April 6: Independent-International: Write about a movie from Sam Sherman. Here’s a list.

Vicki Mason (Karen Corrado) is trying to change the world — or at least her small town — by trying out as a kicker on the football team. Her boyfriend Brian Caldwell (Max Goff, Cheerleaders Beach Party) isn’t impressed, but she’s sick of him cheating on her, so she dumps him and goes all in on the team even if they don’t want her.

Director Steven Jacobson edited Nurse Sherri and shot the extra footage in Naked Evil, but otherwise, that was it for his career. The script comes from Jennifer Lawson, who went on to be the CEO of a public broadcasting station, and Sam Sherman, the man who brought so much to us through Independent-International.

This feels as much like a Corman nurse cycle movie as it does an Animal House cash-in. It’s worth watching for James Spader’s and Estelle Getty’s first roles. He was 18, and she was just a spry 55.

Four years later, this was re-released as Young Gangs at Wildwood High — Sam Sherman knew how to cash-in on stuff like Fast Times at Ridgemont High — and you have to admire the balls to do that. Thanks, Temple of Schlock, for always having facts like this. It’s worth noting that this film had two campaigns as Team-Mates and another in 1980 as Young Gangs, hoping that people looking for The Warriors at the drive-in could be confused into seeing this movie that has nothing to do with gangs and so much more to do with football.

You can watch this on YouTube.