Gridiron Flash

1934 film by Glenn Tryon

October 26, 1934 (1934-10-26)

Running time

64 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$78,000^[1]Box office$199,000^[1]

Gridiron Flash is a 1934 American sports film directed by Glenn Tryon and starring Eddie Quillan, Betty Furness and Grant Mitchell. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. It made a profit of $43,000.^[1]

Plot

Belford College's football team is so bad, unscrupulous benefactor Howard Smith recruits a jailed thief, Tommy "Cherub" Burke, after seeing him play with a football in the prison yard.

Tommy's parole is arranged. He joins the team, alienating other students with his behavior so much that Jane Thurston from the registrar's office takes a personal interest, unaware of his criminal history. The team wins every game but Tommy gets restless and wants to join a gang. Smith persuades him to rob the jewels of a rich couple, Mr. and Mrs. Fields, and split the loot.

Tommy commits the theft but gets a guilty conscience after being bribed to lose the team's final game. He returns the stolen gems and gets back to campus in time to lead Belford to one final triumph.