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.
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.