As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
“Take me out to the ballgame…”
It’s that time of year again. To me, spring means baseball, and that brings to mind baseball movies. Other sports might be more popular, but baseball has been so enduring in America’s history that the two are inseparable. George Carlin’s wonderful bit about the difference between baseball and football is the best I’ve ever heard, especially the line: “Football is played on a gridiron and baseball is played on a field.” Let’s play ball.
Pride of the Yankees (1942): Nicknamed the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig played in 2,100 consecutive games until he was struck down by the disease that bears his name. Gary Cooper quietly displays all the qualities that made Gehrig a great player and man. Each time I see this film I marvel at his character and cry for his loss.
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950): Jackie Robinson plays himself in this film about the first black player in major league baseball. The film is adequate but not inspired in depicting this Hall of Famer and Branch Rickey’s Brooklyn Dodger organization which hired him. One major criticism of the movie was that it glossed over how much abuse Robinson took.
Bang the Drum Slowly (1973): This movie is a real tearjerker about baseball player Bruce Pearson, played by Robert De Niro, who has Hodgkin’s disease. The only team player who knows this is the star pitcher, Henry Wiggen, played by Michael Moriarty. As the disease progresses and the pitcher’s playing gets worse, his friend cannot cover for him. Vincent Gardenia, as the coach, received an Academy Award nomination. Not a dry eye in the house.
Bull Durham (1988): A truly delightful film stars Kevin Costner as the seasoned veteran, Tim Robbins as the unpredictable pitcher and Susan Sarandon as the groupie. Robbins is the hope of the pitiful Durham Bulls, but he is undisciplined. Kostner is called in to steady him. Sarandon can’t decide which one she wants.
Bad News Bears (2005): Walter Matthau is a former minor league pitcher roped into coaching a group of low-talent kids. Matthau’s bear-like personality and the cuteness and despair of the kids makes this a charming film. Too bad Hollywood couldn’t stop at one.
The Rookie (2002): Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) makes a deal with the high school team he coaches. If the team makes the playoffs he will try out for the majors. He is a talented pitcher and does get a spot on a minor-league team. This is a true and inspiring story.
The Natural (1984): Roy Hobbs aka Robert Redford is a 35-year old rookie who helps his last place team get back in the game. This is just a silly movie. It seems to be a vehicle for Redford to be backlit and looking golden. Watch the real rookie instead.
Field of Dreams (1989): Kevin Costner plays an Iowa farmer who hears voices. The voices tell him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. He does and a bunch of dead players show up. Puleeeze.
Cobb (1994): A sports writer is assigned to do a biography of Detroit Tiger legend Ty Cobb. While researching, he discovers that Cobb was as rough as his name implies. Traits, such as being a racist, bully, cheat, womanizer, surface. Today, these traits are not so shocking. He was not Lou Gehrig, but he was a truly great ballplayer.
The Babe Ruth Story (1948); The Babe (1992): This film was rushed into production and released three months before the Babe died. His widow hated it and the critics were none too pleased. William Bendix was miscast. John Goodman in the Babe, played him like a goofy, overgrown kid. This was not a serious biopic. Ruth, arguably the best player ever, deserves better.
Damn Yankees (1958): An ordinary guy, Tab Hunter, makes a deal with the devil, Ray Walston. Hunter gets to become a homerun hitter for the Washington Senators, but he must make sure his team loses to the Yankees in the World Series. When Hunter wants to back out of the deal, the devil send Gwen Verdon (Lola, who gets what she wants), to convince him to uphold his part of the bargain. Great music and dancing (choreography by Bob Fosse).
Fear Strikes Out (1957): Poor Jimmy Piersall, the troubled Boston Red Sox outfielder who suffered a nervous breakdown in 1952. Most of the problem seems to be his over-bearing and demanding father, played by Karl Malden. A true story of what can happen when a parent drives a child and adult too far.
Eight Men Out (1988): Ah, the “Black Sox” scandal of 1919. Underpaid and disgruntled, Chicago White Sox players allow themselves to be bought by gambler Arnold Rothstein and friends. Heavily favored, they throw the 1919 World Series and allow the Cincinnati Reds to win. John Cusack, Charlie Sheen and D.B. Sweeney star.
The Stratton Story (1949): This is true story about Monty Stratton (Jimmy Stewart), a Chicago White Sox pitcher who lost his leg in a hunting accident. Fitted with a peg-leg, he made a comeback in 1946 pitching in minor leagues. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. This film is genuinely inspiring.
Moneyball (2011): The story is important as it tells of a turning point in how teams pick players. Hollywood wants us to believe it is epic. Why else take 133 minutes to tell a 90-minute story? The acting is adequate. Fortunately, Brad Pitt is not called on to do much more than look pensive and throw things around. The bits with his daughter were out of place and distracting. But I did watch the whole thing without too much pain.
