Angels in the Outfield

This was a nice film, nothing special, but certainly better than the terrible Disney re-make in 1994.

The baseball scenes were pretty good and they should have stayed more with that. They had footage from real-life Pittsburgh Pirates games and that helped make it look more genuine than most sports films that Hollywood made back in the 1940s. Paul Douglas was pretty funny, especially when he started "swearing," mixing his sentences together so you couldn't understand anything he said.

Once again, as was the case in a number of classic films, the story was going along pretty well and then a sappy romance ruins things. I'm all for romance but they are done so stupidly in most films, it's an insult to your intelligence.

The little girl in the movie, "Bridget White," (Donna Corcoran) was a cute, sweet little thing. She lives in an orphanage run by nuns (Spring Byington and Ellen Corby are featured). It's interesting to note that all the pro-religious scenes in here were deleted in the 1994 Disney version.

The villain of this movie turns out to be the baseball announcer, of all things. Keenan Wynn plays the role so effectively you want to reach through the television and punch this guy out!

Baseball and fantasy combine to make exceptionally comfortable movie partners here, as the hot-headed, foul-mouthed (for 1951) manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team learns to clean up his act after he and his losing team receive Divine Intervention on the playing field. Potentially sticky premise gets some heavenly assistance of its own, with Paul Douglas just about perfect in the lead. He's supported by a fine cast, including Keenan Wynn, Janet Leigh (looking lovely), as well as Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, and Bing Crosby in smart cameos. The whimsical script is surprisingly witty, and the direction is straightforward and never too mawkish. Remade by the Disney people in 1994, with one major difference: in this one, you don't see the angels. *** from ****

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.

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.

A wonderful baseball movie with more depth than the Disney rendition. Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh are wonderfully cast as the gruff team manager and female reporter out for a story. It was a treat to see Barbara Billingsley as the hat check girl in the resteraunt. Some very famous ball players make guest appearances, which is a real treat.

This is a touching movie that the whole family can enjoy. It has similarities and some serious differences with the modern Disney rendition of this film.