Angels in the Outfield (1951)

Such a frustrating disappointment

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Baseball films, especially those of the 1940s and 1950s were so good, and this film is no exception.As the cantankerous manager, the always excellent Paul Douglas has a role made for him. When a woman reporter is assigned to find out what's wrong with the Pittsburgh Pirates, she aptly comes to the conclusion that Douglas, who is irascible and making life miserable for the players, is the major cause of the teams woes. Janet Leigh is that reporter and any romantic attachment that forms between the two is really inane due to the vast age difference.Did anyone really recognize Spring Byington as Mother Superior? They really did an excellent job in disguising her.The picture deals with the coming of belief of angels by Guffy (Douglas) and he finally shows his humility in his actions, not only to the players but to an orphan girl, Donna Corcoran, who first sees angels when her orphanage brings her to a game.Keenan Wynn steals his acting scenes as a vicious sportswriter, out to get Guffy. He will do anything to attain his objective and even goes to accusing Guffy of insanity.Bruce Bennett as the dying pitcher, given one more chance in the show down game with the Giants, is memorable as well.

A real classic and one of my all time favorite movies. So many wonderful moments throughout the film. Paul Douglas is great as Guffy McGovern, a rough, tough hard-nosed baseball manager. His guardian angel changes his ways as the Pirates go from worst to first. Keenan Wynn - don't you think he's the role model for today's outspoken writers and sports radio guys? I cheer every time Guffy punches his lights out.Yeah, the movie's syrupy and has a few clichés, but man, it sure resonated with me when I was younger and still does today. Whenever something goofy happens in a real baseball game I wonder if there's an angel out there wreaking some havoc on a hapless player.

"Angels in the Outfield" (1951) is the one of the best and most original comedies ever made. It is about a baseball manager (Paul Douglas) who loses his temper too much until he hears an angel's voice (James Whitmore), who makes a deal with him. He and his other angels will help the baseball team win games if the manager stops losing his temper. When the deal is set, the manager's life changes. It is a lovely movie to watch. The movie should have been nominated with Academy Awards for the major categories. It was totally ignored. Paul Douglas and Bruce Bennett, as the aging baseball player, should have been nominated for best actor and best supporting actor. They have something in common; both of them made another great movie in their long careers: Douglas made "Letter to Three Wives" and Bennett made "Mildred Pierce". "Angels in the Outfield" was perfectly cast. Another outstanding performance was by Kennan Wynn in his best role and best movie. Mr. Wynn should have been nominated for best supporting actor, too.

I caught this movie on AMC late one Saturday night. The difference from this movie classic and the Disney effort was like night and day. This movie had more feeling and better acting. Don't Get me wrong, Danny Glover and Joseph Gordan-Levett, and Tony Danza did well, but not as good as the original cast.