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{{refimprove|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Cool Runnings
| name = Cool Runnings
Line 6: Line 7:
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Jon Turteltaub]]
| director = [[Jon Turteltaub]]
| producer = [[Dawn Steel]]<br>Susan B. Landau<br>[[Chris Meledandri]]<br>Jeffrey Bydalek
| producer = Susan B. Landau<br />Chris Meledandri<br />Jeffrey Bydalek
| writer = Lynn Siefert<br>Tommy Swerdlow<br>Michael Goldberg
| writer = Lynn Siefert
| story = Lynn Siefert<br>[[Michael Ritchie (film director)|Michael Ritchie]]
| starring = [[Leon Robinson]]<br />[[Doug E. Doug]]<br />[[Malik Yoba]]<br />[[Rawle D. Lewis]]<br />[[John Candy]]
| starring = [[Leon Robinson|Leon]]<br>[[Doug E. Doug]]<br>[[Rawle D. Lewis]]<br>[[Malik Yoba]]<br>[[John Candy]]
| music = [[Jimmy Cliff]]<br />[[Nick Glennie-Smith]]<br />[[Hans Zimmer]]
⚫
| cinematography = [[Phedon Papamichael Jr.]]
| music = [[Jimmy Cliff]]<br>[[Nick Glennie-Smith]]<br>[[Hans Zimmer]]
⚫
| cinematography = [[Phedon Papamichael]]
| editing = Bruce Green
| editing = Bruce Green
| distributor = [[Walt Disney Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Walt Disney Pictures]]
Line 17: Line 17:
| runtime = 98 minutes
| runtime = 98 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English<br />German<br />Russian
| budget = $14 million
| budget = $14 million
| gross = $154,856,263
| gross = $154,856,263
}}
}}
⚫
'''''Cool Runnings''''' is a 1993 [[Adventure film|adventure]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Jon Turteltaub]]. It is loosely based on the true story of the [[Jamaica national bobsled team]]'s debut in the [[Bobsleigh at the 1988 Winter Olympics|bobsleigh competition]] of the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]].<ref>{{cite news|title= From Real Life to Screen Proved Tough Sledding : Movies: Despite being dropped by Columbia and two directors, 'Cool Runnings,' the film about Jamaican bobsledders, makes it across the finish line. |publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1993-09-30|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1993-09-30/entertainment/ca-40417_1_cool-runnings|accessdate=2011-01-12|first=Jane|last=Galbraith}}</ref> It stars [[Leon Robinson]], [[Doug E. Doug]], [[Malik Yoba]], and [[Rawle D. Lewis]], with [[John Candy]] as Irv Blitzer, the retired bobsledder and coach of the Jamaican bobsledders.<ref>{{cite news|title= Cool Runnings Themes - Jamaican Bobsledders: A Cool Running theme|publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=2002-02-14|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/14/sports/sp-olywherenow14|accessdate=2010-12-30}}</ref>
'''''Cool Runnings''''' is a 1993 American [[List of sports films|sports film]] directed by [[Jon Turteltaub]], and starring [[Leon Robinson|Leon]], [[Doug E. Doug]], [[Rawle D. Lewis]], [[Malik Yoba]] and [[John Candy]].

⚫
It is loosely based on the true story of the [[Jamaica national bobsled team]]'s debut in the [[Bobsleigh at the 1988 Winter Olympics|bobsleigh competition]] of the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite news|title= From Real Life to Screen Proved Tough Sledding : Movies: Despite being dropped by Columbia and two directors, 'Cool Runnings,' the film about Jamaican bobsledders, makes it across the finish line. |publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1993-09-30|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1993-09-30/entertainment/ca-40417_1_cool-runnings|accessdate=2011-01-12|first=Jane|last=Galbraith}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|title= Cool Runnings Themes - Jamaican Bobsledders: A Cool Running theme|publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=2002-02-14|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/14/sports/sp-olywherenow14|accessdate=2010-12-30}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Irving “Irv” Blitzer was an [[United States|American]] [[bobsled]] two time Gold Medalist at the [[1968 Winter Olympics]] who finished first in two events again during the [[1972 Winter Olympics]] but was disqualified from the latter for cheating and retired in disgrace to [[Jamaica]], where he leads an impoverished life as a [[bookie]]. Irving is approached by two Jamaican athletes: top [[100 metres|100m]] runner Derice Bannock, who failed to qualify for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] when another opponent tripped him at the trials, and Sanka Coffie, a champion push cart racer.
Irving Blitzer was an [[United States|American]] [[bobsled]] two-time Gold Medalist at the [[1968 Winter Olympics]] who finished first in two events again during the [[1972 Winter Olympics]] but was disqualified from the latter for cheating and retired in disgrace to [[Jamaica]], where he leads an impoverished life as a [[bookie]]. Irving is approached by two Jamaican athletes: top [[100 metres|100m]] runner Derice Bannock, who failed to qualify for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] when another opponent tripped him at the trials, and Sanka Coffie, a champion push cart racer.


