John Goodman as THE BABE

[skeletor]

Just picked up the John Goodman film on Babe Ruth, called
the Babe..new for under 5 bucks..Never saw it ,until now
and can see why it flopped at the box office..Terrible script,
tin plated acting..and paints Ruth as an animal..Was`he
really as bad as that film painted him ? or is this another
film that does revisionist history, a'la 'Cobb' ?

[The Real McCoy]

No, you nailed the review. The best thing about this flick was Goodman's remark: "It's a sad day when you have to lose weight to play Babe Ruth."

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Just picked up the John Goodman film on Babe Ruth, called
the Babe..new for under 5 bucks..Never saw it ,until now
and can see why it flopped at the box office..Terrible script,
tin plated acting..and paints Ruth as an animal..Was`he
really as bad as that film painted him ? or is this another
film that does revisionist history, a'la 'Cobb' ?

One of the worst films ever on Ruth. I say one of the worst only because it would be hard to match that William Bendix bomb for the worst.

Ruth and his wife attended the premier of that Bendix stinker and were so disgusted by it that they left the theater before it ended.

With no doubt the best movie on Ruth was a movie made for TV in the 1990s. I don't recall the exact title or the actor. I do have it on a VHS but can't locate it at this time. I would imagine Amazon Books might have this one.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Indeed this movie stinks. Almost everything is bad, the acting, the story and most of all the settings. It is so clear that some of the so called stadiums are made of cupboard or something like it.

Though it has cost you only 5 bucks, it is a waiste of money and of time (watching it).

[Captain Cold Nose]

There are better baseball films. Most of them. The film SHOELESSJOE mentioned appears from time to time on one of the Encore movie channels.

The Babe might be one of the reasons Kelly McGillis doesn't appear in films so much anymore. Which is a shame.

[skeletor]

Though it has cost you only 5 bucks, it is a waiste of money and of time (watching it).[/QUOTE]

yeah, all in all, it was a giant waste of time..But I ended up getting
my five bucks back..Someone else snagged it..and they thought it
was pretty good ! (huh?) now only if I could get back the time
spent to watch it...Jeez O'petes, did it blow chunks..Poor Goodman
hope he got paided well...one of the all time worst baseball films
ever..Bet Ruth is spinning over in his grave over it...whew !!

[wamby]

One of the worst films ever on Ruth. I say one of the worst only because it would be hard to match that William Bendix bomb for the worst.

Ruth and his wife attended the premier of that Bendix stinker and were so disgusted by it that they left the theater before it ended.

With no doubt the best movie on Ruth was a movie made for TV in the 1990s. I don't recall the exact title or the actor. I do have it on a VHS but can't locate it at this time. I would imagine Amazon Books might have this one.

I don't remember the title, but Stephen Boyd played the Babe. The outdoor scences from the orphange in Baltimore were filmed at a school in Cleveland that is a few blocks from where I grew up. The same school was also featured in A Christmas Story.

[Lindseynelson]

:mad: No movie has ever been more of a disgrace than the Babe. My nephew and I were talking about baseball one day and he asked how Ruth could have played so well as fat as he was. I asked him where he got the idea that Ruth was so grossly overweight and he said" I saw that Bio-Pic with John Goodman". This piece of wasted film does such a major disservice to baseball history and the memory of one of the greatest athletes of all time. The only and I mean only time Ruth ever looked close to fat in a uni was as coach of the Bums after his retirement.During his career up until 33 or so he was a barrel chested man with rather skinny legs.He was also a fine baserunner whereas I doubt if Goodman could reach first without paramedic help. To see that slob Goodman , with his gut hanging over his pants and his ill fitting uniform purporting to be Ruth is sad. Ruth was always , among other things , neat as a pin in his uni and had physical talents and abilities shared by very few. I wish someone would gather up all the real footage of the Babe and put together an hour or so showing this great athlete as he should be remembered not as a cartoon figure.Oh well that feels better. I think I'll go watch Eight Men Out

[Brian McKenna]

horrible movie - they have him as a fat little kid

[johnny]

although john goodman had a great line about the role. he said you know you got a weight problem when you have to lose weight to play the Babe.

[Melottfan]

I couldn't agree more Lindsey. When the movie came out, I remember watching the opening when the camera scanned the seats of Yankee Satdium and hearing the cheering, thinking perhaps they got it right. Not true. The movie went down hill from there. I stopped counting after 15 errors. And Goodman he did a terrible job as the Babe. A year later my parents gave me a copy of the movie on video. I threw it away after Christmas. Don't know if you remember Steven Lang did a tv movie as the Babe based on the Robert Creamer book. It was a better job of acting and details. Other than Pete Rose as Ty Cobb, heh, not bad.

[Melottfan]

Have a slight correction for you. Stephen Lang played the Babe in a TV movie based on the Robert Creamer book.Far better then the two Ruth stinkers. Stephen Boyd was a good looking actor of the fifties/sixties, known for his role in Ben-Hur.

[Brad Chadford]

Though it has cost you only 5 bucks, it is a waiste of money and of time (watching it).yeah, all in all, it was a giant waste of time..But I ended up getting my five bucks back..Someone else snagged it..and they thought it was pretty good ! (huh?) now only if I could get back the time spent to watch it...Jeez O'petes, did it blow chunks..Poor Goodman
hope he got paided well...one of the all time worst baseball films ever..Bet Ruth is spinning over in his grave over it...whew !!

