"North Dallas Forty" WASN'T Fiction — It Was Tom Landry's Locker Room, and He Knew Every Word of It
Gridiron Untold Legends
191,993 views
Dallas, 1967. A hospital room before dawn. Tom Landry walks in, and he
doesn't say a word.
Six years later, the man in that bed wrote "North Dallas Forty" — and the
NFL spent six years trying to keep it off the screen.
Everyone assumed Landry hated that book. Nobody asked what he actually
thought of it.
Thirty years later, in a hallway, he finally said it. Five words.
This is the story nobody tells about America's Team.
20 Comments
@michaelmathias3277 6 days ago
The opening scene in wich Pete had to smoke a joint, drink a beer, take meds while reliving the game from the day before just to get out of bed is tremendous.
@michaelthurman9272 11 days ago (edited)
NFL was a really brutal sport back in those days, still is, I wouldn't want my son to be a player, you have to live with the pain from the injuries for the rest of your life!!
@jeremysipes44 7 days ago
After what Landry saw in WW2,I guess a football injury seemed a little insignificant.
@Scott-ph2yk 10 days ago
North Dallas Forty was funny and sad at the same time.
"Every time I call it a game, you call it a business..."
"Well, which one is it?!!!!!"
"Far out, man."
"Every time I call it a game, you call it a business..."
"Well, which one is it?!!!!!"
"Far out, man."
@russbolinger1648 10 days ago (edited)
Pete Gent was a good man. Good dad! Good son. Good American Legion baseball Coach. Small town kid with a big town heart! Got a chance to know him on the set of ND40! Talented. Courageous.
@hughlo364 6 days ago
I love this move and whenever anyone asks me what it was like playing (early 80’s and only small college and semi-pro), I tell them to watch the first 5 minutes of the movie as that was very close to how I felt every Sunday morning.
@PatrickAyotte 8 days ago
When I watched this movie I was a huge Cowboys fan at 8 years old. It was way over my head at the time but not 47 years later I will have to sit and watch it especially now knowing the back story.
@zroy9263 2 days ago (edited)
Peter Gent is one of my all-time favorite novelists because of his excellent novels NORTH DALLAS FORTY and THE FRANCHISE!
Both of these novels are among the BEST and informative novels ever written about pro football!
In fact, I would say that they're THE GREATEST books ever written about pro football!
I highly recommend both of them.
Big props to my childhood hero, Tom Landry! He was a man's man and exuded strength, masculinity, control, composure, power, class, intelligence, and leadership!
I patterned my life after his coaching and did well for myself.
Tom Landry and Tex Schramm are the reasons why the DALLAS COWBOYS are the wealthiest sports franchise in the world!
RIP THOMAS WADE LANDRY.
Both of these novels are among the BEST and informative novels ever written about pro football!
In fact, I would say that they're THE GREATEST books ever written about pro football!
I highly recommend both of them.
Big props to my childhood hero, Tom Landry! He was a man's man and exuded strength, masculinity, control, composure, power, class, intelligence, and leadership!
I patterned my life after his coaching and did well for myself.
Tom Landry and Tex Schramm are the reasons why the DALLAS COWBOYS are the wealthiest sports franchise in the world!
RIP THOMAS WADE LANDRY.
@bluesdoggg 1 hour ago
My wife met Gent shortly before his death, when she was an X-ray tech in my hometown in SW Michigan, I loved the film and read his book a couple of times over the years.
@dennismccarty149 9 days ago
I was in the marines in the late 70s and early 80s and saw that movie…..it was great and has stuck with me deeply ever since
@viking956 11 days ago
16:49 That picture of early construction of Reunion Arena brings back many happy memories.
@mq7189 6 days ago
Soon after seeing North D 40 c. 1986, I met Bobby White, linebacker for Penn State national championship team. He had been drafted by 49ers but decided to walk away from NFL. I asked him if ND40 was accurate. White said it was exactly right. Even in the 49ers (considered at that time the most player friendly team) the player is a commodity, nothing more.🤔
@robertkwiat5520 10 days ago
That was a good movie. The story is more interesting. People back then were unaware of the danger of playing in the NFL
@MrGolyat1 10 days ago
Peter Gent is my favorite sports writer, the franchise my favorite book of his, so much he wrote became true. North Dallas 40 my favorite movie I'm just glad to finally find out the meaning of the title
"North Dallas Forty" WASN'T Fiction — It Was Tom Landry's Locker Room, and He Knew Every Word of It
Gridiron Untold Legends
191,993 views
Dallas, 1967. A hospital room before dawn. Tom Landry walks in, and he
doesn't say a word.
Six years later, the man in that bed wrote "North Dallas Forty" — and the
NFL spent six years trying to keep it off the screen.
Everyone assumed Landry hated that book. Nobody asked what he actually
thought of it.
Thirty years later, in a hallway, he finally said it. Five words.
This is the story nobody tells about America's Team.