The athletes wish to use Irving's previous experience as a Coach in order to compete in the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] as bobsledders. Irving had been good friends with Derice's father, Ben, a former sprinter whom Irving had tried to recruit for the bobsled team years ago, who is presumed to be deceased. Yul Brenner, another runner who was tripped at the qualifier, joins the team as does as Junior Bevil, the runner who tripped Yul and Derice. Eventually Irving is convinced to coach the team.
The athletes wish to use Irving's previous experience as a Coach in order to compete in the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] as bobsledders. Irving had been good friends with Derice's father, Ben, a former sprinter whom Irving had tried to recruit for the bobsled team years ago, who is presumed to be deceased. Yul Brenner, another runner who was tripped at the qualifier, joins the team as does as Junior Bevil, the runner who tripped Yul and Derice. Eventually Irving is convinced to coach the team.
Line 32: Line 30:
The four try to find various ways to earn money to get in the Olympics; singing on the street, arm wrestling, and holding a kissing booth, but all fail. Junior, however, sells his car, which gets the team the money that they need.
The four try to find various ways to earn money to get in the Olympics; singing on the street, arm wrestling, and holding a kissing booth, but all fail. Junior, however, sells his car, which gets the team the money that they need.


In Calgary, Irving manages to acquire an old practice sled from the American team, as the Jamaicans have never been in an actual bobsled. The Jamaicans are looked down upon by other countries, in particular the East German team whose arrogant leader, Josef, tells them to go home, resulting in a bar fight. The team resolves to view the contest more seriously, continuing to train and improve their technique. They qualify for the finals, but are briefly disqualified. At the primary judge meeting, Irving immediately confronts his former coach from the '72 Olympic Winter Games Kurt Hemphill, now a primary judge of the '88 Olympic Winter Games, for disqualifying the Jamaicans for his mistake. He confesses that he made the biggest mistake in his life by cheating by hiding weights underneath the sled to make it run faster. Irving’s 1972 Gold Medals were revoked and he embarrassed his country with the scandal. He says that if Hemphill wants revenge, just punish him, not his team. He begs Hemphill to let the Jamaicans qualify and represent their country in the Olympics. Later, the judges overturn their decision and the Jamaicans are back in.
In Calgary, Irving manages to acquire an old practice sled from the American team, as the Jamaicans have never been in an actual bobsled. The Jamaicans are looked down upon by other countries, in particular the East German team - whose arrogant leader, Josef, tells them to go home, resulting in a bar fight. The team resolves to view the contest more seriously, continuing to train and improve their technique. They qualify for the finals, but are briefly disqualified. At the primary judge meeting, Irving immediately confronts his former coach from the '72 Olympic Winter Games Kurt Hemphill, now a primary judge of the '88 Olympic Winter Games, for disqualifying the Jamaicans for his mistake. He confesses that he made the biggest mistake in his life by cheating by hiding weights underneath the sled to make it run faster. Irvings's 1972 Gold Medals were revoked and he embarrassed his country with the scandal. He says that if Hemphill wants revenge, just punish him, not his team. He begs Hemphill to let the Jamaicans qualify and represent their country in the Olympics. Later, the judges overturn their decision and the Jamaicans are back in.


