Angels in the Outfield

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".