I too found it somewhere for $5. I put it on a few weeks ago and couldn't even get through the opening scene. Even though it was only on for 5 minutes, I also wish I could get back the time I spent watching it! What a stinker...

[Lindseynelson]

You've got some seriously screwed up values.HUH?:noidea

[Lindseynelson]

here's a few ideas for Hollywood...ReRun as Jack Johnson,Buddy Hackett as John L Sullivan,Louie Anderson as Bobby Jones.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Have a slight correction for you. Stephen Lang played the Babe in a TV movie based on the Robert Creamer book.Far better then the two Ruth stinkers.

Thats for sure. I believe the movie you speak of with Stepen Lang was made for TV, I believe was never shown in theaters. I do agree with you, that version, low budget puts the other two movies to shame.... thats putting it mildly.

Bendix poor choice, bad acting the script, the whole deal stunk. Goodman, well I thought it's about time, lets do better than that stinker with Bendix. Then I saw the Goodman version, a shame to portray a great ball player like a clown..... don't get me started on this one.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

:mad: No movie has ever been more of a disgrace than the Babe. My nephew and I were talking about baseball one day and he asked how Ruth could have played so well as fat as he was. I asked him where he got the idea that Ruth was so grossly overweight and he said" I saw that Bio-Pic with John Goodman". This piece of wasted film does such a major disservice to baseball history and the memory of one of the greatest athletes of all time. The only and I mean only time Ruth ever looked close to fat in a uni was as coach of the Bums after his retirement.During his career up until 33 or so he was a barrel chested man with rather skinny legs.He was also a fine baserunner whereas I doubt if Goodman could reach first without paramedic help. To see that slob Goodman , with his gut hanging over his pants and his ill fitting uniform purporting to be Ruth is sad. Ruth was always , among other things , neat as a pin in his uni and had physical talents and abilities shared by very few. I wish someone would gather up all the real footage of the Babe and put together an hour or so showing this great athlete as he should be remembered not as a cartoon figure.Oh well that feels better. I think I'll go watch Eight Men Out

It really is sad, because of what you described. Imagine a young kid wanting to learn about him, and Hollywood puts out that. The least they could do, even if they are gonna have inaccuracies about some lame myths, and whatever else, is to get someone who resembles his physical structure. My god, Goodman was at least 3 bills, as he was playing Babe meeting Helen in Boston. What a joke. And yeah, as BKMCKENNA mentioned, he's a rolly polly little kid. HUH? Friekin' pisses me off, thanks for reminding me how lame that movie is :grouchy

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Two thread devoted to this horrible piece of junk :eek: :evil :eek:

If you wanna learn anything about him, read Creamer's biography and get these from ebay or amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-0468339-2585434?url=index%3Ddvd&search-type=quick-search&field-keywords=babe+ruth

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Holy Christ, two thread devoted to this horrible piece of junk :eek: :evil :eek:

Screw Hollywood, if you wanna learn anything about him, read Creamer's biography and get these from ebay or amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-0468339-2585434?url=index%3Ddvd&search-type=quick-search&field-keywords=babe+ruth


Creamer's book a gem but there is another that is not far behind that one. All kinds of little tid bits on the Babe, many comments by opponents and teammates, a great great book, as a Babe fanatic, one of my favorites.

" The Life That Ruth Built", by Marshall Smelser.

[Lindseynelson]

My p[leasure. You got my point exactly about young fans misconceptions.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Creamer's book a gem but there is another that is not far behind that one. All kinds of little tid bits on the Babe, many comments by opponents and teammates, a great great book, as a Babe fanatic, one of my favorites.

" The Life That Ruth Built", by Marshall Smelser.

Definately gonna pick that one up, along with Babe in Red Stockings.

Joe, what's this new book about "Babe's greatest Hits" or something like that. What's that about, have you heard?

Also, a great overlooked biography, because it came out right when Creamer put his out, is Kal Wagenheim's.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Definately gonna pick that one up, along with Babe in Red Stockings.

Joe, what's this new book about "Babe's greatest Hits" or something like that. What's that about, have you heard?

Also, a great overlooked biography, because it came out right when Creamer put his out, is Kal Wagenheim's.

Don't know about that book "Babe's Greatest Hits", if thats the correct title.

I was about to mention the one you make note of, "The Babe In Red Stockings", fantastic. Covers in detail many of the Babes pitched games, describes many of these games in detail, this is a great one..

I do have Kal's book, "Babe Ruth His Life and Legend, another one high on my list.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Don't know about that book "Babe's Greatest Hits", if thats the correct title.

I was about to mention the one you make note of, "The Babe In Red Stockings", fantastic. Covers in detail many of the Babes pitched games, describes many of these games in detail, this is a great one..

I do have Kal's book, "Babe Ruth His Life and Legend, another one high on my list.

Oh my bad. I saw it on amazon and figured it was a book. It's not. It's some band CD or somethin'.

Anyway, was just browsing and saw this. What do you make of this?

http://www.rare-baseball-books.com/?source=br

[TonyK]

I did like the part about the Babe's early days at the orphanage.

I think we are all convinced there is a great Babe Ruth movie waiting to be made. Who should direct it and who should play the title role? It would be nice to have an actual athlete play the role of pitcher and hitter. My vote is for the director of Cinderella Man. Maybe the actor should be an unknown?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I did like the part about the Babe's early days at the orphanage.

