in Bloomington. Other than the fact that it is a quality film, I love revisiting Breaking Away occasionally because it is a time capsule of one of the best periods in my life. Screenwriter Steve Tesich graduated from IU, and the film's portrayal of the campus and the town make the setting almost like another character.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for sharing! It must be cool to have a great film like this that captures your college days.

[@billfinn9536]

You got that right! I remember it grew with popularity quickly by word of mouth.

[@dajosee]

Do you remember the swimming Quarry?

[@caseyisadore7952]

Excellent movie.

[@pascal6707]

I spent 2 years in IU too, as a foreign sudent. Left in 1979, came back in 2014 : campus hadn't change that much. It was so strange to walk around as a tourist, visiting places I had never been to in 1977-79. As a matter of fact, I witnessed a shooting scene of the movie (the one in front of the Bursar's office) in the spring of 1978, I heard someone shout "action". Maybe Peter Yates himself...

[@LeftCoastGator]

Nice summary of one my all-time favorites. I was a junior road racer at that time, and being a kid in a full wool road kit, bike shoes and leather "brain bucket" helmet in late-70s America, I may as well have been an alien -- I can't count the number of sideways stares, ass slaps, questions about my sexual orientation and invitations to get TF off the road I received in those days. 😆Back then, you really, really had to love it to put up with it. (I did and still do.) So I found the cycling aspect of the film to be highly relatable, but everything else about the film is so enjoyable that it's always a pleasure to re-watch it. I'd argue it's not only one of the best sports films ever, but one of the best films, period -- everything about it works beautifully.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@KTMurph]

One of my favorite movies of all time

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I saw it on its release when I was 8 years old, and I loved it. I saw it again a couple of years ago, and I loved it. The lack of Hollywood polish makes it seem all the more genuine and sincere. Sometimes simple is best.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

We agree! The film holds up really well after all these years.

[@controlfreak1963]

When I was 16, this movie gave me hope of a better future when I didn't have much. I was a huge bicycle nut and thought I was alone in my passion as most of my friends were into organized sports. I saw this at a local theater about 6 times during the summer it was released. The acting was stunning by everyone and it fits the bill for a "feel good movie". Nobody walked out of this movie feeling bad unless they were a frat boy from Indiana.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for sharing! We agree that it's a great "feel good movie."

[@nitedreamer23]

I went to IU and most of those guys were from Chicago or the east coast. As a native Hoosier, the prejudice was palpable. It was odd.

[@controlfreak1963]

@@nitedreamer23 Cutter!

[@ourmanflint1]

You may also recognize Hart Bochner (the frat boy/antagonist Rod) from his later role in Die Hard as the sleazy yuppie Ellis. There was a couple good bits of non-verbal acting from him as well: The first time when he looks guilty and sad when Dennis Quaid bangs his head against the quarry in the failed swimming race and at the end when the Cutters are celebrating and he acknowledges the locals abilities and grit with a kind look of admiration.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Wow! I had no idea that was him . . . Ellis is an all-time classic . . Thanks for the tip!

[@glenbard657]

The interesting thing is the Rod was supposed to laugh when he saw Mike hit his head. Hart Bochner said that what he actually did just showed his "inability to take direction". Hart did bring a touch of humanity to Rod which makes you hate the character a little less.

[@juanbarraza1490]

Law and Order Criminal Intent “Cherry Red.” This episode from 2003 reunited Paul Dooley and Dennis Christopher as father and son. This time the obsession was with classic sports cars. It didn’t end well for either one.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for the heads up! I'll have to track that down.

[@OhNoNotAgain42]

I know that episode. I recognized the dad. Didn’t realize that was the son playing the son.

[@MikeCee7]

I remember seen this movie when I was 14, & grew up & lived in the suburbs of NYC, and I so much wanted to go out there, and just jump (& dive) in that rock quarry. I’ve never seen anything like that before, until this film.

[@dajosee]

No Quarries, but plenty of great swimming holes

[@MikeCee7]

@@dajosee Where are the great “swimming holes” in Westchester county NY? Other than rich, exclusive, super expensive country club’ swimming pools. We’re you pretty much have to be a rich Nepo-baby to enjoy that as a child.

[@dajosee]

You sound like a tourist. We grew up swimming in Ponds and found great Rope Swings and swimming holes from the Bronx to Brewster. Every Town has a sweet spot, some have many. Locals always know the best spots.@@MikeCee7

[@not2old4watts]

I bought my first Road Bike (we called them 10 speeds back then) the same year this movie came out. Forty-four years later I’m still cycling. I’m surprised there haven’t been more movies made, other than American Flyers, with bike racing as the subplot. If I missed another one somebody please let me know its name.

[@edwardlloyd8944]

The Flying Scotsman - the true story of Graeme Obree. Excellent!!

[@joerockbottom7588]

Fun Fact: Paul Dooley is an Italiophile and fluent in Italian, he minored in Italian in college, making his performance all that more hilarious.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Wow! Thanks for sharing . . . that's awesome.

[@nitedreamer23]

A nearly perfect movie. Tesich’s script is a wonder. And the fact that he’s from the Region and went to IU, like myself, makes it resonate that much more.

