It Happens Every Spring (1949)

It Happens Every Spring, from 1949, is a fun little baseball comedy I caught last month for my celebration of the beginning of another Major League Baseball season.  Directed by Lloyd Bacon, It Happens Every Spring stars Ray Milland, Jean Peters, and Paul Douglas and features Ray Collins, Ed Begley, Jessie Royce Landis, and Alan Hale, Jr. in minor roles.  For anyone who has ever wanted to pitch in the majors, this delightful film is for you.

Vernon Simpson (Ray Milland) is a baseball lovin' college chemistry teacher, who is working on his doctorate degree.  Although he and the university president's daughter, Debby (Jean Peters), are in love, because of his poor financial condition, Vernon has been discouraged by her father (Ray Collins) from asking for her hand in marriage.

Convinced that an experimental serum he has developed is going to be bought by a large corporation, Vernon assures Debbie that it won't be much longer until they can be married; hardly have those words left his mouth when a baseball from the university's game comes sailing through the classroom window, knocking into his experiment, and sending the prized liquid all over the floor.  Because of the time involved in recreating the project, Vernon is quite distressed by the loss.

Very much by accident, Vernon discovers that the culprit baseball---now saturated by the spilled liquid---is repelled by wood.  After two of the university's baseball players are unable to hit a ball rubbed with the compound, Vernon sees an opportunity to revolutionize the game he loves, join the majors, and earn enough money for him and Debby to get married.  Without any explanation to anyone (even Debby) as to what he's up to, Vernon requests a leave of absence from the college, heads off to St. Louis, and barges into the team owner's office.

Claiming he can win 30 games and the pennant, Vernon brags that he's the guy they need. Though the team officials think he's just a crackpot, they give him a chance to pitch, and what they see astounds them. Casually rubbing his finger onto the "stuff" and then onto the ball, Vernon's pitches are unhittable, and he puts away one batter after another.  Convinced that they have just discovered their sure ticket to victory, the team immediately offers Vernon a contract.

Wanting to keep his true identity a secret, lest the folks back home find out and he get fired from the university, Vernon adopts the name King Kelly.  Together with his catcher, Monk Lanigan (Paul Douglas), the new pitching sensation leads his team to a successful season, all the while trying to remain incognito.

Meanwhile, because of Vernon's hasty, unexplained departure and the fact that he has been out of touch, the university has put out a 5-state search for him, and after Debby's mother happens to see him in the company of five men at the train station, she is convinced he's gotten involved with a bunch of gangsters.  It all plays out in a very fun, screwball kind of way.  

Not a spectacular film, but definitely very cute and loads of fun..a solid 3 stars.  The cast is perfect, and each person plays their part well.  I was especially charmed by Ray Milland. Some of his expressions crack me up.  Though not an Academy Award winner, the film did receive a Best Writing nomination.  Those who enjoy baseball comedies ought to greatly enjoy this.

Out on DVD, It Happens Every Spring should be fairly easy to track down.  Additionally, it is on the TCM schedule for Sunday, June 30th, at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Happy viewing!!

The Stratton Story (1949)

The career of baseball pitcher, Monty Stratton, is the basis for 1949's The Stratton Story.  With Jimmy Stewart in the title role, and June Allyson as his wife, this Sam Wood film---which won a Best Writing Academy Award---features Frank Morgan and Agnes Moorehead in supporting roles.

The film begins in Wagner, Texas, in the early 1930's, as cotton farmer, Monty Stratton, is pitching for the local amateur baseball team, the Wagner Wildcats.  Agent Barney Wild (Frank Morgan) happens upon the young man and, impressed, informs him that he has a chance to play baseball professionally.  With Barney promising to do what he can to get him a tryout and his cousin agreeing to take care of the farm, Monty heads west to California, where he meets up with the Chicago White Sox.

The Sox are impressed enough to offer Monty a contract, and after a bit of a rough start, he settles in and becomes not only an all-star, but the leading right-handed pitcher in the American League.  With coaches making statements such as "What a future that boy's got" and "Right now, I wouldn't trade him for any other pitcher in baseball," Monty enjoys great success in the years 1934-1938.

At the height of his career, though, tragedy strikes, as, while on his property hunting, Monty's gun discharges, sending a bullet into his leg.  In order to save his life, doctors must remove Monty's leg; for a man whose legs are his life, the loss of the limb is a bitter blow, and for a time, Monty is overwhelmingly depressed and without a will to do anything.  Eventually, however, he comes to terms with his handicap and, with a prosthetic leg, seeks to pitch in the big leagues once more.



The Stratton Story isn't a spectacular movie, but it is interesting, touching, and inspiring.  I count it among my top 5 baseball movies.  Jimmy Stewart is terrific in the role, and his chemistry with June Allyson is wonderful.  (The two of them would be paired together twice more---in The Glenn Miller Story and Strategic Air Command.)  I adore both Jimmy and June...although I can never watch a single June Allyson film without hearing "Christopher Columbus" every time she utters a word.  (She is and always will be Little Women's Jo March to me.)

A few real-life baseball players make appearances in this film...Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, and Jimmy Dykes.

Out on DVD as part of the James Stewart Signature Collection, The Stratton Story ought to be fairly easy to track down.  It is also on the TCM schedule for Sunday, July 21st, at 8:00 a.m. (ET).  If you like Jimmy Stewart, baseball, or inspiring, uplifting stories, you're sure to enjoy this.  I give it 4 stars.

Happy viewing!!

The Winning Team (1952)

Here at They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To, April is Doris Day month...with a little bit of baseball thrown in.  As it turns out, with 1952's The Winning Team we will get both!  Also starring Ronald Reagan, and featuring Frank Lovejoy in a supporting role, this 4-star film chronicles the career of early 20th-century pitching great, Grover Cleveland Alexander.

A telephone lineman in rural Nebraska, Grover Alexander (Ronald Reagan) and his fiance Aimee (Doris Day) are saving money so they can get married and buy a farm.  What Grover really wants to do, though, is play baseball, so when he is asked to pitch in a local game, he does so...to Aimee's great dismay.  Although Aimee insists that baseball shouldn't be Grover's whole life...that it should just be something to help him relax---like checkers---when the manager of a semi-professional team approaches him about joining the team, Grover does so, and he finds success, which leads him right into the Major Leagues and, ultimately, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

From his 28-wins rookie season in 1911, to his final season nearly two decades later, Grover Alexander made a name for himself as one of the pitching greats of baseball history.  Playing for Philadelphia, Chicago (Cubs), and St. Louis, over the course of 20 seasons, Grover---known as Alex the Great---fought the effects of a head injury which resulted in double-vision and seizure-type symptoms, as well as the demon of alcohol abuse, in order to become one of the greatest pitchers in baseball.  He was even instrumental in leading his team to a come-from-behind victory in the 1926 World Series.



This is an inspiring story, and the pairing of Doris Day and Ronald Reagan makes for a "winning team" for me.  There is great chemistry between them, and they both are strong and solid in their roles.  I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I believe a lot of people discount Ronald Reagan as an actor simply because they don't like his politics.  No, he's not the best actor who ever came down the pike, but he's certainly not the worst.  He's very capable and solid in several roles, not the least of which is this one.  So, set politics aside, put your "objective" hat on, and give him a chance in this---and other---dramatic roles.

The film also provides an opportunity to hear the delightful melodious voice of Doris Day, as she sings a couple lines of (what else) "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."  Russ Tamblyn (billed as Rusty Tamblyn) has a very tiny role as one of Grover's younger siblings.  Finally, there's some real baseball footage, including shots of the now-destroyed Yankee Stadium.

The final innings of the final game of the movie (the 1926 World Series) are depicted fairly accurately, although not completely.  I checked in my son's book, 20th Century Baseball Chronicle, and found that things didn't happen exactly as shown in the movie.  The end result was the same, but Hollywood took a bit of license.  Be sure to check out what really happened....and should you be interested in learning a bit more about this Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, HERE is an encyclopedia article about him.

Out on DVD as part of the Ronald Reagan Collection, The Winning Team should be fairly easy to track down.  Additionally, it is on the TCM schedule for Friday, July 19th, at 6:00 p.m. (ET). For baseball fans---especially those who are interested in learning about the all-time greats---I think this film is well worth a watch.

Happy viewing!!

The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

While football may be the new favorite sport of most people, my family remains firmly in the baseball camp.  Yes, we do love college football, but when it comes to professional sports, baseball---especially Boston Red Sox baseball---is where it's at in our house.  For that reason, we gravitate to baseball films, and my favorite, bar none, is 1942's The Pride of the Yankees.  Starring Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright, this 5-star film tells the story of baseball great Lou Gehrig, who as probably everyone knows, was struck down with ALS---the disease which now bears his name---in the prime of life.

The movie begins when Lou is about ten, and it chronicles his early baseball years, his hazing by the team, his courtship of Eleanor, his "Iron Horse" years, the beginning of his descent into the world of ALS, and ultimately, his "Luckiest Man" speech.  While the film has many comical moments, at its core, it remains the story of a man afflicted with a devastating illness. 

As my regular blog readers know, I am a mega-huge Coop fan. It's rare that I don't like one of his movies, rare that I don't like the character he is portraying. But this film is just about my absolute favorite. The Pride of the Yankees is my third favorite Cooper film, behind only Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Ten North Frederick.

Coop and Teresa Wright, who would be paired together again two years later in Casanova Brown, have terrific chemistry in this movie.

Both Cooper and Wright were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances here. Neither won; however, Teresa was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category that same year, for her role in Mrs. Miniver, and she did win that Oscar.  In all, The Pride of the Yankees received 11 Academy Award nominations, coming away with the win in the Best Film Editing category.