I think we are all convinced there is a great Babe Ruth movie waiting to be made. Who should direct it and who should play the title role? It would be nice to have an actual athlete play the role of pitcher and hitter. My vote is for the director of Cinderella Man. Maybe the actor should be an unknown?

Tony, Tony, Tony, the early days at the orphanage? There are SOOO many things they could have put in that they didn't.

If it's done right, it would have to be an HBO two or three part movie or something. It's tough with it, because you want it to be honest and rough in parts, because that's the way Babe could be. But you want it to be a movie for kids as well. So where's that line? Would they make two different versions?

Hard to find an actor to play him, because nobody has ever or will ever look like him. It would require at least 5 actors to play him the way I'm thinking of it. The old fat Babe, the Yankee in his prime Babe, the Young Red Sox Babe, the young teen Babe, and the 7 year old Babe. They could probably find the right body types, but the face part would require some good makeup work. Especially to widen the nose and get the head shape right.

The actors don't even really have to look a whole lot like him. Like you said, get someone who has played ball before, or can at least learn the nuances of the movements. As long as they tell the WHOLE story without the bogus myths, because those lame myths take away from what he truly was, which was even bigger and better.
Oh fine, you twisted my arm. I'll write the screenplay :D

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I wish someone would make a new Babe Ruth movie and take it seriously. I can't stand this fat drunk cartoon figure that Ruth has obtained in the public's eye. It's a disservice to the real Babe Ruth. What actor today could play Ruth? Any thoughts?

[christian gentleman]

John Goodman was way too fat for the Babe. I think he's a good actor, but the movie really was terrible and the sight of his massive legs. It was all wrong. There is such a big opportunity to make a better movie about Ruth. It's too bad Costner doesn't look at all like him. Maybe Philip Seymour Hoffman could shape up and play him, or Nathan Lane. As a new yorker, Martin Scorcese should direct it. it would be great.

Maybe we should start a thread about which movie stars could play which famous ball players. I thought Tommy Lee Jones was good Cobb.

I liked the actor who played Joe Jackson in 8 men out too.

Who would make a good new gehrig, dimaggio, williams, mays, robinson....?

[johnny]

Tony, Tony, Tony, the early days at the orphanage? There are SOOO many things they could have put in that they didn't.

If it's done right, it would have to be an HBO two or three part movie or something. It's tough with it, because you want it to be honest and rough in parts, because that's the way Babe could be. But you want it to be a movie for kids as well. So where's that line? Would they make two different versions?

Hard to find an actor to play him, because nobody has ever or will ever look like him. It would require at least 5 actors to play him the way I'm thinking of it. The old fat Babe, the Yankee in his prime Babe, the Young Red Sox Babe, the young teen Babe, and the 7 year old Babe. They could probably find the right body types, but the face part would require some good makeup work. Especially to widen the nose and get the head shape right.

The actors don't even really have to look a whole lot like him. Like you said, get someone who has played ball before, or can at least learn the nuances of the movements. As long as they tell the WHOLE story without the bogus myths, because those lame myths take away from what he truly was, which was even bigger and better.
Oh fine, you twisted my arm. I'll write the screenplay :D

Hey Sultan,
Just a suggestion. Don't know if you ever saw James Whitmore doing a one man play on Truman but it was great. Rather than try and get someone to play the Babe on the field it may work better to just do the verbal with the Babe on Stage, smoking a stogie, and a glass of Col Ruppert's fine brew in his hand.
For what it is worth, I also thought Tommy Lee Jones was an inspired choice. Athletic enough to do what was asked in the Cobb movie but more than actor enough to play the role. For those who didn't care for Cobb, just try the Director's cut version in which Ron Shelton takes you through scene by scene offering his comments/thoughts.

[Edgartohof]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I liked the movie. I enjoyed it for what it was - a movie. What do you expect out of Hollywood? The truth? No way! So for what it was, I liked it, sure it could have been better, but some of you guys are taking this a little too seriously, and I can't understand it (okay, I can, but I don't agree with some of the harshness).

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I liked the movie. I enjoyed it for what it was - a movie. What do you expect out of Hollywood? The truth? No way! So for what it was, I liked it, sure it could have been better, but some of you guys are taking this a little too seriously, and I can't understand it (okay, I can, but I don't agree with some of the harshness).

I understand it was what it was. It was clearly geared toward kids, and they weren't too concerned with getting details correct, not to mention an actor that wasn't 3 bills.

The point is, that there is a proper movie to be made. One which lets us in on Babe's paradox of a personality, through TRUE stories and accurate events on and off the field. Of course you couldn't put certain things in there, like him going to a St. Louis whorehouse and bedding every woman there, or him standing on top of a piano at a party (beer in one hand, and sandwhich in the other) and shouting , "alright, any women here that don't want to F can leave now." Granted few women left after he said that, but there are crude things he did, and there were generous things he did. Heroics on and off the field that don't require any fluffing by hollywood.

It would need to be a very long movie, or be a 2 part movie for HBO or something. Even if ESPN did one, as they did with Earnhardt and Pete Rose. Something like that, that told everything from the beginning until the end. Something that shows he liked to drink, but wasn't an alcoholic; he could and did go without it for long periods of time. Never seemed to bother him. According to teammates he drank about 6 oz of scotch an hour. Something that shows what he did for America and the game, and puts into perspective his impact on future ballplayers, the way scouts assessed talent, salaries, ballpark structures, etc..

