Angels in the Outfield

In 1951, the year of this film's release, the Pirates were in a very long dry spell, 9 years prior to their first World Series appearance since 1927. The obvious set-up : "Heaven help the Pirates".

I saw this picture as an adolescent during its theatrical release, and 5 times recently. In addition to perfect casting of Paul Douglas, then in his prime - having recently filmed "Panic in the Streets" , the supporting cast is superb, notably Spring Byington and Ellen Corby as Sisters and Janet Leigh is a very credible love interest .Donna Corcoran is a wonderful orphan.

What I admire almost as much as the acting, premise and writing is the director's use of actual Pittsburgh locations, although there was no imperative to do so. Included: the King Edward Apartments, Forbes Field, PCC trolley cars, Bigelow Boulevard, Checker cabs. As a former Pittsburgher, I can attest to the authenticity of these elements.

A sentimental favorite of mine, but not just for Pittsburgh fans.

I caught this movie on AMC late one Saturday night. The difference from this movie classic and the Disney effort was like night and day. This movie had more feeling and better acting. Don't Get me wrong, Danny Glover and Joseph Gordan-Levett, and Tony Danza did well, but not as good as the original cast.

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.

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!

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.