Ángeles y Piratas

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a team in disarray and just keep on losing. Could the reason be the manager Guffy McGovern played by Paul Douglas as the reporter Jennifer Paige and the players believe. Guffy has a foul mouth whenever he gets angry which is most of the time. Unbeknown to Guffy and the Pirates is a little orphan girl that is praying for them. God hears her prayers and sends an angel to help but only if Guffy can control his temper and mouth. Guffy does and the team starts to win. Little Bridget White, the orphaned girl gets a chance to attend a game and is the only one to see angels behind the ball players. Can Guffy change his ways and will Bridget find a home? At the end is a very touching decision by Guffy concerning his old bitter friend, a washed-up pitcher that started the game as to whether to stay with him in the ninth or to replace him. Excellent film for those that believe in the power of prayer.

Before the New York Mets came along, the Pittsburgh Pirates were the first name in baseball for flat footed futility. At the time that Angels in the Outfield was made the Pirates had a long term lease on the National League cellar. In fact the only reason the Pirates drew any crowds at all was the presence of the premier slugger in the National League, Ralph Kiner. One shudders to think where they might have finished without him.

But that's reality. In this film some heavenly help is granted the Pirates, presumably by a long suffering Deity who's maybe a Pirate fan. That is on condition that manager Paul Douglas clean up his act. He's told that by unseen angel James Whitmore.

As it turns out Douglas is not the only one getting celestial visitations. He only hears angels, but little Donna Corcoran sees them behind every Pirate player on the field. When reporter Janet Leigh writes the story all kinds of complications ensue.

Even without the special effects of the 1994 remake, Angels in the Outfield still maintains an innocent charm that is irresistible to baseball fans of a perennial losing team. After all we found out in Damn Yankees the kind of outside help they've been getting to stay on top.

Nine years later the Pirates were in fact World Series winners, humbling the mighty Yankees in seven games. And for thirty years after that the Pirates were a contending ball club. They're back in the doldrums that Angels in the Outfield portrays. Maybe time for another heavenly assist.

A real classic and one of my all time favorite movies. So many wonderful moments throughout the film. Paul Douglas is great as Guffy McGovern, a rough, tough hard-nosed baseball manager. His guardian angel changes his ways as the Pirates go from worst to first. Keenan Wynn - don't you think he's the role model for today's outspoken writers and sports radio guys? I cheer every time Guffy punches his lights out.

Yeah, the movie's syrupy and has a few clichés, but man, it sure resonated with me when I was younger and still does today. Whenever something goofy happens in a real baseball game I wonder if there's an angel out there wreaking some havoc on a hapless player.

As a general rule, I hate remakes. Now this isn't always true. There are a few, very few, times that the remake is better due to a defect that is eliminated in the remake. However, I really disliked the remake of "Angels in the Outfield" because they took a very good film that could be enjoyed by the family and made it a film most adults couldn't stomach. I know you might disagree, but I loved the 1951 version and would rather just pretend that the Disney remake never occurred.

The film is a cute little fantasy about a hot-headed baseball coach (Paul Douglas--who is wonderful in this role). The guy explodes and curses all the time--and he's difficult to like--especially since his team seems to do nothing but lose. Eventually, however, his nasty ways have got to stop--and an angel's voice calls out to him and threatens him unless he changes his ways. And, as an added bonus, the angel and his pals will help the coach's team IF he sticks with the bargain! It's all quite cute and well done--with Janet Leigh, Spring Byington and a cute orphan (who is NOT too cute, thank goodness) on hand for support. Well worth seeing and very clever.

By the way, look close for a few cameos--such as Joe DiMaggio, Bing Crosby and Ty Cobb! Also, in a small role as a hat check girl is Barbara Billingsley--the future Mrs. Clever from "Leave It To Beaver".

Paul Douglas plays the demanding manger of the Pittsburg Pirates whose team begins winning after being blessed from above. Look for a young Ellen Corby, the lovable grandmother on the Walton's TV series. Other cast members include Janet Leigh,Keenan Wynn and Spring Byington. The filming locations were old Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, home of the triple A Los Angeles Angels before the Dodgers arrived. Forbes Field in Pittsburg and Yankee Stadium were also used in this 1951 film. Some popular ballplayers can be seen also.It is a fun movie to watch, especially for a baseball fan.