It could be done, but you're right, that horrible movie was what is was. Just horrible.

[Bluesteve32]

Hey Sultan,
Just a suggestion. Don't know if you ever saw James Whitmore doing a one man play on Truman but it was great. Rather than try and get someone to play the Babe on the field it may work better to just do the verbal with the Babe on Stage, smoking a stogie, and a glass of Col Ruppert's fine brew in his hand.
For what it is worth, I also thought Tommy Lee Jones was an inspired choice. Athletic enough to do what was asked in the Cobb movie but more than actor enough to play the role. For those who didn't care for Cobb, just try the Director's cut version in which Ron Shelton takes you through scene by scene offering his comments/thoughts.

Didn't Max Gail of "Barney Miller" fame as "Wojo" do a one man portraial of the Babe? I remember seeing something one, possibly on PBS or a cable channel, and it seemed to be quite good.

Added:

He did a one-man play on Broadway and here is some info:

http://www.abcmedianet.com/showpage/showpage.html?program_id=ID0008&type=gail

http://www.tv.com/barney-miller/show/345/cast.html

http://www.reelbaseball.net/1981-1990.htm

[wamby]

I think Phillip Seymour Hoffman might be a good choice to play the Babe. I also think that Jack Black might be good in the role also.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that I liked the movie. I enjoyed it for what it was - a movie. What do you expect out of Hollywood? The truth? No way! So for what it was, I liked it, sure it could have been better, but some of you guys are taking this a little too seriously, and I can't understand it (okay, I can, but I don't agree with some of the harshness).

The problem is that many of the young that see this movie, those that are not knowledgable baseball fans will think that this was the whole Ruth, thats the way he was. They should have included some of his other traits, not just a woman chasing over eating clumsy oaf. Did he chase, did he over indulge yes, but there was more to him than just that.

Before this movie even came about there were many who thought Babe was a big fat guy who could not run, hit many home runs and he ate a lot of hot dogs. This movie might just reinforce those ideas in some who do not know the game of baseball. No problem with them showing Ruth's flaws but they just focused too much on one side of him.

I never watched the movie again, saw it when it first came out. I'm not sure but if I recall there was one scene that bordered on asinine. In that scene Ruth hits a home run and as he gets to first base a pinch runner completes his home run trot around the bases. I could be wrong but I thought that took place in the movie, anyone remember that absurd scene.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Hey Sultan,
Just a suggestion. Don't know if you ever saw James Whitmore doing a one man play on Truman but it was great. Rather than try and get someone to play the Babe on the field it may work better to just do the verbal with the Babe on Stage, smoking a stogie, and a glass of Col Ruppert's fine brew in his hand.

I saw Whitmore doing Truman, I like the scenario involved. No scenes just watching the subject speaking. I also saw Hal Holbrook doing the same with Mark Twain and I watched it a dozen times, it was great.

I have read that Ruth and his wife Claire wanted Paul Muni to play his part but Muni was doing another movie at that time. Remember this was Hollywood($$$$$) and the rumor was that the producers knew Ruth was dying, would not be around much longer and wanted the movie to come about as soon as possible. They believed even had he died, his close passing would have brought in more to watch the movie. To get to the point, enter William Bendix, what a choice, what a dud movie, terrible.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I think Phillip Seymour Hoffman might be a good choice to play the Babe. I also think that Jack Black might be good in the role also.

Jack Black is about as athletic and coordinated as most of our grandmothers. Plus he's like 5'8" or something.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

In that scene Ruth hits a home run and as he gets to first base a pinch runner completes his home run trot around the bases. I could be wrong but I thought that took place in the movie, anyone remember that absurd scene.

Yeah I remember that. He can barely get to first, and then he hunches over and limps off only to have a guy portraying Sammy Byrd finish rounding the bases for him.

[johnny]

I saw Whitmore doing Truman, I like the scenario involved. No scenes just watching the subject speaking. I also saw Hal Holbrook doing the same with Mark Twain and I watched it a dozen times, it was great.

I have read that Ruth and his wife Claire wanted Paul Muni to play his part but Muni was doing another movie at that time. Remember this was Hollywood($$$$$) and the rumor was that the producers knew Ruth was dying, would not be around much longer and wanted the movie to come about as soon as possible. They believed even had he died, his close passing would have brought in more to watch the movie. To get to the point, enter William Bendix, what a choice, what a dud movie, terrible.

In that one man play format, I bet John Goodman could be spot on fabulous. I could see something like that being in a play format or even an HBO or even one of those ESPN type deals. Not costing a lot to put on so they wouldn't have to scrimp and screw up the production values (one of the great things about the Black Sox movie was the adherence to good production values.)

[wamby]

Jack Black is about as athletic and coordinated as most of our grandmothers. Plus he's like 5'8" or something.

I've seen a lot of guys who don't look particularly athletic portray baseball players. After seeing King Kong, I think Jack Black could pull off a good portrayal of Babe Ruth.

[TonyK]

Sultan: Pencil me in your screenplay to star as the fat old Babe smoking the stogie and wearing the mink coat. I like your thought of having a few different actors playing him through the years.

I really did feel John Goodman did a good job playing him as a kid.