[@glenbard657]

I agree Paul Dooley was brilliant and hilarious in the movie. I get choked up every time in the scene where Mr. Stohler sits in his Cadillac listening to the Little 500 and gets excited hearing how well Dave is doing before finally slamming the door shut and peeling out of the used car lot to go see the race. The winner of best supporting actor in 1979 was Christopher Walken for The Deer Hunter. I've seen Breaking Away many, many times, but I've never bothered to watch The Deer Hunter.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

The Deer Hunter is amazing as well. But I would have voted for Dooley to win that year.

[@Chris-th3iv]

This movie has so much heart, first watched it in '82.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

I hope Netflix picks this up at some point so more people get to see it.

[@darrellludlow]

Fond memories of the campus from my days at NAJAC!

[@onthewatch6178]

Like the comment below and the three replies, I have nothing but praise and fond memories about Paul Dooley as an actor, and also as a genuine down-to-earth guy. I was on a shuttle bus from one of the outlying parking lots at the Los Angeles Airport that dropped passengers off at the various LAX airline gates. The bus was very empty, maybe just three or four others sitting up front, and leaned forward and across the aisle. He was sitting quietly and alone - no newspaper or book, and cell phones were still a few years off - and I said, "Mr. Dooley, I'm sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your work during the past few years." Breaking Away and Pretty in Pink had been released, along with a movie called O.C. and Stiggs, that was based on what may have been one of THE greatest all-time National Lampoon stories; without going in to details the magazine-to-film adaptation wasn’t a very good fit. I complemented his work in Pink and Breaking, and added, "You play a wonderful and believable dad." His reply: "Well, i AM a dad." And writing that response, I heard it in that distinctive voice of his.. I asked if he'd read the National Lampoon story, and he said, "Oh yeah...funny stuff." We were at his gate, and I told him, "Have a nice flight, and thank you again." He smiled, nodded his head and was gone. He was exactly what we always hope people we admire turn out to be: a class act.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Very cool story! Thanks for sharing.

[@VinceHiggins-OTW]

I agree that Dooley was brilliant.

[@2bigbufords]

love this movie

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Agree. One of the major streaming services should add this and promote it. It would easily find a new audience.

[@Serai3]

A sweet film. Pity so few people remember it.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

We agree . . . we created a "hidden gems" playlist to feature films like this one - kzbin.info/aero/PL0TeXBysskZrzvUzL_uQq6ljiZGBU1dhf

[@lot2196]

Plenty of people remember it. It's free on KZbin from time to time.

[@eg3730]

Love this thx! E

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MeneerHerculePoirot]

"Eenni food. He just wants to eat is linguini, fettccingi. I want some french fries."

[@PremiumHollywood775]

It's a little hard to understand him there but he seems to be saying "Ity" food as in short for Italian lol . . .

[@samanthab1923]

Just found out they filled in the quarry. Bummer. Can no longer swim or dive there.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

That sucks!

[@samanthab1923]

@@PremiumHollywood775 Right? Beautiful spot too

[@steveoatway7001]

Thanks for this. Listen, when you make a mistake when narrating even just pause, stop then record that section again. We're human so all make mistakes, so don't feel bad. I narrated five characters in a Audio Novel and constantly had to stop and go over the lines again. Good luck with future projects.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for the feedback . . . we're now using a platform that makes that type of editing easier so new narrations should be better lol . . .

[@ThisGuyRides]

I read the book first, so I was a bit disappointed with how Moocher was portrayed in the movie. Also they left out the most memorable part in the book with Moocher, when his boss said "Punch the clock, shorty" Moocher deliberately wraps a towel around his fist and punched the time clock off the wall and walked out.

[@ivangottapseudonym8849]

iti food

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Hilarious :)

[@MikeCee7]

This is a great movie, but why does Roger Ebert have so many mistaken word pronunciations? Was this before he became a movie critic? I thought the Siskel & Ebert starting out the 1970s

[@mekrieger]

It's not Roger Ebert.

[@MikeCee7]

@@mekrieger then why does it have/say “Roger Ebert” in the Video title?

[@mekrieger]

I@@MikeCee7 Probably clickbait. It worked -- got my attention. It is not Roger Ebert in the video.

[@MikeCee7]

I Re-listen to it again, and starting at 1:06, it sounds exactly like Roger Ebert’s voice. But has so many unprofessional mistaken pronunciations, while he’s reading the script.

[@ImVee10]

Dude, your narration is full of miscues and that constant, annoying (supposed) acid reflux interruption. Swing and a miss. Still, this was by far the best film of 1979.

[@PremiumHollywood775]

Thanks for the feedback . . . we're working on it lol . . .

[@ImVee10]

@@PremiumHollywood775 You’re welcome. May I suggest Zantac?

[@billfinn9536]

Dude Make your bed and shut up, excellent insight and commentary about Breaking Away! You get hot tea, with sour milk and no sweetener for ruining the party.

[@ImVee10]

@@billfinn9536 Nobody is talking to you, Great Grandpa. Mind your own damned business, and then piss off. 🖕🏼

[@DayBeforeTomorrow]

He called it a cinematic miracle. I call it one of the most boring movies I've ever seen.

[@runcaz7802]

Aah, but it takes greatness to recognize greatness.

[@AMEER-114-]

That's only because your natural human affections have been destroyed by what you've taken in from childhood... For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such TURN AWAY. 2Tim 3

[@ImVee10]

Go back to Toy Story. Don’t forget your helmet.

[@AMEER-114-]

@@ImVee10 I also gave a response, but they didnt allow it to post.

[@billfinn9536]

Some guys cannot see the forest for the trees?