Four Minute Fever

Overview

Using newsreel footage, this Sportscope entry chronicles the race toward running's four-minute mile, highlighting several important contests. It starts in the 1920's, when Finland's Paavo Nurmi set the record for the distance at 4 minutes 10.4 seconds. It continues through Roger Bannister's first run under 4 minutes in 1954, and ends in spring 1956, when Australia's Joe Bailey became the first to break 4 minutes on US soil.

Cast

Harry Wismer

Narrator

Paavo Nurmi

Himself (archive footage)

Harry Wismer

Narrator (voice)

Fiorello LaGuardia

Himself (archive footage)

Arne Andersson

Himself (archive footage)

Jules Ladoumegue

Himself (archive footage)

Bill Bonthron

Himself (archive footage)

John Lovelock

Himself (archive footage)

Glenn Cunningham

Himself (archive footage)

Gene Venzke

Himself (archive footage)