I am certain that if his story included the orphanage, his early days as a pitcher, and then his many years as a slugger that it would be interesting to all. Think about how many great games he played in and won with either his arm or his bat. That would fill up most of a movie or special. You can also include a few games where he failed too.

A decent left handed pitcher around 6' 2" or 6' 3" that could act plus a great lefty slugger the same height could fill the major roles. The key to me is they have to be great athletes and believable in the role. This should be a baseball movie and not a Hollywood remake. Fans should be sitting on the edge of their seats wondering if he is going to come through or not.

We should be muttering, "Wow! No wonder he was the most famous athlete of his generation" as we leave the theater.

[Paulmcall]

You know they say that some people are larger than life and I think this is the problem with a movie on Ruth.
The guy was an icon yet complex and that is hard to portray. You normally get a cartoon or superman or both into one. Tough nut to crack.

[Melottfan]

Hey Shoeless,

About getting Paul Muni as the Babe. Great actor, but I believe you're mistaken. I read years ago, they wanted Paul Douglas to play Babe. But he was in another project. Paul Douglas was in two baseball movies, "It Happens Every Spring" as the catcher for St.Louis, and my favorite, "Angels in the Outfield" as the manager. He did come from a sports background. He college football and was a sports commentator in the thirties. If you see any of the forementioned films of Douglas, you can see he does have almost the same built as Babe. At least Douglas could tell you where second base was. Not too sure about Bendix.

[Brownie31]

Instead of attempting a straight biopic, which failed in the Bendix & Goodman fiascos, why not follow the lead of "Cinderella Man" & concentrate on one dramatic episode in Ruth's life namely the "Called Shot"? Think of having as a backdrop the World Series of 1932! New York versus Chicago-Joe McCarthy seeking revenge on his old team-the bitter bench jockeying! What a story! As mentioned, Philip Seymour Hoffman would make an excellent Babe Ruth. Brownie31

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Hey Shoeless,

About getting Paul Muni as the Babe. Great actor, but I believe you're mistaken. I read years ago, they wanted Paul Douglas to play Babe. But he was in another project. .


You may be correct on that one, it could have been Paul Douglas and not Paul Muni. I was going memory on an article I read many years ago.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

You know they say that some people are larger than life and I think this is the problem with a movie on Ruth.
The guy was an icon yet complex and that is hard to portray. You normally get a cartoon or superman or both into one. Tough nut to crack.

With a standard theater type movie, the problem you would have is length. To do it the right way, you would have to have length.

I think it should be done how Creamer did his biography. Leaving very little untold, the good and the bad. The viewers will come away with tons more information to base their perception on. More important than anything, they will understand him as more as a human.

If I were gonna do a mini-series type of movie, I'd start with a whole movie that covers up until he leaves St. Mary's. Then another whole movie could be made until he reaches NY. Then one up until '34, and then another one that covers his last year with Boston, and on into retirement, ceremonies, appearances, funeral, his impact, etc.


I really did feel John Goodman did a good job playing him as a kid.


You've got first dibs on the fat old cigar smoking Babe sitting around all his trophies in a silk robe, listening to records and drinking scotch ;)

Goodman as a kid? I only saw that movie once because it was so awful, but they only had two different actors for Babe right? The little pudgy kid at St. Mary's, and then Goodman playing him later at St. Mary's right? Goodman was like 3 bills, with his pants falling down and blubber bouncing every which way. Remember that scene where he was in a boat with Helen; christ his side of the boat was practically sinking!

[Rome Colonel]

I read years ago, they wanted Paul Douglas to play Babe. But he was in another project.

From 1946 to 1949 Paul Douglas was on Broadway appearing in "Born Yesterday." He later turned down the film role, which went to Broderick Crawford. Douglas would have been a much better choice than Bendix.

I looked at some of the reviews of "The Babe Ruth Story" at IMDB. Someone said that it was Ruth's wife who wanted Douglas to play her husband (very likely she'd seen "Born Yesterday"), but frankly I don't think the Babe himself could have saved that script.

Another reviewer had some interesting casting suggestions.

If filming in the late 40s or early 50s: Jackie Gleason

If filming in the early 60s: Claude Akins or Simon Oakland

Had they been filming in the 70s I think a good choice would have been Joe Don Baker, providing he could lose the Texas accent.

[The Commissioner]

here's a few ideas for Hollywood...ReRun as Jack Johnson,Buddy Hackett as John L Sullivan,Louie Anderson as Bobby Jones.

In order to match the celluloid atrocity that was "The Babe", they would probably have to cast Keanu Reeves as Willie Mays.

[The Commissioner]

From 1946 to 1949 Paul Douglas was on Broadway appearing in "Born Yesterday." He later turned down the film role, which went to Broderick Crawford. Douglas would have been a much better choice than Bendix.

I looked at some of the reviews of "The Babe Ruth Story" at IMDB. Someone said that it was Ruth's wife who wanted Douglas to play her husband (very likely she'd seen "Born Yesterday"), but frankly I don't think the Babe himself could have saved that script.

Another reviewer had some interesting casting suggestions.

If filming in the late 40s or early 50s: Jackie Gleason

If filming in the early 60s: Claude Akins or Simon Oakland

Had they been filming in the 70s I think a good choice would have been Joe Don Baker, providing he could lose the Texas accent.

You know, Gleason would have been an interesting choice. As ridiculous as that sounds at first, he definitely could have added a bit of humanity, and pathos at times, to the role. You know, I bet he could have actually been able to pull it off.

