Film, Motion Picture

Detroit Lions 1959 Football Highlights

16mm color film "The Detroit Lions 1959 Football Highlights," produced by the Campbell Ewald Company and Cine-Sports Incorporated for the Goebel Brewing Company. Detroit Lions announcer Van Patrick introduces the film and provides voice-over throughout. Rather than chronologically detailing the season, this highlights film first focuses on the team's key players, showing several stand-out plays by each, then features bloopers and other amusing moments from games the Lions played in, before finally covering the teams and their star players that the Lions faced.

The reel opens with a title card featuring an image of a Goebel beer bottle. Van Patrick is then shown seated in a recording studio setting with a director and a recording engineer, from which he introduces the film and promotes Goebel 22 Beer.

After a shot of the players taking the field, the film then highlights several of the players, beginning with quarterback Earl Morrall (14). Footage follows, including his season record setting 79-yard pass play from Morrall to Dave Middleton (84) against the Los Angeles Rams on November 15th, 1959, and the fake field goal attempt into a touchdown pass to Jim Gibbons (80) against the Chicago Bears on December 9, 1959.

Rookie fullback Nick Pietrosante (33) is spotlighted next. His running and receiving record is noted, and highlight clips featured here include his 35 yard rush against the San Franciso 49ers on November 1, 1959, and his touchdown diving over the Green Bay Packers on October 4, 1959.

Next is fullback Ken Webb (34). His contribution is illustration with footage of his 29 yard gain against the Chicago Bears on November 22nd, 1959.

End Jerry Reichow (87) is featured next. His 46-yard rush against the Baltimore Colts on October 11, 1959, and his receiving touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on November 26, 1959 are among the highlights featured.

Left halfback Howard Cassady (40) receives the spotlight next. His 59-yard touchdown against the San Franciso 49ers on October 18th, 1959, and two of his touchdowns against the Baltimore Colts on October 11th, 1959. The first play also includes a shot of the Lions mascot celebrating.

The next segment focuses on fullback/halfback John Henry Johnson (35). Footage from a play from the November 15, 1959 game against the Los Angeles Rams, his 32-yard advance against the Baltimore Colts on September 27, 1959, and his 39-yard advance just short of the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams on October 25, 1959.

Quarterback Tobin Rote (18) is the focus of the next segment. A rollout run in an unspecified game, and Rote's touchdown pass to Cassady against the Baltimore Colts on October 11, 1959 are included.

Next is Terry Barr (41), who is featuring in the December 6, 1959 game against the Chicago Cardinals, where he scored a 31-yard touch down.

Then, Dan Lewis (45) is shown scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Colts on September 27, 1959.

Dave Middleton (84) is highlighted next, and he is shown catching passes in games against the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals.

Coach George Wilson is then featured briefly in a shot of him on the sidelines beside Jim Doran (83). Doran is then shown catching a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears on December 13th.

The following segment focuses on Jim Gibbons (80), who is shown in action in both the October 4th, and November 26th games against the Green Bay Packers, as well as the November 22nd game against the Chicago Bears.

The next segment features Gil Mains (72) along with some other players putting pressure on Y.A. Tiddle of the San Franciso 49ers during the November 1st, 1959 game, eliciting a pass and subsequent interception by Joe Schmidt (56).

Jim David (25) briefly gets the spotlight next in a close-up of him seated on the field with a warmup jacket over his pads.

Next, in a clip from the October 11th game against the Baltimore Colts, Gary Lowe (43) is featured intercepting a pass.

Yale Lary (28) is shown next in the October 25th game against the Los Angeles Rams, blocking a pass to the end zone, and getting a touchdown from a fumble return in the December 6th game against the Chicago Cardinals.

The last player featured in this portion of the film is Jim Martin (47), who is shown intercepting the ball in the November 1st game against the San Franciso 49ers, and scoring a field goal in the November 8th game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The camera then returns to Van Patrick in the recording booth to introduce some "exciting as well as funny" moments from the season, featuring both the Lions and their opponents. A variety of clips follow, including ones prominently featuring John Henry Johnson, Terry Barr. Yale Lary, Tobin Rote, Ken Webb, Ollie Spencer (76), Dan Lewis, Jim David, Jerry Reichow, Earl Morrall, and Joe Schmidt,

The scene again returns to Van Patrick, as he introduces the final portion of the film, highlighting the teams and players the Lions faced. The Baltimore Colts, are featured first, with spotlights on players Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Mutscheller, and Raymond Berry. Next, is the San Franciso 49ers, and their star players J.D. Smith, Hugh McElhenny, Joe Perry, and Y.A. Tittle. A segment about the Green Bay Packers follows, which highlights coach Vince Lombardi, as well as players Don McIlhenny, Lamar McHan, Max McGee, Paul Hornung, Bart Starr, and Boyd Dowler. Then, the Los Angeles Rams' players Jon Arnett, Billy Wade, Leon Clark, Ollie Matson, and Del Shofner are featured. The pair of former Lions players on the Pittsburgh Steelers--Bobby Layne and Tom Tracy--are the focus of that team's segment. Finally, for the Chicago Cardinals, John David Crow is their featured player.

The film returns back to Van Patrick in the studio for the conclusion. He provides a pitch for Goebel, accompanied with product shots of it in bottles, cans, and a six-pack carton. The film ends with a brief credits sequence.

The film is housed in a grey metal tin, with the handwritten label "1959 Lion Hi-Lite Film, Goebel, Brewing Co." in marker.