TCM tonight: PLAY BALL!!!
8:00 PM -- Angels in the Outfield (1951)
1h 42m | Drama | TV-G
The short-tempered manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates mends his ways in return for a little divine assistance.
Director: Clarence Brown
Cast: Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn
The uncredited hat check girl was played by Barbara Billingsley, future TV mother on Leave It to Beaver (1957) and the jive-talking interpreter in Airplane! (1980).
10:00 PM -- Bull Durham (1988)
1h 48m | Comedy | TV-14
Comedy about a losing minor league baseball team in North Carolina, and the English teacher who seduces a player each year.
Director: Ron Shelton
Cast: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
Nominee for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen -- Ron Shelton
There really was a ballplayer named "Crash" Davis. Ron Shelton found his name in a baseball listing as a minor leaguer and American Legion player. Realizing that he would have to have the permission of the real Davis to use his name (and thus avoid a lawsuit). When Shelton approached Davis, he was asked "Do I (meaning Kevin Costner) get the girl in the end?" Shelton told him he does and Davis signed off his permission.
12:00 AM -- Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
1h 33m | Musical | TV-G
A beautiful woman takes over a turn-of-the-century baseball team.
Director: Busby Berkeley
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly
In the 'stepping into the bucket' scene during field practice, Gene Kelly tells Esther Williams that he tends to twitch his posterior several times back-and-forth before stepping up to the plate to hit. While at first this appears to be a sexual ruse in order to entice Williams to do the same, in later playing scenes, Kelly does indeed twitch his posterior every time he steps up to the plate.
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