The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
| The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | |
|---|---|
| File:Bnbg2japan.jpg Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | John Berry |
| Written by | Bill Lancaster |
| Produced by | Leonard Goldberg Fred T. Gallo (associate producer) |
| Starring | Tony Curtis Jackie Earle Haley Regis Philbin |
| Cinematography | Gene Polito |
| Edited by | Richard A. Harris Dennis Virkler |
| Music by | Paul Chihara |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (also known as The Bad News Bears 3) is a Sport-drama film 1978 film release by Paramount Pictures and was the third and last of a series, following The Bad News Bears and The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training. It stars Tony Curtis and Jackie Earle Haley, also featuring Regis Philbin in a small role.
This film was followed by a 1979 CBS-TV series, and by a 2005 remake of the 1976 film.
Plot
Small-time promoter/hustler Marvin Lazar (Curtis) sees a potential money-making venture in the Bears that will help him to pay off his debts. After seeing a TV spot about the Bears, he decides to chaperone the baseball team for a trip to Japan in their match against the country's best little league baseball team.
As implied in Breaking Training, the Bears had to defeat the Houston Toros for a shot at the Japanese champs. In the process, the trip sparks off a series of adventures and mishaps for the boys. A subplot involves the interest of Kelly Leak (Haley) in a local Japanese girl, and the cultural divide that comes to bear in that relationship.
About half of the original or "classic" lineup of Bears players return (many like Jose Agilar, Alfred Ogilvie, Timmy Lupus and Tanner Boyle are not featured). Three new players are featured: E.R.W. Tillyard III, Abe Bernstein and Ahmad's younger brother, Mustapha Rahim.
Cast
- Tony Curtis as Marvin Lazar
- Jackie Earle Haley** as Kelly Leak*
- Tomisaburo Wakayama as Coach Shimizu
- Antonio Inoki as Himself
- Hatsune Ishihara as Arika
- George Wyner as The Network Director
- Lonny Chapman as Louis the Gambler
- Matthew Anton as E.R.W. Tillyard, III (as Matthew Douglas Anton)
- Erin Blunt** as Ahmad Rahim*
- George Gonzales** as Miguel Agilar*
- Brett Marx** as Jimmy Feldman*
- David Pollock** as Rudi Stein*
- Jeffrey Louis Starr*** as Mike Engelberg*
- Scoody Thornton as Mustapha Rahim
- Abraham Unger as Abe Bernstein
- Dick Button as Himself
- Regis Philbin as Harry Hahn
- Kinichi Hagimoto as Game Show Host
- Hugh Gillin as Pennywall
- Robert Sorrells as Locke
- Clarence Barnes as Mean Bones Beaudine
- Michael Yama as Usher
- James Staley as Network Man #4
- Dick McGarvin as Network Man #3
- Takayuki Kubota as Referee
- Jerry Ziesmer as Eddie of Network
- Gene LeBell as Mean Bones' Manager
- Victor Toyota as Interpreter
- Yangi Kitadani as Fight Announcer
- Marjorie Jackson as Waitress
- Jerry Maren as Page Boy
- Tim P. Sullivan as Network Man #2
- Bob Kino as Moderator
- Dennis Freeman as Network Man #5
- Kyôko Fuji as Madam (as Kyoko Fuji)
- Ginger Martin as Director's Aide
- Daniel Sasaki as Band Leader
- Don Watters as Network Man #1
- Bin Amatsu as Arika's Father
- Dean A. Okinaka as Manager
- David Stambaugh as Toby Whitewood
Other cast members listed alphabetically:
- Akira Oizumi as (uncredited)
- Brad Taylor as Mike; "Ringer" shortstop for the Bears (uncredited)[1]
- Julie Hampton as Dancing woman (uncredited)
- Randy Meadows as Henry; "Ringer" pitcher for the Bears (uncredited)[1]
- Stephen Sullivan as Mitch; "Ringer" 2nd baseman for the Bears (uncredited)[1]
- * Recurring character from previous Bad News Bears films
- ** Recurring actor from previous Bad News Bears films
- *** Recurring actor from second Bad News Bears film only
Reception
The film has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews.[2]
Home Media
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan was released on DVD February 12, 2002 by Paramount.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Lee, William. "The Official Website of the Yokota High School Alumni Association". Retrieved 19 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-07-05.
