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Mar 23, 2008 6:09 pm US/Central
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Piece Of Duluth History Showcased In New Movie
DULUTH, Minn. (WCCO) ―
The stars will be out Monday in Duluth. George Clooney and Renee Zellweger are launching the promotional tour for the movie "Leatherheads."
The film is inspired by the Duluth Eskimo football team of 1926. However, the real team's story may be even stranger than fiction.
The early days of the NFL provide plenty of comedy for the movie "Leatherheads," especially the Duluth Eskimos, called the Bulldogs in the movie.
In 1926, the Eskimos are credited with helping save the NFL by recruiting college star and Minnesota native Ernie Nevers, the inspiration for the movie character Carter Rutherford.
Duluth News Tribune columnist Chuck Frederick wrote a book about the Eskimos. He says the antics in the film are only the tip of the iceberg.
"Digging in to the real story I was amazed. Everyday was like finding gold," said Frederick, who added he believes the movie captures the romance of the roaring '20s, but not all the romantic exploits of the players.
"One of the Eskimos players was in a hotel in Cleveland romancing a lady all evening. At the end he found out he was propositioning one of the Marx Brothers in drag," said Frederick.
The author said he found no research mentioning a love triangle involving a female reporter from Chicago, which is the main story line "Leatherheads." But he did learn of a story about an injured player who quit the team and ran off to marry the head nurse of the hospital where he'd been treated in California.
"Leatherheads" wasn't shot in Duluth, but the Minnesota town still plays a major part in the movie. In one scene Renee Zellweger's character Lexie Littleton quips, "I know you're the slickest operator in Duluth, but that's kind of like being the tallest midget, if you ask me."
Despite the ribbing, Frederick feels there's reason for Duluth to be proud that this part of history is getting some recognition.
"It's a special part of our past, so special Hollywood decided to make a movie it out of it," said Frederick.
Duluth will be the first stop on a promotional tour by Clooney and Zellweger.
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