Big Leaguer *
US 1953 b/w 71m
MGM (Matthew Rapf)
A coach, who runs a baseball training camp for the New York Giants in Florida, helps young hopefuls get a shot in the major league.
Dir Robert Aldrich Edward G. Robinson as John B. ´Hans´ Lobert Vera-Ellen as Christy Jeff Richards as Adam Polachuk, Richard Jaeckel as Bobby Bronson, William Campbell as Julie Davis, Carl Hummell as himself, Paul Langton as Brian McLennan A mildly interesting baseball drama for sport fans, but for all others a no-hitter with a predictable plot and rather too slow-paced. DRAMA/SPORT (U) Released: August, 1953.
1. In 1952, the head of MGM, Dore Schary, announced the formation of a new unit that would concentrate on low-budget films. Producers, many of them sons of men who had helped Louis B. Mayer in the early years, were contracted, one was Matthew Rapf (son of Harry Rapf).
2. Matthew Rapf bought a story that was based in part on Hans Lobert (1881-1968), a baseball player, later a scout and coach (he appears in two scenes).
3. Rapf hired Herbert Baker to write the screenplay. Baker, who had struck up friendship with sport-fan Robert Aldrich during the filming of ´So This is New York´ (1948), suggested him as director.
4. Edward G. Robinson signed on to star. Vera-Ellen (1921-1980), a noted MGM-dancer and Jeff Richards (1924-1989), a former baseball player, were also cast.
5. Filming started in March of 1953 to take advantage of the spring training season. Shot in 17 days in Melbourne, Florida.
6. Cost $500.000, the film did poorly at the box office.
+ The film was not a success, and Aldrich returned to television.
Credits: w-Herbert Baker, based on a story by John McNulty, Lou Morheim ph-William C. Mellor m-Alberto Colombo ed-Ben Lewis ad-Cedric Gibbons, Eddie Imazu.
Dir Robert Aldrich Edward G. Robinson as John B. ´Hans´ Lobert Vera-Ellen as Christy Jeff Richards as Adam Polachuk, Richard Jaeckel as Bobby Bronson, William Campbell as Julie Davis, Carl Hummell as himself, Paul Langton as Brian McLennan A mildly interesting baseball drama for sport fans, but for all others a no-hitter with a predictable plot and rather too slow-paced. DRAMA/SPORT (U) Released: August, 1953.
1. In 1952, the head of MGM, Dore Schary, announced the formation of a new unit that would concentrate on low-budget films. Producers, many of them sons of men who had helped Louis B. Mayer in the early years, were contracted, one was Matthew Rapf (son of Harry Rapf).
2. Matthew Rapf bought a story that was based in part on Hans Lobert (1881-1968), a baseball player, later a scout and coach (he appears in two scenes).
3. Rapf hired Herbert Baker to write the screenplay. Baker, who had struck up friendship with sport-fan Robert Aldrich during the filming of ´So This is New York´ (1948), suggested him as director.
4. Edward G. Robinson signed on to star. Vera-Ellen (1921-1980), a noted MGM-dancer and Jeff Richards (1924-1989), a former baseball player, were also cast.
5. Filming started in March of 1953 to take advantage of the spring training season. Shot in 17 days in Melbourne, Florida.
6. Cost $500.000, the film did poorly at the box office.
+ The film was not a success, and Aldrich returned to television.
Credits: w-Herbert Baker, based on a story by John McNulty, Lou Morheim ph-William C. Mellor m-Alberto Colombo ed-Ben Lewis ad-Cedric Gibbons, Eddie Imazu.