THE GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME

US, 1956, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Tom Ewell, Anne Francis, Ann Miller, Dean Jones.
Directed by Herman Hoffman.

The Great American Pastime is baseball. This is a baseball film. It pays tribute to the Major League but focuses on the Little League. In this, the film responds to a tradition over the decades. However, the film is very much of the 1950s, especially in its presentation of family.

Tom Ewell was introduced effectively in Adam’s Rib. He also made his mark with Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch.

He was prone to play morose characters. He begins this film in this way, everybody against him. He works as a lawyer and there is a running joke about a violent client on the phone. He is approached to train the Little League but his son is put in a different team. His wife does not understand baseball. His team is at the bottom of the ladder. But, of course, he does build them up and they win some games. However, he intervenes in violence in the sport, especially with the parents who are of an eye for an eye spirit. But, by the end of the film, he is feted by everyone, and is asked to take over as a scoutmaster.

Anne Francis is his wife. Ann Miller is the glamorous mother of one of the boys. Ewell makes a big mistake in thinking she is attracted to him.

The film is quite entertaining in its way even if it is a mirror of the past.

1. The baseball, the title, the American spirit, the 1950s, later? The Major League, Little League?

2. Small-town America? The cast? Black and white photography? Detail of life in the town, home, offices, sport? Style? Musical score?

3. Tom Ewell as Bruce, talking to the audience, his hang-dog tone, morose, disliked by everyone? The audience anticipation the change?

4. The picture of the family, the opening picnic, the son asking questions about where he came from, Detroit? Comic touches? Bruce, his personality, his wife, the touch of glamour? Her life, meals, cleaning, washing, cooking? Watching TV, baseball? Parents and their care for Dennis? The tensions?

5. The Mexico holiday plan? Bruce in the office, the request about baseball, his saying yes, coming home, his wife being wary, Dennis’ response?

6. The law, the office, the running joke about Mrs. Clements and her husband? Bruce finally telling her off?

7. The summer, Little League? the meetings, the coach, Bruce as manager, the kids and their reputation, the expectations of parents, their complaining, the attraction to Doris, her son? The bad results? The dinner with the banker and his son pitching? The questions from the judge? The gung-ho attitude of the parents?

8. Practice, games, values, parents’ reactions, talk, the progress of the season?

9. Doris, her son, talking with Bruce? Carruthers and his promotion of his son?

10. The coaching, allowing violence, aggression, Dennis, his mother’s leaving the games? His father’s reaction?

11. Bruce, Dennis, the visit to Doris is house, Dennis playing with Doris’ son, the meal, the play, the performance, his wife going to sleep, suspicions?

12. Bruce bonding with Dennis, in the other team, their strategies and their coaches. the talk, Dennis’ reaction, humiliation?

13. Bruce’s wife, studying the game, scoring, supporting her son?

14. The final match, lively, the panther, the pep talk, success, with the little boy going in at the end, Bruce’s talking with his father?

15. The end, Bruce and his gloom, the surprise party?

16. Perennial themes?