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Freep Film Festival: Paper Lion, George Plimpton back on big screen

Get a sneak peek at some of the films headed to this year's Freep Film Festival. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions fans and those who would enjoy seeing what became a football cult classic movie a half century ago will have another opportunity at the Redford Theatre on Sunday when Paper Lion is screened as part of the Freep Film Festival.

Loosely based upon writer George Plimpton’s 1966 bestselling book "Paper Lion," which chronicled his quarterback tryout at the Detroit Lions’ 1963 training camp while on assignment for Sports Illustrated, the movie stars Alan Alda as Plimpton, Vogue model Lauren Hutton in her film debut, and the 1967 Detroit Lions, including starring roles for head coach Joe Schmidt and players Alex Karras, John Gordy, Mike Lucci, Pat Studstill and Roger Brown.