Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)
Angels in the Outfield | |
---|---|
Directed by | William Dear |
Screenplay by | Holly Goldberg Sloan |
Based on | Angels in the Outfield 1951 film by Dorothy Kingsley George Wells Richard Conlin |
Produced by | Irby Smith Joe Roth Roger Birnbaum |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Matthew F. Leonetti |
Edited by | Bruce Green |
Music by | Randy Edelman |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $31 million[1] |
Box office | $50.2 million[1] |
Angels in the Outfield is a 1994 American
Plot
Young foster child Roger Bomman and his friend, J.P., love to sneak into baseball games of the struggling
Roger's father permanently gives up custody of him, believing it is in Roger's best interest. As Roger laments his loss, an equally distraught J.P. accidentally reveals to antagonistic sportscaster Ranch Wilder that Roger has the ability to see angels, and that George has been winning through the advice Roger gave him. Hoping to permanently end George's career in baseball since their days as players, Wilder informs the press of this, and their owner Hank Murphy threatens to relieve George of his management responsibilities. Roger comes clean to his caretaker Maggie Nelson about his special ability, and at a press conference, they and the entire team defend George in front of the press. Moved by their faith, Murphy allows him to remain as the Angels' manager.
During the final game of the season against the rival Chicago White Sox, none of the angels show up to help the team. Later on, Al appears to Roger and explains that championships have to be won on their own. He also says that he is there to check on pitcher Mel Clark, who only has months to live due to his years of smoking and will become an angel himself. Mel struggles in the ninth inning but perseveres after encouragement from George, his team, and the fans in attendance. The Angels ultimately win the game on their own and clinch the division title and the pennant, while Murphy fires Wilder for insulting the team on the air. George adopts Roger and J.P., as he wants to try to be a father. J.P. sees Al and says, "I knew it could happen". Al flies off and says, "We're always watching".
Cast
- Danny Glover as George Knox (Angels Manager)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Roger Bomman
- Brenda Fricker as Maggie Nelson (Foster Mom)
- Tony Danza as Mel Clark (Angels Pitcher)
- Christopher Lloyd as Al "The Boss" Angel
- Ben Johnson as Hank Murphy (Angels Owner)
- Jay O. Sanders as Ranch Wilder (Angels Sportscaster)
- Milton Davis Jr. as J.P.
- Taylor Negron as David Montagne (Angels team assistant)
- Tony Longo as Triscuitt Messmer (Angels Catcher)
- Neal McDonough as Whitt Bass (Angels Pitcher)
- Stoney Jackson as Ray Mitchell (Angels Third Baseman)
- Adrien Brody as Danny Hemmerling (Angels Utility Player)
- Tim Conlonas Wally (Angels Color Commentator)
- Matthew McConaughey as Ben Williams (Angels Outfielder)
- Israel Juarbe as Jose Martinez (Angels Second Baseman)
- Albert Garcia as Pablo Garcia (Angels Shortstop)
- Dermot Mulroney as Mr. Bomman (Roger's Father)
- Robert Clohessy as Frank Gates (Angels Pitcher)
- Danny Walcoff as Marvin
- O.B. Babbs as Mapel (Angels Player)
- Mitchell Page as Abascal (Angels First Baseman)
- Carney Lansford as Kit "Hit or Die" Kesey
- Bill Dear as Blue Jays Manager
- Mark Cole as Norton (Angel Outfielder)
- Jeff Seaberg as Popcorn Vendor
- Jonathan Proby as Miguel Scott
Production
In July 1993, Caravan Pictures reached an agreement with director William Dear to helm screenwriter Holly Goldberg Sloan's remake of MGM’s 1951 baseball picture Angels in the Outfield.[2] Unlike the original, which focused on the Pittsburgh Pirates as the team in heavenly need, the film focuses on the California Angels, who did not exist when the original was released in 1951; in addition to the name coincidence, The Walt Disney Company, which distributed the film, was a minority owner of the Angels at the time. The film did, however, premiere at the Pirates' home stadium at the time, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.[3][4] The premiere would be the only reference to the Pirates, due to both teams playing in separate leagues (Angels in the American League, Pirates in the National League) and the film being released three years before the start of interleague play. Both teams would finally meet head-to-head for the first time in 2002 in Anaheim, the season in which the real-life Angels would win the AL pennant and eventually the 2002 World Series, the first and only time they would do either as of 2023.
Reception
The film has a rating of 32% on
Box office
The film opened at #4 at the North American box office, making $8,916,463
Year-end lists
- Top 10 worst (not ranked) – Dan Webster, The Spokesman-Review[8]
See also
References
- ^ The Wrap. Archived from the originalon July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ "Caravan's 'Angels' on fast track". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ Vancheri, Barbara (January 24, 2003). "Multi Media: Adrien Brody going darker and deeper". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- ^ "Believing in angels". The Daily Gazette. July 12, 1994.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield (1994)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Home - Cinemascore". CinemaScore. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Webster, Dan (January 1, 1995). "In Year of Disappointments, Some Movies Still Delivered". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane ed.). p. 2.