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The Longest Yard Reviews

1974 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1181 members

In Robert Aldrich's crowd-pleasing classic, Burt Reynolds stars as convict Paul Crewe, a former football player doing time in a prison controlled by two authoritarian sports fanatics, warden Hazen (Eddie Albert) and captain Knauer (Ed Lauter). When Crewe sees that the guards have a top-notch football team, he takes it upon .. Read more

Starring Burt Reynolds, Ed Lauter, James Hampton, Michael Conrad
Director Robert Aldrich
Genres Comedy

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Longest Yard

    View all
  • A fiercely anti-authoritarian parable mixing broad, black comedy and fast action, this portrays the conflict between... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Violent, meandering comedy-drama with murderous jokes but no narrative grip.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Longest Yard

    View all
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Definitive proof that Burt Reynolds could act....

    The Longest Yard, previously titled The Mean Machine (Later rehashed by Vinnie Jones) is basically a story of a man who had everything, lost it all and then realised what he had wasnt worth keeping. Burt plays an aging American Football star who finds himself in Jail after over indulging one night and going for a spin! Inside he finds that the Warden is a football nut, and its plain sailing for him as he is asked to put together a team of inmates to play the guards championship winning team...... in the end he must choose between his freedom and supporting the newfound dignity of his convict teammates.

      • Gratman from WATFORD
  • 4 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A classic

    One of those films you remember with pleasure from your childhood (well if you are of the 30ish persuasion).

    It is a joy to see Burt Reynolds at the peak of his talents. The story unfolds at a dramatic pace from the opening car chase to the football game finale.

    If you have seen the poor Vinnie Jones remake please, please don't be put off. The original kicks it into touch!

      • DrAndyP from West Sussex
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    its 'mean machine' under a different gise

    classic movie under a different name

      • paul wooding from skelmersdale
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Longest Yard

    View all
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    its 'mean machine' under a different gise

    classic movie under a different name

      • paul wooding from skelmersdale
  • Rated - 4 stars

    A classic

    I have to say when my other half made me get this out I wasn't looking forward to it but I was greatly surprised. Excellent cast and lead from Burt when men WERE men in the cinema.

    Adam Sandler stood no chance.

      • A customer from St Helens
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Definitive proof that Burt Reynolds could act....

    The Longest Yard, previously titled The Mean Machine (Later rehashed by Vinnie Jones) is basically a story of a man who had everything, lost it all and then realised what he had wasnt worth keeping. Burt plays an aging American Football star who finds himself in Jail after over indulging one night and going for a spin! Inside he finds that the Warden is a football nut, and its plain sailing for him as he is asked to put together a team of inmates to play the guards championship winning team...... in the end he must choose between his freedom and supporting the newfound dignity of his convict teammates.

      • Gratman from WATFORD
  • 4 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A classic

    One of those films you remember with pleasure from your childhood (well if you are of the 30ish persuasion).

    It is a joy to see Burt Reynolds at the peak of his talents. The story unfolds at a dramatic pace from the opening car chase to the football game finale.

    If you have seen the poor Vinnie Jones remake please, please don't be put off. The original kicks it into touch!

      • DrAndyP from West Sussex
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    its 'mean machine' under a different gise

    classic movie under a different name

      • paul wooding from skelmersdale
  • Rated - 4 stars

    A classic

    I have to say when my other half made me get this out I wasn't looking forward to it but I was greatly surprised. Excellent cast and lead from Burt when men WERE men in the cinema.

    Adam Sandler stood no chance.

      • A customer from St Helens
  • Rated - 5 stars

    the name

    for the buffs out there, this film was released as the longest yard in america, and renamed mean machine for the UK.

    i love this film and the dirty play in the game (you know the one) has me in fits every time =D

      • A customer from Bristol, England
  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • A fiercely anti-authoritarian parable mixing broad, black comedy and fast action, this portrays the conflict between... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Violent, meandering comedy-drama with murderous jokes but no narrative grip.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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    • The Longest Yard
      In Robert Aldrich's crowd-pleasing classic, Burt Reynolds stars as convict Paul Crewe, a former football player doing time in a prison controlled by two authoritarian sports fanatics, warden Hazen (Eddie Albert) and captain Knauer (Ed Lauter). When Crewe sees that the guards have a top-notch ...

Rating breakdown

1,181 Member ratings
  • 100
109
  • 90
123
  • 80
227
  • 70
213
  • 60
213
  • 50
122
  • 40
54
  • 30
45
  • 20
53
  • 10
22

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