Number One

Number One is a 1969 American sports drama film released by United Artists and directed by Tom Gries. The film stars Charlton Heston as Ron "Cat" Catlan, aging quarterback for American professional football's New Orleans Saints, and Jessica Walter as his wife. Musician Al Hirt plays himself as do several real-life members of the 1968 Saints. The football scenes were shot at Tulane Stadium, the Saints' then-home field. Plot Ron "Cat" Catlan once led the New Orleans Saints to a championship and is heralded by his teammates, coaches, and sportswriters as an all-time great quarterback. After 15 years in pro football, his skills have declined and he struggles with repeated injuries, though he continues to believe that he is the best in the game. Cat tries to compensate for his failing skills with booze and an extramarital affair. ("You're not even worth the price of a ticket anymore", a fan yells at him after Cat refuses her an autograph.) Friend and former teammate Richie Fowler (Bruce Dern) offers Cat a job with his auto-leasing company, and a management position in the computer industry is also on the table, but Catlan hesitates, insisting he can still lead the squad to future glory. The associate with the computer firm (Bobby Troup) warns him not to put off making a decision: "There are a lot of kids coming out of college, Cat, and they're smart kids. A year from now, I might not be able to offer you a job driving the company truck."