Quando torna primavera

From the time of this film - in the mid-20th century, one might guess that the milieu of "It Happens Every Spring" might be baseball. Well, some of us in the senior generations and younger folks who know something of history would make such a guess - and be right. With so many other pastimes, sports, entertainments and interests in the 21st century, the lure of baseball isn't what it once was to the youth of America.

But, this film has one more aspect that provides the comedy and makes for a fun and entertaining film. If it can please my grandchildren, it must still have something going for it. That other thing is a sci-fi plot in which the male lead, Ray Milland is a professor who accidentally discovers a powerful chemical that repels wood. It happens when the chemistry research project he is working on is demolished by a baseball that crashes through his lab window.

Prof. Simpson just happens to be a big baseball fan himself, and may have dreamed of being a great pitcher when he was a child. Well his discovery of the baseball that was soaked in his chemicals making detours around wood items on his counter sets the stage for an entertaining film. He uses his discovery to win a pitching spot on the St. Louis Cardinals who are in the pennant race. He takes a difffernet name and becomes known as King Kelly, an overnight sensation who wins 37 games and takes the Cards to the World Series.

It's all a lot of fun, with Paul Douglas as Monk Lanigan providing the back up for the king. There isn't a lot of funny dialog, but the scenes are fun when batters swing and miss the ball that makes jerking detours above and under their bats. This is a fun little fantasy film that most of the family should enjoy.

This delightful comedy is seldom seen on cable. The Fox channel is a great source for these neglected and forgotten films that still produce a lot of fun to viewers, young and old. Lloyd Bacon directed this movie with a lot of flair. There are some insanely funny moments in the film, based on Valentine Davis' screen play.

Chemistry professor Vernon Simpson, working on a small midwest university, discovers as a fluke, that one of his projects produce a rejection of wood when rubbed in an object; that object being the baseball that almost destroys his lab. Professor Simpson's passion is the national pastime, which we see him hearing a broadcast during one of his classes. Simpson is also in love with the beautiful Debby Greenleaf, the daughter of the president of the university.

Vernon decides to try his hand as a pitcher, now that he has the secret, as he feels his beloved Saint Louis Cardinals can use him. As the mysterious King Kelly, Vernon proves to be an asset to his team. The catcher, Monk Lanigan, is his roommate. The two men develop an easy friendship. Lanigan, like anyone else, is puzzled by the way Kelly can pitch, even at his age. When Lanigan wants to know what does King keep in a tiny bottle in his dresser, and he is told it's hair tonic, which he proceeds to use himself, with magical results. He even gives some of it to the manager, not knowing is the secret formula that King uses to throw those magical pitches.

As Vernon/King, Ray Milland makes a wonderful appearance in the film. His chemistry with Paul Douglas, the catcher and roommate, is unique. Both stars are amazing together and this is what makes the comedy a winning and sunny time at the movies because of the fun we experience in watching them perform. Jean Peters is also good as Debby, the girl that conquered Vernon's heart. Ray Collins, Ed Begley and Jessie Royce Landis do excellent supporting work.

"It Happens Every Spring" is a sunny comedy that proves to be a lot of fun.

It Happens Every Spring (1949)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Hilarious baseball movie has chemist professor Vernon Simpson (Ray Milland) coming up with a formula that will repel wood. He then decides to fulfill a life long dream of playing professional baseball so he ends up pitching for the St. Louis Cardnials and plans on leading them to the World Series with his magic trick. This film has gotten pretty rave reviews all around but there was a part of me that felt a bit off going into the movie because I was curious to see how a comedy was going to work when the main guy was basically cheating at a sport. Well, purist will have no trouble because the fact that he's cheating never comes into play because the viewer will be too busy laughing. After watching this film I couldn't believe that it wasn't better known consider it's about baseball, features a wonderful, Oscar-winning actor and most importantly it's incredibly funny. You'd think the joke of a baseball magically moving around a bat would wear thin after the first time but it doesn't and in fact it keeps getting funnier as the movie moves along. I'm not too certain how they did the special effect of the baseball moving in all sorts of wacky directions but there's no doubt it's one of the funniest things in any sports movie. What also makes it work so well is that Milland is, as no shock, excellent in the role. He's a very serious actor and he plays the part here very seriously and this adds to the charm and even helps us believe the events that are going on. He doesn't look or feel like a baseball player but that's pretty much the point of the story as he walks off the streets and becomes the greatest pitcher in baseball history. Jean Peters does a nice job as his girlfriend with Paul Gouglas, Ed Begley, Ted de Corsia and Alan Hale, Jr. adding great support. Apparently MLB wouldn't allow any real teams or real player cameos in the film because of the cheating but it's their loss considering how wonderful the film turned out and in fact there's really no need for any famous faces to show up as the film is strong enough not to need them. Bacon's direction is top-notch throughout as he perfectly handles the rather screwball moments but most importantly is Milland and the fact that you like him and want to see this scheme work.

Not quite in the league of "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," but a great fantasy story of the egghead professor in the hard boiled world of baseball.

Paul Douglas steals the movie as the craggy old pro catcher, Monk Lanigan. Watch for a young Alan Hale, Jr., later to be the Skipper in "Gilligan's Island." Take a look at the writing credits for the writer of this one. Sterling. Also, a great feel for 40's baseball fans, baseball stadiums, just baseball. I loved this film as a kid, still love it now.

This film should be as much a harbinger of spring as the first robin. Don't miss it!

... as it is completely conflict free. There are literally no bad guys to be found. It is quite enjoyable as long as you just relax and just forget everything that you ever knew about baseball, physics, chemistry, or hair follicles.

Vernon Simpson (Ray Milland) is a chemistry professor still working on his Ph. D. at a relatively late age. His boss, Dr. Greenleaf (Ray Collins), explains Vernon to a colleague as follows - From October to April he's a steady reliable hard worker. But from April to October he's distracted. The problem is that Vernon is a baseball fan, and the game distracts him six months of the year. One day Vernon is working on an experiment to help him finish that Ph. D. when the baseball from some kids' baseball game crashes through a window and smashes the experiment. In the process of cleaning up he sees the baseball has fallen into the solution he was making, and that the baseball is now repelled by wood. He does some experiments and realizes that this solution, when applied to a baseball, enables him to become the world's greatest pitcher as the ball will do loops to avoid contact with a baseball bat.

Vernon has always wanted to be a pro ball player, so he gets a leave of absence from the college and becomes the pitcher for the St. Louis team. His objective is to live out his dream of playing major league ball AND make enough money to marry his girlfriend who just happens to be the boss's daughter. Complications ensue.

Vernon is asking for 1000 dollars a game for every game he wins. This gives the owner pause. But consider that DiMaggio was the first ball player to make 100K a year in 1949 - about 1.2 million in 2024 dollars. In 2024 the mean baseball salary in the US is five million dollars. So these ball players are just working class guys in 1949.

One odd thing is that the production code is still being rigorously enforced at the time, and yet Vernon is allowed to cheat with this magic potion of his and never faces any consequences. With Paul Douglas as Vernon's gregarious and henpecked teammate, Ed Begley as the involved team owner, and the lovely Jean Peters as Vernon's girlfriend who starts to believe that Vernon has taken his leave of absence to become a jewel thief and get involved with gangsters.