The Jamaicans' first day on the track results in more embarrassment and a last place finish. Sanka convinces Derice to stop copying qualities of the Swiss team. Soon, once the team develops their own style, the second day proves better; the Jamaican team finishes with a fast time which puts them in eighth position. Later, Irving tells Derice the truth about his past and convinces him to think of himself as a champion without a Gold Medal, he says, "If you're not enough without a medal, you'll never be enough with one."
The Jamaicans' first day on the track results in more embarrassment and a last-place finish. Sanka convinces Derice to stop copying qualities of the Swiss team. Soon, once the team develops their own style, the second day proves better; the Jamaican team finishes with a fast time which puts them in eighth position. Later, Irving tells Derice the truth about his past and convinces him to think of himself as a champion without a Gold Medal, he says, "If you're not enough without a medal, you'll never be enough with one."


For the first half of the final day's race it looks as though they will break the world bobsled speed record, until tragedy strikes: their sled, due to one of the blades falling off, flips on its side coming out of a turn towards the end of their run, leaving them meters short of the finish line. However, the team lifts the sled over their shoulders and walks across the finish line to rousing applause from spectators, including Josef, Hempill, and Junior's father. The team, at the end, feels accomplished enough to return in four years to the next winter Olympics. A brief epilogue states the team returned to Jamaica as heroes and upon their return to the [[1992 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]] four years later, they were treated as equals.
For the first half of the final day's race it looks as though they will break the world bobsled speed record, until tragedy strikes: their sled, due to one of the blades falling off, flips on its side coming out of a turn towards the end of their run, leaving them meters short of the finish line. However, the team lifts the sled over their shoulders and walks across the finish line to rousing applause from spectators, including Josef, Hempill, and Junior's father. The team, at the end, feels accomplished enough to return in four years to the next winter Olympics. A brief epilogue states the team returned to Jamaica as heroes and upon their return to the [[1992 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]] four years later, they were treated as equals.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Leon Robinson|Leon]] as Derice Bannock
* [[John Candy]] as Irving Blitzer
* [[Leon Robinson]] as Derice Bannock
* [[Doug E. Doug]] as Sanka Coffie
* [[Doug E. Doug]] as Sanka Coffie
⚫
* [[Malik Yoba]] as Yul Brenner
* [[Rawle D. Lewis]] as Junior Bevil
* [[Rawle D. Lewis]] as Junior Bevil
⚫
* [[Malik Yoba]] as Yul Brenner
* [[John Candy]] as Irving “Irv” Blitzer
* [[Raymond J. Barry]] as Kurt Hemphill
* [[Raymond J. Barry]] as Kurt Hemphill
* [[Peter Outerbridge]] as Josef Grull
* [[Peter Outerbridge]] as Josef Grull
* Paul Coeur as Roger
* Larry Gilman as Larry
* [[Charles Hyatt]] as Whitby Bevil
* [[Charles Hyatt]] as Whitby Bevil
* Winston Stona as Coolidge
* Bertina Macauley as Joy Bannock


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack album==
A soundtrack album with 11 tracks was released by Sony in 1993 on compact disc (Columbia Chaos OK 57553).
A soundtrack album with 11 tracks was released by Sony in 1993 on compact disc (Columbia/Chaos OK 57553).


In some European countries the soundtrack album was released by Sony with a 12th (bonus) track being Rise Above It performed by Lock Stock and Barrel (Columbia 474840 2). Songs from the sound track also featured in a little know musical "Rasta in the Snow", which was based on events of the real Jamaican sled team.
In some European countries the soundtrack album was released by Sony with a 12th (bonus) track being Rise Above It performed by Lock Stock and Barrel (Columbia 474840 2). Songs from the sound track also featured in a little know musical "Rasta in the Snow", which was based on events of the real Jamaican sled team.
Line 92: Line 86:
The film debuted at #3.<ref>{{cite news|title= Weekend Box Office : 'Demolition Man' Fends Off 'Hillbillies' |publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1993-10-19|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-19/entertainment/ca-47287_1_demolition-man|accessdate=2010-12-30|first=David J.|last=Fox}}</ref> The film had total domestic earnings of $68,856,263 in the United States and Canada, and $86,000,000 internationally, for a total of $154,856,263 worldwide.
The film debuted at #3.<ref>{{cite news|title= Weekend Box Office : 'Demolition Man' Fends Off 'Hillbillies' |publisher= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1993-10-19|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-19/entertainment/ca-47287_1_demolition-man|accessdate=2010-12-30|first=David J.|last=Fox}}</ref> The film had total domestic earnings of $68,856,263 in the United States and Canada, and $86,000,000 internationally, for a total of $154,856,263 worldwide.