[johnny]

You know, Gleason would have been an interesting choice. As ridiculous as that sounds at first, he definitely could have added a bit of humanity, and pathos at times, to the role. You know, I bet he could have actually been able to pull it off.

Commish, I think your spot on that Gleason would have been a good choice. He was a very good actor.
A choice amongst the living I think would be Brad Garret -of Everybody Loves Raymond- who actually did a great job playing Gleason in a biopic.
He would be a great Babe especially in a one man type play.

[ACrank]

having read this thread i can understand why so many of you didn't like "The Babe", and the points that i can refer to all seem legit gripes about the movie.

I still liked it, but i won't admit to that too loudly.

I do have a question about the BABE RUTH STORY w/ William Bendix. Wasn't Ruth the consultant on that movie? How could he have walked out on it if he was involved in the making of the movie? I know its a bad movie, and i always thought Ruth's involvement (and the sanitizing of his legend before his death) was the major reason the movie was so bad.

[JohnGelnarFan]

How about Oliver Platt as the Babe? He's big,stocky and If you cut his hair right,looks kind of like him. He's also a very good actor. Look him up!



I wish someone would make a new Babe Ruth movie and take it seriously. I can't stand this fat drunk cartoon figure that Ruth has obtained in the public's eye. It's a disservice to the real Babe Ruth. What actor today could play Ruth? Any thoughts?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

having read this thread i can understand why so many of you didn't like "The Babe", and the points that i can refer to all seem legit gripes about the movie.

I still liked it, but i won't admit to that too loudly.

I do have a question about the BABE RUTH STORY w/ William Bendix. Wasn't Ruth the consultant on that movie? How could he have walked out on it if he was involved in the making of the movie? I know its a bad movie, and i always thought Ruth's involvement (and the sanitizing of his legend before his death) was the major reason the movie was so bad.
I don't believe he walked out during the making of the film. He and his wife Claire walked out of the theater midway through the first showing of the film.

[ACrank]

Thats what i meant. I am not doubting that they did - i guess i am asking why? Like i said - i always believed one of the reasons that film was so bad was because of the Babe's participation in the development of the film.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Thats what i meant. I am not doubting that they did - i guess i am asking why? Like i said - i always believed one of the reasons that film was so bad was because of the Babe's participation in the development of the film.

From what I understand he left because the film simply made him uncomfortable. He might have been a consultant on certain baseball aspects, but the film creators clearly did their own thing when it came to exaggerating myths and even creating new ones. That was not Ruth's doing and apparently he disagreed with it. Turned him into something he wasn't and created a bogus Ruth. There was no need for it. His actual accomplishments/achievements/stories should have been more than enough to carry a film and make it intriguing. In other words, it wasn't the Babe Ruth Story he was watching. On top of that he was extremely ill.

[125osprey]

The scene that really annoyed me was the apocryphal moment when the "Babe" managed to homer on an infield fly. Goodman was laughing the moment the ball hit the bat like he knew - he just knew - that the ball was going to remain in the air long enough for him to round the bases. Supposedly Babe Ruth was so awesome - so utterly godlike in his ball-playing powers - that he could homer at will. Insultingly stupid.

Want to watch a good baseball movie? Check out It Happens Every Spring, Fear Strikes Out, Bull Durham, Bang the Drum Slowly, Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings or Eight Men Out. Avoid the insanely slanderous Cobb, the ridiculous The Babe and the asinine Major League movies.

Toronto's Buck Martinez, with a broken ankle and leg, completes a double play by tagging out Gorman Thomas, July 10, 1985

[Sultan_1895-1948]

The scene that really annoyed me was the apocryphal moment when the "Babe" managed to homer on an infield fly. Goodman was laughing the moment the ball hit the bat like he knew - he just knew - that the ball was going to remain in the air long enough for him to round the bases. Supposedly Babe Ruth was so awesome - so utterly godlike in his ball-playing powers - that he could homer at will. Insultingly stupid.


Yeah, showing the two triples that he got from pop ups just past the infield wouldn't have been "special" enough :rolleyes:


Want to watch a good baseball movie? Check out It Happens Every Spring, Fear Strikes Out, Bull Durham, Bang the Drum Slowly, Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings or Eight Men Out. Avoid the insanely slanderous Cobb, the ridiculous The Babe and the asinine Major League movies.


A lot of good choices. I thought the first Major League was very good though, and didn't try to be anything it wasn't. It was just a semi-goofy baseball movie full of great one liners from colorful characters, and you had a love story in there somewhere.

[125osprey]

Yeah, you are right about the first Major League movie. It was kind of fun. I guess I was going a bit overboard with my snobbiness.

[Food]

I never considered Bull Durham to be a baseball movie. To me, it's a romance movie with a baseball subplot. I was disappointed after seeing it, because everyone had been describing it as a baseball movie.

Osprey, I love that pic! Stormin' Gorman!

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I really wish there was some way I could get hold of every single reel, VHS and DVD of that Goodman farce..... did I forget any other format... any way get them all and burn them so it could never be shown again. :rolleyes: Any help out there.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I really wish there was some way I could get hold of every single reel, VHS and DVD of that Goodman farce..... did I forget any other format... any way get them all and burn them so it could never be shown again. :rolleyes: Any help out there.
To quote Alfred Hitchcock, "It's only a movie,"

[Sultan_1895-1948]

To quote Alfred Hitchcock, "It's only a movie,"

To quote you quoting Alfred Hitchcock, and adding something...."It's only a the worst baseball movie ever made about Ruth.