In my mind, The Pride of the Yankees is not only the best baseball film of all-time, but it is a delightful breath of fresh air. In this day of scandalous baseball, with its obscene salaries and rampant steroid use, we need to be reminded of what a "true baseball hero" Lou Gehrig was. He was an honorable man both on and off the field. Instead of whining about the devastating hand he had been dealt, he exhibited strength and courage in the face of great adversity. Our world needs more men like him. I think this film ought to be required viewing for today's professional athletes (along with 1950's The Jackie Robinson Story).

Besides Cooper and Wright, the film also features Walter Brennan and Dan Duryea.  And the legendary Babe Ruth takes to the screen too, playing himself.  In my Red Sox-lovin' household, a watching of this film provides my one and only allowed opportunity to look positively on a man wearing the Yankee pinstripes.

A definite must-see, The Pride of the Yankees is out on DVD, so it should be very easy to track down.  Do keep the tissues handy, as you're sure to need them.

Happy viewing!!

What's Happening in April

This month will be mostly Doris Day here at They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To.  The delightful Doris turns 89 this month, so to celebrate her, I'll be showcasing several of her films...musicals, comedies, and even some dramas.

Also on the agenda will be a few baseball films.  With a Red Sox-lovin' son in the house, I have learned to eagerly anticipate the beginning of a new baseball season, and in honor of the beloved game, I'll be focusing on some baseball films, including my all-time favorite baseball film---The Pride of the Yankees.

I'll also be taking part in The Movie Projector's James Cagney blogathon, highlighting that quintessential gangster film, The Public Enemy.

With nearly thirty bloggers taking part in the 5-day celebration of Mr. Cagney, it's sure to be a terrific event, and it will be capped off with a giveaway of the 2-disc collector's edition of Yankee Doodle Dandy (see HERE for more information).  What fan of the great James Cagney wouldn't be interested in a chance to win such a great prize.

It promises to be a fun and busy month...join me, won't you?

The Kid from Cleveland (3 stars)

The Kid from Cleveland  is a 1949 baseball drama starring George Brent, Lynn Bari, and in his first credited role, Russ Tamblyn.  Always a fan of baseball movies, this was one I recently enjoyed for the first time during my George Brent birthday month celebration.  As in the case of other baseball films, actual ballplayers appear in the film as themselves (the legendary Satchell Paige among them).  While The Kid from Cleveland is nowhere near the same caliber as my all-time favorite baseball movie The Pride of the Yankees, it is, nonetheless, a sweet, heartwarming story and a nice "message movie" about investing in the lives of others.

On the eve of the 5th game of the 1948 World Series---pitting the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves---the Indians' radio broadcaster, Mike Jackson (George Brent), enters the stadium for a conference with the team's hierarchy.  Unbeknownst to Mike, a young teen boy (Russ Tamblyn) is creeping along behind him, and as Mike attends his meeting, the youth heads to the playing field, picks up a bat, and takes his stance at home plate.  When the boy's presence is discovered, he introduces himself as Johnny Barrows, an orphan, and explains that he had hitch-hiked up from Columbus for the game.  Declaring that he will sleep in the dugout that night, Johnny's love for the baseball team is quite apparent to all; Mike, having been an orphan himself, feels for Johnny and not only promises to get him into the next day's game, but also to put him up at his home for the night.  Thus, a solid father-son kind of relationship is born.

As Mike soon finds out, though, very little about Johnny's story is true.  For one thing, the boy doesn't hail from Columbus...he lives right there in Cleveland, where he runs with a rough, law-breaking crowd. For another thing, Johnny is far from an orphan; while he did lose his dad in the war, he has a mother and a stepfather, both of whom are worried about him.  Johnny doesn't just have a problem with lying, but also with stealing, even taking advantage of Mike's kindness and stealing from him.  Still, though, Mike cares about Johnny and wants to influence him for good.  He hopes that by giving Johnny an opportunity to work with the team, he will be giving him the right sort of heroes and keeping him from admiring the wrong ones.

Wanting to adopt Johnny---or at least be his foster family---Mike and his wife (Lynn Bari) petition the court for custody; before any decisions are made, though, Johnny finds himself angry at Mike and in deeper trouble than he's ever been.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

Though not spectacular, The Kid from Cleveland is an interesting, enjoyable, very solid 3-star film.  It features George Brent in a role which I think fit him perfectly.  (Actually, it did fit him perfectly, as he really was an orphan by the age of 11.)  The acting in the film, though not sensational,  was solid and believable...and it was loads of fun seeing Russ Tamblyn in his first credited role.  I love him in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and I could definitely see shades of the future Gideon in the 15 year-old Russ.  The film is worth viewing just to see Russ as a young teen.

This film is not out on DVD, though it is available in its entirety on YouTube (in several parts).  Fans of George Brent, Russ Tamblyn, the Cleveland Indians, or baseball movies will probably enjoy it.

Happy viewing!!