==Differences between real life and film==
==Differences between real-life and film==
===Characters===
===Characters===
The bobsledders portrayed in the film are fictional, although the people who conceived the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team were inspired by pushcart racers and tried to recruit top track sprinters. However, they did not find any elite sprinters interested in competing and instead recruited four sprinters from the army for the team.
The bobsledders portrayed in the film are fictional, although the people who conceived the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team were inspired by pushcart racers and tried to recruit top track sprinters. However, they did not find any elite sprinters interested in competing and instead recruited four sprinters from the army for the team.


Irving “Irv” Blitzer is a fictional character; the real team had several trainers, none of whom were connected to any cheating scandal. At the time of the movie's release, the [[United States]] had not won a gold medal in [[bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics]] in the four man event since [[1948 Winter Olympics|1948]].
Irving Blitzer is a fictional character; the real team had several trainers, none of whom were connected to any cheating scandal. At the time of the movie's release, the [[United States]] had not won a gold medal in [[bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics]] in the four-man event since [[1948 Winter Olympics|1948]].


In the film the team is formed by Jamaican sprinters after failing to qualify for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]. In real life the 1988 Winter Olympics preceded the Summer Olympic trials.
In the film the team is formed by Jamaican sprinters after failing to qualify for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]. In real life the 1988 Winter Olympics preceded the Summer Olympic trials.
Line 106: Line 100:
Completely unlike the story in the film, the Jamaican team was not in conflict with any of the other international bobsledding teams. Other teams were, in fact, supportive of the Jamaican team. One of the other teams even lent the Jamaican team a backup sled so they could qualify.
Completely unlike the story in the film, the Jamaican team was not in conflict with any of the other international bobsledding teams. Other teams were, in fact, supportive of the Jamaican team. One of the other teams even lent the Jamaican team a backup sled so they could qualify.


The bobsled competition in the film consists of three individual runs, whereas in reality the Olympic bobsled competition is two runs a day held over a two day period.
The bobsled competition in the film consists of three individual runs, whereas in reality the Olympic bobsled competition is two runs a day held over a two-day period.


In the film, the Jamaicans are on world record pace during the final run of the competition when their sled crashes. They emerge from the sled and carry it across the finish line. In real life, however, the crash occurred before the finals (eliminating the Jamaicans) and Jamaica was not on a world record pace. However, real-life footage of the crash was used in the film. After the crash, the team walked next to their sled as track officials slid it down the track. They received sporadic applause, but not a rhythmic [[Applause#Slow_handclaps|slow clap]] as in the movie.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIHjLTDTEqE&watch_response YouTube Video of the real 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team's crash]</ref>
In the film, the Jamaicans are on world-record pace during the final run of the competition when their sled crashes. They emerge from the sled and carry it across the finish line. In real life, however, the crash occurred before the finals (eliminating the Jamaicans) and Jamaica was not on a world-record pace. However, real-life footage of the crash was used in the film. After the crash, the team walked next to their sled as track officials slid it down the track. They received sporadic applause, but not a rhythmic [[Slow_clap#Slow_handclaps|slow clap]] as in the movie.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIHjLTDTEqE&watch_response YouTube Video of the real 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team's crash]</ref>

==Home media==
On January 22, 2001, DVD was released by Walt Disney Studios at the [[United Kingdom]] in [[DVD region code|Region 2]].


