Idol of the Crowds is a 1937 American sports drama film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring John Wayne as an ice hockey player.Idol of the Crowds Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 4, Iss. 37, (January 1, 1937): 196. It was one of a series of non-Westerns Wayne made for Universal. The film was originally called Hell on Ice but the Hays Office requested this be changed.Schallert, E. (June 18, 1937). ZANUCK TO STAR SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN "REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM". Los Angeles Times
Plot The New York Panthers ice hockey team is struggling in the standings. A scouting team headed by Kelly heads to Maine where they've heard of a promising former amateur player. He turns out to be John Hanson, now a chicken farmer.
Hanson does not wish to return to the game, but when he learns how much money he can make, he agrees solely so he can make enough to upgrade his farm. His skills make him an instant sensation, but as the team heads toward the championship series, he runs afoul of crooked gamblers and the beautiful woman they tempt him with.
Cast John Wayne as Johnny Hanson Sheila Bromley as Helen Dale Russell Hopton as Jack Irwin Bill Burrud as Bobby Jane Johns as Peggy Huntley Gordon as Harvey Castle Frank Otto as Joe Garber Russell Hopton as Kelly Hal Neiman as Squat Bates Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Dale George Lloyd as Spike Regan Clem Bevans as Andy Moore Wayne Castle as Swifty Lloyd Ford as Hank Lee Ford as Elmer
Production The film was announced in April 1937.SCREEN NOTES: Of Local Origin Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. April 17, 1937: 15. In May Universal announced the film as part of its upcoming output.Universal's Plans Outlined: Fifty Feature Pictures for Coming Year to Cost $13,500,000 Los Angeles Times May 19, 1937: A3.
Filming took place in May.THREE NEW FILMS LISTED FOR TODAY New York Times May 29, 1937: 21. Wayne later said "I'm from Southern California. I've never been on [expletive] skates in my life. I was in the hospital for two [expletive] days after that."John Wayne's (gratefully) forgotten hockey movie: A non-skater made Idol of the Crowds Hughes, James. The Guelph Mercury June 7, 2014: D.9.
Wayne's biographer Scott Eyman later said "It was a fish-out-of-water experience" for the actor. "Hockey was just something completely alien to him. This was before television, so he'd probably never even seen a hockey game... As for his skating, he basically gets away with it. He's OK as long as he's moving in a straight line."
Reception The Christian Science Monitor said it had "sufficient excitement.”Monitor Movie Guide: Durbin-Stokowski Make Music In Original and Amusing Film The Christian Science Monitor October 16, 1937: 17.
Lawsuit Madison Square Gardens sued Universal Pictures over the movie claiming the hockey scenes damaged its reputation, by falsely representing that the violent games in the film took place at the Garden. The suit was unsuccessful.
See also List of films about ice hockey John Wayne filmography
References
External links
Idol of the Crowds at BFI Idol of the Crowds at Letterbox DVD