The Long Game released April 12, 2024.
Dennis Quaid is a man I grew up with. As a child I watched his films on repeat with a select few being near weekly viewings. In a way, he was my unconventional babysitter. Through Jaws 3D, Inner Space, Enemy Mine and Dragonheart I was whisked away to magical lands and instilled with a lifelong fear of sharks that haunts me to this day. So, when I was given the opportunity to speak with him about the positively charming The Long Game, I jumped at the chance.
Based on the novel Mustang Miracle, the film tells the true story of the San Filipe Mustangs. They were a group of Mexican-American teenagers in the 1950’s who stood up to racism through their love for the sport of Golf. Dennis Quaid plays the team’s coach, Frank Mitchell. You can check out my review of the film here.
Dennis Quaid Talks The Long Game
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I began the interview by expressing my admiration for the actor and his body of work. He quickly asked me if I’d seen Dreamscape, his 1984 sci-fi adventure film. Embarrassingly, I hadn’t; however, I’ve since purchased the film on Amazon and plan to rectify that immediately.
The Long Game fits into a theme of film roles that Quaid has been drawn to in recent years. He’s appeared in more and more stories with strong moral messages, inspirational themes and underdogs facing, and overcoming, unbeatable odds.
“Underdog stories, I think, I’ve always been drawn to.”
Movies are — by definition — forms of entertainment; however, Dennis Quaid believes that they can (and should) be much more than that. “People go to the movies not to see things,” he explained, “They go to feel things.” While there is certainly an argument for “turn off your brain” level entertainment, it’s those emotional connections that the actor strives to achieve when choosing roles. Seeking out, in his words, “Movies that are uplifting, that are inspiring, and that tell the story of all of us.”
With his most recent film, Quaid’s hopes are simple. “I hope they (audiences) see themselves,” he said. It’s certainly connecting with audiences. The film screened at SXSW Film Festival in 2023 where it won the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award.
“I like true stories because, if they were fiction you wouldn’t believe it.”
The story of the San Filipe Mustangs seems far fetched on paper, but it happened. Their first year as a team they overcame the hurdles built by racial prejudice to win the Texas State Championship. As Mexican-Americans they weren’t permitted to play golf on the very courses that they worked as caddy’s for; however, they refused to give in. “They built their own golf course in the, in the desert,” Quaid explains, “One hole with several ways to come at it.”
On top of being a prominent actor, Quaid has launched a new production company titled Bonniedale Productions along with his wife, Laura Quaid, and Ben Howard.
“It’s also the first movie, uh, of our new company Bonniedale that we started.”
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