THE BIG LEAGUER

US, 1953, 71 minutes. Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Vera- Ellen, Jeff Richards, Richard Jaeckel, William Campbell.
Directed by Robert Aldrich.

Big Leaguer is a very small film, a supporting feature from MGM but with a strong cast. It was also an early film by Robert Aldrich who was to go on to make Apache, Kiss Me Deadly, The Big Knife and a variety of films during the 50s and 60s. He was noted for his tough approach to storytelling and action.

The film is based on an article in the newspaper, the familiar type of material about the baseball league, 1950s style, with references to Joe di Maggio and other champions.

The plot is simple, a group of recruits come to train with the New York Giants. Edward G. Robinson plays a former champion, the coach. His position on the coaching team is under threat because of previous poor results. Vera- Ellen, without a song or a dance, plays his niece, who works in the main office but is an expert in selecting talent. Jeff Richards, Richard Jaeckel and William Campbell, in very early roles, are three of the main candidates.

There are discussions with the newspaper writer about the training for selections for the big league. There are practice sessions, disappointments with the cut, a final match in which the father of Jeff Richards, a Polish immigrant, has to come to terms with his son not going to college but being a baseball champion.

There is also a romantic subplot with Jeff Richards and Vera- Ellen.

Conventional material – superseded by the many films about baseball characters in succeeding decades. Of interest because of the starts and of Robert Aldrich’s career.