==See also==
==See also==
Line 127: Line 118:


{{Jon Turteltaub}}
{{Jon Turteltaub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cool Runnings}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cool Runnings}}
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
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[[Category:1990s adventure films]]
[[Category:1990s comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s comedy films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American comedy films]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
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[[Category:American sports films]]
[[Category:American sports comedy films]]
[[Category:American sports comedy films]]
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[[Category:Bobsleigh]]
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[[Category:Disney films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
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[[Category:Bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Fictional Jamaican people]]
[[Category:Fictional Jamaican people]]
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[[Category:Films set in Jamaica]]
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[[Category:Films set in Alberta]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Films set in 1988]]
[[Category:Films about the Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Films about the Olympic Games]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Jon Turteltaub]]
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[[Category:Films set in Alberta]]
[[Category:Films set in Canada]]
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[[Category:Films set in Jamaica]]
[[Category:Sports films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Sports films based on actual events]]
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[[Category:Disney films]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Jon Turteltaub]]


[[da:Cool Runnings]]
[[da:Cool Runnings]]

Revision as of 15:29, 8 October 2012

Cool Runnings
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJon Turteltaub
Written byLynn Siefert
Produced bySusan B. Landau
Chris Meledandri
Jeffrey Bydalek
StarringLeon Robinson
Doug E. Doug
Malik Yoba
Rawle D. Lewis
John Candy
CinematographyPhedon Papamichael Jr.
Edited byBruce Green
Music byJimmy Cliff
Nick Glennie-Smith
Hans Zimmer
Distributed byWalt Disney Pictures
Release date
  • October 1, 1993 (1993-10-01)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
German
Russian
Budget$14 million
Box office$154,856,263

Cool Runnings is a 1993 adventure comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. It is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team's debut in the bobsleigh competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.[1] It stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, and Rawle D. Lewis, with John Candy as Irv Blitzer, the retired bobsledder and coach of the Jamaican bobsledders.[2]

Plot

Irving Blitzer was an American bobsled two-time Gold Medalist at the 1968 Winter Olympics who finished first in two events again during the 1972 Winter Olympics but was disqualified from the latter for cheating and retired in disgrace to Jamaica, where he leads an impoverished life as a bookie. Irving is approached by two Jamaican athletes: top 100m runner Derice Bannock, who failed to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics when another opponent tripped him at the trials, and Sanka Coffie, a champion push cart racer.

The athletes wish to use Irving's previous experience as a Coach in order to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics as bobsledders. Irving had been good friends with Derice's father, Ben, a former sprinter whom Irving had tried to recruit for the bobsled team years ago, who is presumed to be deceased. Yul Brenner, another runner who was tripped at the qualifier, joins the team as does as Junior Bevil, the runner who tripped Yul and Derice. Eventually Irving is convinced to coach the team.

The four try to find various ways to earn money to get in the Olympics; singing on the street, arm wrestling, and holding a kissing booth, but all fail. Junior, however, sells his car, which gets the team the money that they need.

In Calgary, Irving manages to acquire an old practice sled from the American team, as the Jamaicans have never been in an actual bobsled. The Jamaicans are looked down upon by other countries, in particular the East German team - whose arrogant leader, Josef, tells them to go home, resulting in a bar fight. The team resolves to view the contest more seriously, continuing to train and improve their technique. They qualify for the finals, but are briefly disqualified. At the primary judge meeting, Irving immediately confronts his former coach from the '72 Olympic Winter Games Kurt Hemphill, now a primary judge of the '88 Olympic Winter Games, for disqualifying the Jamaicans for his mistake. He confesses that he made the biggest mistake in his life by cheating by hiding weights underneath the sled to make it run faster. Irvings's 1972 Gold Medals were revoked and he embarrassed his country with the scandal. He says that if Hemphill wants revenge, just punish him, not his team. He begs Hemphill to let the Jamaicans qualify and represent their country in the Olympics. Later, the judges overturn their decision and the Jamaicans are back in.

The Jamaicans' first day on the track results in more embarrassment and a last-place finish. Sanka convinces Derice to stop copying qualities of the Swiss team. Soon, once the team develops their own style, the second day proves better; the Jamaican team finishes with a fast time which puts them in eighth position. Later, Irving tells Derice the truth about his past and convinces him to think of himself as a champion without a Gold Medal, he says, "If you're not enough without a medal, you'll never be enough with one."

