Personal Best (film)

Personal Best is a 1982 film centered on a group of women trying to qualify for the American track-and-field team bound for the 1980 Olympic Games. Despite their commitment to their training regimen, their dreams are thwarted when the United States announces its boycott of the Games for political reasons, leaving them with only the informal "personal best" marks they achieved during training to connote their achievements.

Contents

• Personal best 1982 official trailer 1 mariel hemingway hd
• Plot summary
• Cast
• Critical response
• Accolades
• References

The movie starred Mariel Hemingway and real-life track star Patrice Donnelly, along with Scott Glenn as the coach of the track team. It was written, produced and directed by Robert Towne.

The film was praised by critics for providing a realistic look at the world of women's athletics, for exploring the complex relationships that can exist among teammates and their coach, and for its sensitive portrayal of the relationship between an older lesbian (Donnelly) and a younger bisexual woman (Hemingway). Despite good reviews, it flopped at the box-office.

Many of the scenes were filmed in San Luis Obispo County. While the sign on the track said "Cal Poly", which is a university in San Luis Obispo, it was filmed at the track at Morro Bay High School. There are also two scenes filmed at restaurants in downtown San Luis Obispo; the Cigar Factory and 1865. Filming locations in Eugene, Oregon, included Hayward Field and the nearby Track Town Pizza restaurant.

Plot summary

Chris Cahill is a young athlete who competes unsuccessfully in the 1976 U.S. Olympic trials. She meets a more experienced lesbian track and field competitor, Tory Skinner, and their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship.

Tory gives tips to Chris on how to improve as she trains for a shot at the 1980 Olympic team in the pentathlon, but their coach, Terry Tinghoff, insists on being the only one whose advice Chris follows. Anger and jealousy develop, more so when Chris begins a heterosexual relationship with Denny Stites, a swimmer.

Cast

Mariel Hemingway as Chris Cahill

Scott Glenn as Terry

Patrice Donnelly as Tory

Kenny Moore as Denny

Many elite track and field athletes of the day played in the film, including:

Evelyn Ashford- 4 Gold medals and a Silver Medal in Olympic Games

Jodi Anderson

Maren Seidler

Martha Watson

Emily Dole

Pam Spencer

Deby LaPlante

Mitzi McMillin-1974 U.S. Champion in Pentathlon

Jan Glotzer-1970 National High School record holder 110 yard hurdles

Jan Van Reenen

Al Feuerbach

Jane Frederick

Cindy Gilbert-1972 U.S. Olympian High Jump

Marlene Harmon-1983 World Championships Heptathlon, married Larry Wilcox

Linda Waltman-1980 U.S. Team for boycotted Olympics Pentathlon

Cindy Banks-Pentathlete/Heptathlete from Santa Barbara

Milan Tiff

Earl Bell

Frank Shorter

Jim Tracy-coach, whose battle with ALS is documented in the film Running for Jim

Sharon Brazell

Susan Brownell-heptathlete

Desiree Gauthier-heptathlete

Sharon Hatfield-1980 and 1982 U.S. Junior Champion in Pentathlon/Heptathlon

Linda Hightower-heptathlete with Oregon Track Club

Joan Russell-heptathlete from UCSB

Themis Zambrzycki-1980 US champion heptathlete from BYU and Brazil, South American Junior medalist

Clim Jackson-1975 ranked #3 in U.S. 110 metres hurdles

John Smith

Chuck DeBus-track coach banned for life in 1990 for giving athletes PEDs

Robert Horn

Charlie Jones Track and field announcer

Len Dawson Pro Football announcer

Critical response

Personal Best garnered a 77% approval rating at review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It was noted for its physicality and forthright treatment of sensitive emotional issues. Roger Ebert gave the film four of a possible four stars and wrote: "This is a very physical movie, one of the healthiest and sweatiest celebrations of physical exertion I can remember...It is filled with the uncertainties, risks, cares, and rewards of real life, and it considers its characters' hearts and minds, and sees their sexuality as an expression of their true feelings for each other."

Accolades

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

2008: AFI's 10 Top 10:

Nominated Sports Film