The equivalent of a two armed guy playing Pete Gray, or a 6' tall guy playing Eddie Gaedel.

Joe, let's build the pile, I'll light the match. :D

[SHOELESSJOE3]

To quote Alfred Hitchcock, "It's only a movie,"

Yes it is only a movie but when it's about a real life charactar it should be closer to the truth. For those that know the game we know it was a sham but to the casual fan or just a viewer of the movie they might believe that Ruth was just a big clumsy oaf.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Yes it is only a movie but when it's about a real life charactar it should be closer to the truth. For those that know the game we know it was a sham but to the casual fan or just a viewer of the movie they might believe that Ruth was just a big clumsy oaf.
Hello, Hollywood. Ruth is hardly the first, nor will he be the last to have this treatment.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Hello, Hollywood. Ruth is hardly the first, nor will he be the last to have this treatment.
Agreed, Pearl Harbor turned into a love story and the Titantic turned into the love Boat. JFK has some youn believing that vice president Johnson had something to do with the JFK assissination, love mr conspiracy Oliver stone. Leave it to hollywood to "ham" things up.

BTW, Oliver Stone is doing a sequal to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance."
Oliver's version,The Men Who Shot Liberty Valance."

[wamby]

The equivalent of a two armed guy playing Pete Gray,

See Keith Carradine.

[relic52]

Just picked up the John Goodman film on Babe Ruth, called
the Babe..new for under 5 bucks..Never saw it ,until now
and can see why it flopped at the box office..Terrible script,
tin plated acting..and paints Ruth as an animal..Was`he
really as bad as that film painted him ? or is this another
film that does revisionist history, a'la 'Cobb' ?I'm a fan of John Goodman, but he was a much better Fred Flintstone than the Sultan of Swat (maybe he was playing Fred? LOL).

The film score, though, is very good.

[relic52]

One of the worst films ever on Ruth. I say one of the worst only because it would be hard to match that William Bendix bomb for the worst.But Riley's version had the great line - "Sue Baseballl? Naw kid... That would be like suing the church!"

I think the best Babe was Ruth playing himself in "Pride of the Yankees."

[BaseballHistoryNut]

I agree.

So far, Ruth's the only one who's come close to portraying Ruth right. The more books one reads about Ruth, the more one realizes what an impossible task it is to capture all the complexities of his singular, contradictory personality.

IMO, whoever thought up John Goodman as Babe Ruth should never make another movie. For his best years, Ruth was either in shape or a little overweight. The players who knew him in his prime HATED the way he came to be known as this grossly overweight player who took immense swings, struck out a ton, and every once in awhile, got lucky, connected, and hit the ball to Jupiter. Some would insist he was the best athlete in the game, in his prime. (THAT, I find hard to believe, but then, they were there and I wasn't.)

I think our perceptions of Ruth have been warped by the evolution of films. Films in the late teens and early-to-mid 20's were pretty terrible. But by the late 20's and early 30's, they were of much higher physical quality, and so we see all these higher-quality reels of the aged Ruth, waddling around the bases after he's clobbered a ball. And that image has warped pretty nearly all of our perceptions--including mine--of what the guy looked like as a player.

IMO, the only way anyone will ever do a creditable--and credible--job of telling "The Babe Ruth Story" is to make a TV miniseries out of it: say, a five-night, ten-hour job. In THAT course of time, people could learn all about his fascinating life, and the complex personality he developed and fabulous experiences he had as a result of his remarkable childhood and adolescence.

But having the extremely non-athletic, grotesquely obese John Goodman play Babe Ruth? It was blasphemous. I'm sure all sorts of kids now think Ruth was an out-and-out blimp, and a corny clown like nearly all of Goodman's characters. Thanks, filmmaker, for desecrating the greatest American cultural idol of the first half of the last century. If Japanese soldiers had seen THAT movie before going into battle, they wouldn't have thought it worthwhile to try and disspirit our troops with their chants of "Babe Ruth go to hell!"

BHN

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Have a slight correction for you. Stephen Lang played the Babe in a TV movie based on the Robert Creamer book.Far better then the two Ruth stinkers. Stephen Boyd was a good looking actor of the fifties/sixties, known for his role in Ben-Hur.

This made for TV movie is with no doubt the most accurate and best Ruth movie out there. I taped it saved it. I would say anyone interested in seeing this one can purchase it on VHS and possibly DVD at Amazon Books, well worth the price.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

IMO, the only way anyone will ever do a creditable--and credible--job of telling "The Babe Ruth Story" is to make a TV miniseries out of it: say, a five-night, ten-hour job. In THAT course of time, people could learn all about his fascinating life, and the complex personality he developed and fabulous experiences he had as a result of his remarkable childhood and adolescence.


If I were gonna do a mini-series type of movie, I'd start with a whole movie that covers up until he leaves St. Mary's. Then another whole movie could be made until he reaches NY. Then one up until '34, and then another one that covers his last year with Boston, and on into retirement, ceremonies, appearances, funeral, his impact, etc.

