1961

CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS

"The Forgotten Champions"

Plus:

1951 NHL All-Star Game
And
"A Half-Century of the NHL"

The story of the 1960-1961 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Black Hawks is told in a new DVD "The Forgotten Champs". Also included as "Bonus Footage" is the B & W Highlight film of the 1951 NHL All-Star Game, as well as a vintage 1967 documentary titled "A Half Century of the NHL" by Molson Breweries. All three titles are included on this new 1 hour, 36-minute DVD produced by Concept One.

"The Forgotten Champs", hosted by Brian Scmitzer, includes actual game-action footage and comments by Bobby Hull, team captain Ed Litzenberger and head coach Rudy Pilous. Tim Cronin of the Daily Southtown and Al Mazicka of KVOA-TV give a background of basic Hawks history during the 1953-1960 "Golden Era" of the 6-team NHL. Then, also the story of the 1960-1961 regular season leading up to and including the playoffs and the upset win by Chicago over the favored Montreal Canadians. The turning point of that series is discussed (Murray Balfour's Game 3 winning goal in the third overtime). Brief vintage footage is shown of Blackhawks Pierre Pilote, Elmer Vasco, Jack Evans, Dollard St. Laurent, Wayne Hillman, Al Arbour, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall. But the emphasis is really on the 1961 Stanley Cup Finals, Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings, the first non-Canadian Cup series in more than 10 years! More vintage footage is shown, with game-action from four of the six games, including some actual play-by-play from the final game at Detroit. The turning point of that game comes in the second period when unsung Hawk penalty-killer Reggie Fleming scores to tie the game, 1-1. Then Ab McDonald's go-ahead goal later in the period gives the Blackhawks the lead for good. The third period is all Blackhawks as three more goals ice the game. There's plenty of post-game included, with scenes on the ice and then interviews with Hawks General Manager Tommy Ivan, coach Rudy Pilous, Dollard St. Laurent and Bobby Hull. Detroit's Gordy Howe, President Bruce Norris and Coach Sid Abel also comment on the game and the Blackhawks.

The 1951 NHL All-Star Game at Maple Leaf Gardens is a bonus on this DVD and the players and each coach is shown before the game in nice close-up shots - coach Joe Primeau and Terry Sawchuck, Red Kelly, Bill Quackenbush, Milt Schmidt, Gordy Howe and Ted Lindsay of the First Team and coach Dick Irvin, Charles Raynor, Jimmy Thomson, Leo Reise, Ted Kennedy, Syd Abel, Maurice Richard and Sid Smith of the Second Team. The rest of the 20-minute B & W film shows solid game-action footage of the game.

Even if you're not a rabid fan of hockey, you'll have an appreciation for the game after viewing "A Half Century of the NHL". Showing how the game began even before the league was formed in 1917, the film shows changes in arenas, equipment, uniforms and the Stanley Cup itself. But most of all, the players made the game what it is today and vintage film and interviews bring to life some of the greatest names in the sport from the first half of the 20^th century - Cyclone Taylor, Eddie Shore, Howie Morenz, Art Ross, Charlie Gardiner, Frank Boucher, Ching Johnson, Lester Patrick, King Clancy, George Hainesworth, Aurele Joliat, Milt Schmidt, Elmer Lach, Toe Blake, Busher Jackson, Red Horner, Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Jacques Plante, Boom Boom Geoffrion and many more!

To get these three rare films now all on this one DVD, send $19.95 plus $4.00 S & H (Illinois residents must add $2.00 tax) to: