That was an excellent one.

Such a frustrating disappointment

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

A bankrupt Catholic college hires struggling football coach Steve Williams (John Wayne) to help turn things around but he uses methods that are frowned upon. Meanwhile, Steve is going through a nasty custody battle, so the court sends an uptight social worker (Donna Reed) to assess what kind of father he is. Not surprisingly, the two develop feelings for each other.Wonderful change of pace for John Wayne. He didn't do many movies like this but he's really good in the part. Beautiful Donna Reed is excellent and has nice chemistry with Duke. Great supporting cast includes Charles Coburn, Tom Tully, Leif Erickson, Dabbs Greer, and Marie Windsor. Adorable Sherry Jackson plays Duke's daughter. Fine direction from Michael Curtiz. A sweet, heart-warming, dramatic film with some comic touches. One of the best and most underrated movies Duke did in his long career.

This Michael Curtis directed film is kind of strangely titled. You could call it going out of the way for trouble. It has a lot of good things.The cast is one of those. Wayne is a down and out football coach whose career has had scandal at every step. Sherry Jackson is a delight as his daughter whom he has custody of though mom is taking him to court. Donna Reed is suitably ruthless and vulnerable as the probation officer who is trying to take the daughter.Charles Coburn is the Rector of St Anthony's college which is on a shoe string in financial trouble and in danger of being closed. Coburn is very good in the role as an old rector who maybe should retire. The film pulls at the heart strings and even though the script is a little faulty, the chemistry between the characters in the cast bring it off quite well. I don't think Wayne even throws a punch.

For a guy who was very much a part of the University of Southern California football team, John Wayne did not do too many films involving sports. In one film College Coach if you look fast you can see the Duke in a film called College Coach that starred Pat O'Brien and Dick Powell.The usual problems of college athletics are here, problems we make for ourselves with this foolish definition of amateur and professional athlete. Trouble Along the Way also adds to the mix some of Wayne's domestic problems. He's a single parent raising a young girl in not the greatest atmosphere in the world. He's got an ex-wife, Marie Windsor who wants custody now, and a social worker, Donna Reed who has trouble keeping her personal and professional lives separate.As in They Were Expendable, Wayne and Reed, have good chemistry. But Wayne's scenes with little Sherry Jackson are something special. They avoid the usual sentimentality, but you will react to them.Charles Coburn plays the father/rector of small Catholic college St. Anthony's which is on it's financial uppers. He gets the idea that a standout football team as a gate attraction will bring his college out of debt. He hires Wayne, a down on his luck football coach to achieve that end. Wayne does it in the tried and true way that schools always do. It gives Coburn an ethical problem.Films from as far back as College Coach to the fine James Caan film, The Program have dealt with these issues. Twenty years from now, other films will do the same. But this is a nice family picture for John Wayne. He gets to go back to one of his first loves and probably the Duke was happy to be in modern dress for a change.James Dean is supposed to be one of the students. See if you can spot him.

The quote "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" was actually a quote made by John Wayne in this 1953 film, "Trouble Along The Way". John Wayne does a fine job playing a college football coach, Steve Williams, who get's incorrectly caught up in a recruiting scandal. Sherry Jackson plays his daughter who idolizes him and demonstrates her excellent acting ability. I'm not a big football fan, but really enjoyed this film. Not only for the nostalgic look at the days when college football was fun and not the principal business of the university, but for the ethics that were around during that period of time.Wayne makes the statement in the film many years before Vince Lombardi is credited with it.