Face-Off (1972)

I know it's a love story about two people with totally different views on life but this movie has tremendous historical significance for the avid NHL hockey fan. Give the producers and director credit for filming scenes in the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens. Add in authentic NHL stars and you have a great sports movie. Not really, but you do get excited when Billy Duke and the Leafs hit the road and Play in the old arenas. Like the Philadelphia Spectrum minus the third deck and the L.A. Forum with the yellow clad Kings uniforms. Oakland Seals are also shown. Great stuff that will hit you in the face like a side of back bacon AAAA! John Vernon does an adequate job of acting as the coach. I was more concerned with the Leafs making the playoffs than the trials of Billy Duke's romance.If you want a peek into the NHL's past take a gander at this movie. Acting is fair at best and the plot is week but you'll show the Grand kids what Maple Leaf Gardens and the NHL helmet-less players looked like back in the day.

I lived in Canada for 30 years and I am still an avid hockey fan, even though I now reside in Malta. I seen 'Face Off' on CTV 'Movie of the Week' in the 70's and I still remember parts of it. The story doesn't interest me that much, but I remember most of the 1971 Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Team. This is a very nostalgic film to me simply because I really appreciate watching those Maple Leaf Stars of that era. It's a great 'Memory' film because I remember the original six teams very well, and used to travel to the Montreal Forum and the Detroit Olympia to watch the Leafs playing in those cities. In Toronto I remember when the Montreal Canadians came to play our Leafs the whole City used to be glued to the TV sets, and Maple Leaf Gardens jammed packed! Problem is that I cannot purchase a copy of this great film anywhere, whether on VHS Tape or DVD. I hear that it is still being shown on Canadian Satellite Stations. I would appreciate it greatly if anybody would provide me with information where I could get a copy of this Film. I still watch hockey in this Country via Cable on NASN Station. I would just like to see it again for the Hockey. My Canadian born son lives in England now and would like to see it too!Thank you for your time and look forward to positive feedback. Have a good day.. Regards, Joe

Another hockey film among hockey films, the difference being that this one was set in the ultra-swingin' early 70s where sideburns and fringe vests were the norm.While I found the plot to be somewhat dull, the hockey scenes and cameos are a treat for die-hard fans. Even the "Turk" Derek Sanderson has a few lines as he tussles on ice with young up-and-comer Billy Duke. The suits, the hair, the language, all very 70s and quite fun to take in.The film also has that "Made In Canada" look. I, for one, find that very pleasing. Watching this film brings back tons of memories of the Gardens and players long retired. And memories of what Canadian films used to look like - good or bad! It's a fun diversion back into the 70s. Silly plot, but still interesting for the visuals and the footage of past sports greats.If you like your hockey films like "Youngblood", stay away. This ain't polished, or shined up all nice...but it's somewhat of a Canadian classic. And darn hard to find.

I always find the films of the canadian tax shelter to be sort of surreal: The snowy locations the washed out cinematography, the stilted acting...canadian gothic. This film is one of my personal faves. It is SO 70's that it almost seems from another world or dimension or something. It's really kind of haunting and poetic, with a sense of doom pervading the whole production and the ending makes little sense. Combined with the endearingly awful songs, and truly touching performance by Trudy what's her name, the viewer feels like they dreamed the movie. Very weird and strangely, cheaply beautiful...