‘Harvard Beats Yale 29-29’ review: College football at its finest

July 3, 1:23 PMAtlanta Movies ExaminerRyan McNally

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Ivy League sports as a centerpiece for a thrilling documentary chronicling one of the greatest college football games of all-time? Believe it.

It’s 1968, and in a battle of undefeated teams, No. 16 Yale (wow!?!) is giving a beating to rival Harvard (a heavy underdog), leading 22-0. But as the first half comes to an end, the game shifts just slightly, and what had been a boring rout begins to transform into a riveting game for the ages. (Boise State’s recent Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma comes to mind.)

Director Kevin Rafferty captures it all in his new film Harvard Beats Yale 29-29, a documentary that scores as both sports history and ’60s snapshot. Rafferty interviews nearly 50 team members to create a thorough document of a game and era that often seems as if it’s been lifted from a time capsule.

Despite their mutual standing as New England Ivy League schools, Yale and Harvard had distinct characteristics. Yale was more conservative and boasted future All-Pro running back Calvin Hill and a quarterback, Brian Dowling, who hadn’t lost a game since the 7th grade. Harvard was more liberal and working-class (at least according to the film), with players who lacked pro aspirations.

The two squads engaged in a classic duel with enough drama to fill an entire season. Hardcore sports fans will appreciate how plays that seem small and insignificant at the time can prove monumental as the game wears on. And the players recount these moments with passion—a fumble here, a controversial missed call there, a heroic play to save the game. And the game’s final minute? You gotta see it to believe it.

1968 was as packed with political drama and social change as any year in the 20th century, and director Kevin Rafferty uses this tumultuous backdrop to add flavor to the proceedings. Former players muse on the Vietnam war, the sexual revolution and their glory years. A grumpy-but-game Tommy Lee Jones (a member of the Harvard squad) talks about cooking a Thanksgiving turkey with roommate Al Gore … in a fireplace. A Yale grad remembers rooming with Dubya for three years. Yet another dated a future Oscar-winning actress.

The fascinating interviews, coupled with the riveting game, allow Rafferty to use a basic documentary format to tell the story (too bad Rafferty couldn’t get former pro Hill to participate, though). Given the context, talking heads and charmingly vintage game footage are all that’s necessary to keep viewers entertained. And though the contest’s outcome is revealed in the title, there’s still enough drama in the film’s final 10 minutes—both within the game itself and in the post-game fates of the players—to keep you riveted.

For those needing a little college football fix to tide you over until the season starts in two months, Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is the perfect choice. Game on.

Grade: B+


 
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