Cold War in Philly: Flyers vs. Russia 1976

With the full support of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia Flyers, and Comcast, Cold War in Philly is a gripping 80-minute documentary that revisits the legendary 1976 showdown between the Flyers and the dominant Soviet Red Army hockey team.

Known for their speed, precision, and discipline, the Soviet squad had taken the hockey world by storm – until they arrived in Philadelphia.

What awaited them at the Spectrum was a team, and a city, that refused to be intimidated. Fueled by grit, pride, and a deep-seated distrust of their Cold War rivals, the Flyers and their fans turned the game into something far bigger than hockey. When the puck finally dropped, tensions erupted into one of the most unforgettable clashes in the sport’s history.

Through candid interviews with players, coaches, media, and fans, the film captures the intensity of that moment while painting a vivid portrait of the Flyers’ hard-nosed identity and the passion of their fan base. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, it also explores how the Soviet style of play reshaped the global game – and how this single matchup left a lasting mark on hockey.

Featuring firsthand accounts from those who lived it, Cold War in Philly chronicles the build-up, the battle, and the aftermath of a game that remains a defining chapter in Flyers history – an enduring symbol of a team and a city that stood their ground.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Joe Amodei has enjoyed a career in the film industry for close to forty years.  His personal love for independent films and documentaries made its way into his business life when he became President of USA Home Entertainment in 2000. While shepherding films like Steven Soderbergh’s TRAFFIC, Spike Jones’ BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and Robert Altman’s GOSFORD PARK into the home entertainment world, Amodei learned what it took to get these films noticed. Since then, Amodei went off on his own to create Virgil Films and Entertainment.

Under Amodei’s leadership the company has released such award-winning hits as SUPER SIZE ME, I AM CHRIS FARLEY, RESTREPO, GLEN CAMPBELL: I’LL BE ME, FORKS OVER KNIVES, SEVEN YARDS: THE CHRIS NORTON STORY, JUST.ONE.MILE and TO DYE FOR: THE DOCUMENTARY.

AMODEI has also put his efforts into producing with his first film being the Clarence Clemons doc WHO DO I THINK I AM directed by Nick Mead. He has also worked as an Executive Producer on the Netflix documentary series HAPPY JAIL airing in late 2019 which earned him a Telly Award for Best Documentary Series. Most recently Amodei was awarded a 2020 New York Emmy for his work on THE REAL BEDFORD FALLS: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  COLD WAR IN PHILLY FLYERS VS RUSSIA 1976 is his first directorial effort.

He has been able to take his own passion and love for “everything movies” and turn it into a way to help filmmakers see their dream of getting their film seen. Besides his family this he feels is his biggest accomplishment.

• Video Industry Aids Action Committee (VIACC) Visionary Award Recipient 2005
• Woodstock Film Festival Judge  2016
• Asbury Park Film Festival Judge  2015, 2016,2017
• Napa Valley Film Festival Artist in Residency 2018
• Member of Light of Day Foundation since 2012
• Member of fund-raising committee for 9-11 Garden of Reflection Memorial, Bucks County
• 2020 New York Emmy Award Winner   Long Form Nostalgia “THE REAL BEDFORD FALLS: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.”
• 2019 Telly Award Winner Best Documentary Series “HAPPY JAIL
• Named one of the Top 20 Indie Power Players in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 by Media Play News Magazine