“The Boys in the Boat,” a film directed by Oscar-winner George Clooney, hit theaters on December 25. The movie captures the inspiring story of the University of Washington rowing team’s quest for a gold medal during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
It portrays the struggles these young men endured while balancing rowing and education amidst the hardships of the Great Depression.
But what happened to the young men after their major Olympic competition was over? How was their life after this event?
Directed by George Clooney, “The Boys in the Boat” recounts the inspiring journey of the University of Washington rowing team’s gold medal victory in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. After the Olympics, many rowers, especially those with engineering backgrounds, contributed to the war effort. Joe Rantz, who married Joyce Simdars, had a 35-year career at Boeing. They were all in touch with each other throughout their lives.
Explained: What Happened To The Boys in the Boat In The End?
The heart of this story, “The Boys in the Boat,” revolves around young men defying the odds during the Great Depression, a time of economic hardship and uncertainty.
The film introduces us to the titular boys in the rowing team– Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), Coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton), Roger Morris (Sam Strike), Don Hume (Jack Mulhern), Shorty Hunt (Bruce Herbelin-Earle), Chuck Day (Thomas Elms), Johnny White (Tom Varey), and Bobby Moch (Luke Slattery).
They come together to form an underdog team with dreams of Olympic glory. The film was crafted after extensive interactions with the surviving rowers, particularly Joe Rantz, whose story takes center stage in both the novel and the movie.
What unfolds is not just a tale of dreams and aspirations but also a narrative of unbreakable brotherhood.
The movie portrays Joe Rantz as its main character, providing a lens through which viewers can witness the incredible journey of this group of eight young men.
These athletes, hailing from less privileged backgrounds, faced formidable competition from renowned rowing teams worldwide. They had to prove themselves against the elite rowers of their time, including those from prestigious institutions like Oxford.
The road to their legendary performance, which unfolded before the eyes of Adolf Hitler during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, was fraught with challenges.
The Berlin Olympics marked the first televised Olympic Games aimed at showcasing Nazi supremacy on a global stage.
However, the Washington rowing team’s journey from obscurity to Olympic greatness captured viewers’ hearts and became an enduring symbol of determination and teamwork.
The film also sheds light on the financial struggles faced by the team. The rowers were predominantly sons of loggers, dairy farmers, and fishermen, hailing from lower-middle-class and working-class backgrounds.
The Great Depression made it challenging for their families to make a living, and the rowers often relied on part-time jobs provided by the university to support their education.
But what happened to these boys after their momentous Olympic victory and graduation?
According to a TIME magazine interview, Callum Turner, who portrayed Joe Rantz in the film, revealed that most of them survived the war years and were exempt from military service due to their age and technical skills.
Those with engineering degrees played a vital role in designing and building aircraft for the war effort.
Joe Rantz himself married his first love, Joyce Simdars, and worked as an engineer at Boeing for 35 years. While one team member died early due to smoking-related issues, the rest lived into their 80s or 90s.
They maintained strong bonds through reunion rows and informal gatherings, demonstrating the enduring camaraderie forged during their time as rowers. Turner said:
“They had reunion rows every few years until they were quite old men and had to be helped into the boats. Every 10 years or so, they’d do a reunion row out of Lake Washington. And then they’d have informal reunions at one another’s backyard picnics and things like that. The families were all in touch with each other. It was very touching.”
Tragically, Joe Rantz passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on through the captivating story told in Daniel James Brown’s book.
Brown’s work, made possible by Joe and Joyce’s daughter, Judy, who recorded her father’s story on tapes, also provided a platform to connect with the families of the other crew members.
The result is a powerful narrative celebrating their athletic achievements and the enduring friendships and shared experiences that enriched their lives.
Did you watch The Boys in the Boat? How would you rate it?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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