Film, Motion Picture

Detroit Lions 1955 Football Highlights

16mm color film "The Detroit Lions 1955 Football Highlights," produced by Tel Ra Productions for the Goebel Brewing Company. Detroit Lions announcer Van Patrick introduces the film and provides voice over throughout. The game footage comes from seven games from the 1955 season--against the San Francisco 49ers on October 16th, against the Los Angeles Rams on October 23rd, against the Chicago Bears on November 20th, against the Green Bay Packers on November 24th, and against the Chicago Bears on December 4th.

The reel opens with title cards featuring an image of Goebel's Brewster Rooster playing football. Van Patrick is then shown seated in a basement bar-like setting from which he introduces the film and promotes Goebel 22 Beer.

The first game featured is the October 16th game against the San Francisco 49ers at Briggs Stadium. After a brief clip of a marching band performing on the field, notable plays include Jim Martin (61)'s kick-off leading to Bob Hoernschemeyer's (14) touchdown, Doak Walker (37) tackling Dick Moegle, Walker's field goal in the second quarter, and Dave Middleton's (28) touchdown in the third quarter.

The next game is the October 23rd game against the Los Angeles Rams at Memorial Coliseum. This footage opens with shots of the cheerleaders and marching band spelling out "Gay 90" on the field, presumably in relation to the California State Museum of Science and Industry's diamond jubilee festivities which preceded the game. Notable featured plays here include Harry Gilmer's (12) pass to Middleton's resulting in a nullified touchdown, Walker putting the Lions on the scoreboard with a field goal, Jug Girard (23) evading several defenders in the third quarter, Lew Carpenter (34) making a 26-yard touchdown to tie the game, Walker taking the lead with a fourth quarter field goal, and Elroy Hirsch's 47-yard touchdown that cinches the game for the Rams.

The third featured game is the Lion's at the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 13th. The game footage begins with a play in the second quarter where Bobby Layne (22) passes to Dave Middleton (28) for the first touchdown of the game. Additional highlights from this game include an onside kick by Jim Martin which is recovered by Joe Schmidt (56). A 40-yard touchdown by Lew Carpenter after a pass from Harry Gilmer follows. Next, Martin and several other Lions players tackle Fran Rogel. A marching band is briefly shown performing, marking halftime. Then, in the third quarter, Jack Christiansen (24) intercepts a pass and gains 30 yards for the Lions. Next, Doak Walker makes a successful field goal. Later, Bill Stits (20) makes a pass to Walker who then makes a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, after the Steelers make up some of their point deficit, Stits is shown making a touchdown to further secure the Lions' lead. The game ends with the Lions winning 31-28.

The fourth featured game is the Chicago Bears at Briggs Stadium on November 20. A marching band is briefly shown performing before the game. Early in the highlights from this game, Doak Walker makes a 70-yard touchdown, tying the game. Into the second period, Dave Middleton makes a 77-yard touchdown to put the Lions ahead. At halftime, majorettes and a marching band are again quickly shown performing. The Bears turn the tables through a series of plays in the second half, winning 24-14.

The fifth featured game is the annual Thanksgiving game between the Lions and the Green Bay Packers at Briggs Stadium. This segment opens with a pan across the field before the game where a marching band has spelled out "Lions" in formation. Highlights from this game include a pair of rushes made by Lew Carpenter in the first quarter, a 36-yard gain by Jack Christiansen after retrieving a loose ball, and a touchdown made by Carpenter following a pass from Bobby Layne. The team's mascot is shown celebrating after this play. The highlights continue with Walker kicking a field goal, as the camera remains on him and the referee beside him. A brief shot of a marching band marks halftime. In the third quarter, Christiansen gains 32-yards, and Carpenter then scores a touchdown. Later, Sonny Gandee's (85) 48-yard touchdown after retrieving a fumbled ball. The game ends 24-10 in Detroit's favor.

The sixth game is the next played by the Lions that season--against the Bears at Wrigley Field on December 4. This footage begins in the second quarter with Lew Carpenter gaining 19 yards for the Lions. Dave Middleton then carries the ball just shy of the goal line in a 46-yard advance, and Carpenter scores a touchdown in a successive play. Later Bobbly Layne makes a pass to Jim Doran (83), who then scores a touchdown. Bobbly Layne is then injured, fumbling the ball, and is out the rest of the game, replaced by Harry Gilmer. In the second half, the Bears take the lead, until, in a succession of plays, Carpenter scores again. However an endzone pass and a conversion by the Bears then narrowly re-establish their lead which culminates in a 21-20 victory.

The final game on the film is the New York Giants at Detroit on December 11--Doak Walker's final game. Appropriately the highlights here begin with a touchdown by Walker. Later he scores a field goal. However the Giants carry an early lead through the game to a 24-19 victory.

The film then returns to Van Patrick beside a projector in the same wood paneled room from the beginning of the film. In this conclusion he again pitches Goebel 22 to the audience. The film's credits again make sure of the Brewster Rooster graphic.