Today’s movie is a sports drama with a scene that happens on September 26. Watch it tonight and enjoy the show.
61*
Marc McGwire hits his 60th home run of the season. Mrs. Maris travels to see him hit #61, but has to go to the hospital and watches him hit it from her bed. We flashback to the Yankees opening day in 1961 when some reporters say Mickey Mantle is washed up and other try to create a rivalry between him and Maris. The new manager wants Mantle to lead the team and Maris is presented with the 1960 MVP award. The reporters think Maris is dull. The Yankees start in a slump, but the manager changes the lineup and they improve. Maris has to rescue Mantle after a drunk driving wreck and moves him into his apartment to keep an eye on Mantle. The home run race begins and Mantle and Maris incorporate to take advantage of memorabilia sales and endorsements. The commissioner says there will be distinct record if anyone hits more than 60 home runs due to more games in season. The fans turn on Maris. His son is born and he is upset that reporters are at his house. There is a kidnap threat. Maris is upset by the negative press and Mantle plays even though injured. Mantle and Maris have a fight, but make up. A chair is thrown at Maris in the outfield. Maris starts losing his hair due to stress and Mantle plays with a hip ulcer. Maris asks to be taken out of the lineup, but the manager talks him out of it. Some people hope Maris won’t break the record. The Orioles trade pitchers to stop Maris from tieing the record in same number of games it took Ruth. On September 26, 1961 Maris hits number 60 and ties the record. [1:47:53 to 1:49:46] On last day of season hits number 61 and gets ovation in Yankee stadium. Back in the present McGwire hits number 62 and praises Maris.
A great sports movie. It also is a dual biography of Mantle and Maris. Both men’s characters are well developed. Shows the seamy side of baseball with all those who secretly hope Maris can’t do it and change the rules to deprive him of the record.
Ruth, Maris, McGwire and Sosa by William F. McNeil (McFarland & Co., Publishers, London, 1999) at page 100 gives the date
Producer -Robert F. Colesberry
Director -Billy Crystal
Screenplay - Hank Steinberg
Awards - The film won the Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie; Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie(Pepper); Outstanding Made for Television Movie; Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie; and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie Emmys.
Runtime - 2 hours 9 minutes
Released - April 28, 2001
Starring -
Barry Pepper as Roger Maris
Thomas Jane as Mickey Mantle
Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford
Richard Masur as Milt Kahn
Bruce McGill as Ralph Houk
Chris Bauer as Bob Cerv
Jennifer Crystal Foley as Pat Maris (1961)
Christopher McDonald as Mel Allen
Bob Gunton as Dan Topping
Donald Moffat as Ford Frick
Joe Grifasi as Phil Rizzuto
Peter Jacobson as Artie Green
Seymour Cassel as Sam Simon
Robert Joy as Bob Fishel
Michael Nouri as Joe DiMaggio
Tom Candiotti as Hoyt Wilhelm
E.E. Bell as Fan impersonating Babe Ruth
Patricia Crowley as Pat Maris (1998)
Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment