Angels in the Outfield (1951 film)
| Angels in the Outfield | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Clarence Brown |
| Written by | Richard Conlin (story) Dorothy Kingsley George Wells (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Clarence Brown |
| Starring | Paul Douglas Janet Leigh |
| Cinematography | Paul Vogel |
| Edited by | Robert Kern |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates | October 19, 1951 |
Running time | 99 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Angels in the Outfield is a 1951 black-and-white film starring Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh, directed by Clarence Brown, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The cinematography was by Paul Vogel and the original music score was composed by Daniele Amfitheatrof.
Plot
With the Pittsburgh Pirates in the basement once more, their combative, foul-mouthed manager Guffy McGovern has plenty to complain about. All this changes when, while wandering through Forbes Field at night, Guffy is accosted by the voice of an angel (voice of James Whitmore), who hints at having been a ballplayer on Earth. As the spokes-angel for the Heavenly Choir Nine, a celestial ballclub of deceased ballplayers, he begins bestowing "miracles" upon the Pirates — but only on the condition that McGovern put a moratorium on swearing and fighting. With the help of the invisible ghosts of past baseball greats, the Pirates make it into the Pennant race. During one crucial game, orphan girl Bridget White insists that she can see the angels helping out the "live" ballplayers — understandably so, since it was Bridget's prayers to the Archangel Gabriel that prompted the angel to visit McGovern in the first place.
Newspaper reporter Jennifer Page transforms Bridget's angelic visions into a nationwide news story, causing no end of trouble for McGovern. When Guffy himself confirms Bridget's claims, he falls right into the hands of vengeful sportscaster Fred Bayles, who's been scheming all along to have McGovern thrown out of baseball. Complication piles upon complication until the Big Game, wherein Guffy is forced to rely exclusively upon the talents of his ballplayers — notably "over the hill" Saul Hellman (whom, the angel has told Guffy, will be "called up" to the "Heavenly Choir team shortly) — to win the pennant. Guffy also wins Jennifer and they plan to adopt young Bridget.
Cast
- Paul Douglas as Aloysius X. 'Guffy' McGovern
- Janet Leigh as Jennifer Paige
- Keenan Wynn as Fred Bayles
- Donna Corcoran as Bridget White
- Lewis Stone as Arnold P. Hapgood
- Bruce Bennett as Saul Hellman
Cameos
- Bing Crosby appeared in the film because at the time, he was a partial owner (approximately 15%) of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Baseball greats Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio also have cameos in the film.
Location
- Much of the film is shot in the Forbes Field, the former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers, demolished in 1971, the year after the Pirates and Steelers moved to Three Rivers Stadium.
See also
- Angels in the Outfield, the 1994 remake of this film.