Saturday's Hero Reviews

A probing of the lack of ethical standards in college recruiting just as potent today as it was in 1951, SATURDAY'S HERO is the story of Steve Novak (John Derek), a high-school football star and the son of Polish immigrants, who has hopes of rising above his New Jersey surroundings and receiving a college scholarship. As academic standards are of prime importance to Steve, he chooses a respected southern school instead of a traditional gridiron powerhouse, and becomes not only the leader of his football squad, but a promising All-American. After a serious shoulder injury in his junior year, Steve realizes that he has been victimized by the political game-playing of T.C. McCabe (Sidney Blackmer), a wealthy and powerful alumnus who callously used Steve as a means of turning the school into a football power. The determined Steve doesn't give up so easily; he settles down in his New Jersey mill town with girl friend Melissa (Donna Reed), McCabe's niece, and continues his education by attending night school while working during the day.