For the first half of the final day's race it looks as though they will break the world bobsled speed record, until tragedy strikes: their sled, due to one of the blades falling off, flips on its side coming out of a turn towards the end of their run, leaving them meters short of the finish line. However, the team lifts the sled over their shoulders and walks across the finish line to rousing applause from spectators, including Josef, Hempill, and Junior's father. The team, at the end, feels accomplished enough to return in four years to the next winter Olympics. A brief epilogue states the team returned to Jamaica as heroes and upon their return to the Winter Olympics four years later, they were treated as equals.

Cast

Soundtrack album

A soundtrack album with 11 tracks was released by Sony in 1993 on compact disc (Columbia/Chaos OK 57553).

In some European countries the soundtrack album was released by Sony with a 12th (bonus) track being Rise Above It performed by Lock Stock and Barrel (Columbia 474840 2). Songs from the sound track also featured in a little know musical "Rasta in the Snow", which was based on events of the real Jamaican sled team.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Wild Wild Life - Wailing Souls" 
2."I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff" 
3."Stir It Up - Diana King" 
4."Cool Me Down - Tiger" 
5."Picky Picky Head - Wailing Souls" 
6."Worl-A-Girl - Jamaican Bobsledding Chant" 
7."Sweet Jamaica - Tony Rebel" 
8."Dolly My Baby - Super Cat" 
9."Love You Want - Wailing Souls" 
10."Countrylypso - Hans Zimmer" 
11."Walk Home - Hans Zimmer" 
12."Rise Above It - Lock Stock and Barrel (bonus track included only on European release reference number 474840 2)" 

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews.[3] Cool Runnings has received a rating of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews, with 23 being "fresh" and 8 being "rotten".[4]

Box office

The film debuted at #3.[5] The film had total domestic earnings of $68,856,263 in the United States and Canada, and $86,000,000 internationally, for a total of $154,856,263 worldwide.

Differences between real-life and film

Characters

The bobsledders portrayed in the film are fictional, although the people who conceived the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team were inspired by pushcart racers and tried to recruit top track sprinters. However, they did not find any elite sprinters interested in competing and instead recruited four sprinters from the army for the team.

Irving Blitzer is a fictional character; the real team had several trainers, none of whom were connected to any cheating scandal. At the time of the movie's release, the United States had not won a gold medal in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics in the four-man event since 1948.

In the film the team is formed by Jamaican sprinters after failing to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics. In real life the 1988 Winter Olympics preceded the Summer Olympic trials.

Organization

A fictional sports governing body, the "International Alliance of Winter Sports" appears in the film (In reality, every winter sport has its own separate governing body.)

Competition

Completely unlike the story in the film, the Jamaican team was not in conflict with any of the other international bobsledding teams. Other teams were, in fact, supportive of the Jamaican team. One of the other teams even lent the Jamaican team a backup sled so they could qualify.

The bobsled competition in the film consists of three individual runs, whereas in reality the Olympic bobsled competition is two runs a day held over a two-day period.

In the film, the Jamaicans are on world-record pace during the final run of the competition when their sled crashes. They emerge from the sled and carry it across the finish line. In real life, however, the crash occurred before the finals (eliminating the Jamaicans) and Jamaica was not on a world-record pace. However, real-life footage of the crash was used in the film. After the crash, the team walked next to their sled as track officials slid it down the track. They received sporadic applause, but not a rhythmic slow clap as in the movie.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Galbraith, Jane (1993-09-30). "From Real Life to Screen Proved Tough Sledding : Movies: Despite being dropped by Columbia and two directors, 'Cool Runnings,' the film about Jamaican bobsledders, makes it across the finish line". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  2. ^ "Cool Runnings Themes - Jamaican Bobsledders: A Cool Running theme". The Los Angeles Times. 2002-02-14. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  3. ^ Thomas, Kevin (1993-10-01). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Cool': Hot on Trail of Feel-Good Comedy". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  4. ^ Cool Runnings at Rotten Tomatoes
  5. ^ Fox, David J. (1993-10-19). "Weekend Box Office : 'Demolition Man' Fends Off 'Hillbillies'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  6. ^ YouTube Video of the real 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team's crash
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