Jim Thorpe–All American

The 1951 film Jim Thorpe—All American, starring Burt Lancaster, is a biographical drama that tells the story of Jim Thorpe, one of history's most accomplished all-around athletes. Born in 1888 in Indian Territory, Thorpe, of Sauk and Fox descent, excelled in multiple sports, including football, baseball, and track and field. He gained international fame at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, where he won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon. However, these medals were later revoked due to his violation of amateurism rules by playing minor league baseball for pay. Despite these setbacks, Thorpe continued to compete professionally and was a star in both baseball and football, even serving as the first president of the American Professional Football Association (later the NFL). The film portrays his triumphs and struggles, culminating in his eventual reinstatement as an Olympic "cowinner" and the return of his medals to his family.12