Great minds think alike ;)

The story would be complex. Each relationship he had, whether it be with Matthias, Huggins, Gehrig, Barrow, Helen, etc, would need to be detailed but not too detailed. Subtle enough to not spend too much time on, but in depth enough where we understand the many layers. I also think it could be in black and white, much like Raging Bull. Hmmm..wonder if Scorsese is busy?

[Brownie31]

I'm a fan of John Goodman, but he was a much better Fred Flintstone than the Sultan of Swat (maybe he was playing Fred? LOL).

The film score, though, is very good.

Goodman was even better as Walter in The Big Lebowski.
That is the apex of his career, The Babe is his nadir!

Brownie31

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Boy, is that a good word choice!

But what the hell were the blasphemous idiots who casted that film thinking of? It's not Goodman's fault for acting the way John Goodman does. That was predictable. He could no more portray Ruth than I could sing tenor at the Met. (I have a modestly good bass-baritone voice.) And any idiot would have known that Goodman would be a ridiculous choice for the role.

Was it some Cobb, Mays, Charleston or Wagner fan who made that casting decision, wanting to desecrate Ruth's memory?

[Brownie31]

Boy, is that a good word choice!

But what the hell were the blasphemous idiots who casted that film thinking of? It's not Goodman's fault for acting the way John Goodman does. That was predictable. He could no more portray Ruth than I could sing tenor at the Met. (I have a modestly good bass-baritone voice.) And any idiot would have known that Goodman would be a ridiculous choice for the role.

Was it some Cobb, Mays, Charleston or Wagner fan who made that casting decision, wanting to desecrate Ruth's memory?

BHN:

Since both the Bendix and Goodman films stunk and the
Stephen Lang film is almost never shown and not (to my
knowledge) on dvd, personally I think a film on the lines
of Cinderella Man should be made about the most famous
incident of Ruth's career-The Called Shot.

I am not sure who would play Ruth-possibly Philip Seymour
Hoffman.

What do you think?

Brownie31

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Not a bad choice, Brownie. But as I said, the only person who's really played Ruth credibly so far is the one who's been unavailable since the Summer of 1948. And I believe any actor who wants to play the role with any credibility to us history buffs will have to read a number of the better Ruth bios, to get a real sense of this singular (in both of the main senses of that word) figure.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

BHN:

Since both the Bendix and Goodman films stunk and the
Stephen Lang film is almost never shown and not (to my
knowledge) on dvd, personally I think a film on the lines
of Cinderella Man should be made about the most famous
incident of Ruth's career-The Called Shot.

I am not sure who would play Ruth-possibly Philip Seymour
Hoffman.

What do you think?

Brownie31

I respect that you're so fascinated about the "called shot." Other than just setting the record straight once and for all, that he gestured out toward Root, and not to the centerfield fence, what new info would you like to be shown? Is it just about getting the truth out there? The truth, which imo is larger than some myth where Bendix makes two blatant points with his right arm? If that's what its about, I'm all for it.

Trying to think what the movie could include. The '32 season. The issues with Koenig including the press's role in the matter. Ruth and Claire being spit on as they enter the hotel, Ruth telling Claire that he wanted to get them where it hurt most, him driving to see a blind kid the day before game 3, the razzing before the game, the lemon tossing, the first homer, the fielding blunder, the buildup to the AB, the actual AB with all the razzing, him hitting the homer, Gehrig following that with a homer (would they bother to show that? They should), then what?

I still say Part 1 - Ruth up through leaving St. Mary's. Part 2 - Ruth up through 1919. Part 3 - Ruth up through '34. Part 4 - Ruth as a Brave and the final years. Part three would be the most difficult with all the on field and off-field stuff. Okay, then, maybe even Part 3 - Ruth up through '25. Part 4 - Ruth from '26 - '34. Then Part 5 - Ruth from '35 til' death. Five parts at 2 hours each sounds about right. Even that would be leaving some stuff out.

[BaseballHistoryNut]

I agree with this. If you're going to divide it into parts, Ruth's time with the Yankees has to get at least 40% of the time.

[Brownie31]

I respect that you're so fascinated about the "called shot." Other than just setting the record straight once and for all, that he gestured out toward Root, and not to the centerfield fence, what new info would you like to be shown? Is it just about getting the truth out there? The truth, which imo is larger than some myth where Bendix makes two blatant points with his right arm? If that's what its about, I'm all for it.

Trying to think what the movie could include. The '32 season. The issues with Koenig including the press's role in the matter. Ruth and Claire being spit on as they enter the hotel, Ruth telling Claire that he wanted to get them where it hurt most, him driving to see a blind kid the day before game 3, the razzing before the game, the lemon tossing, the first homer, the fielding blunder, the buildup to the AB, the actual AB with all the razzing, him hitting the homer, Gehrig following that with a homer (would they bother to show that? They should), then what?

I still say Part 1 - Ruth up through leaving St. Mary's. Part 2 - Ruth up through 1919. Part 3 - Ruth up through '34. Part 4 - Ruth as a Brave and the final years. Part three would be the most difficult with all the on field and off-field stuff. Okay, then, maybe even Part 3 - Ruth up through '25. Part 4 - Ruth from '26 - '34. Then Part 5 - Ruth from '35 til' death. Five parts at 2 hours each sounds about right. Even that would be leaving some stuff out.

Sultan:

I think that your proposal would be best for TV and mine for
the movies. In fact, the idea of a Babe Ruth miniseries is a
hell of a great idea, IMHO.

My route, again IMHO, is best for the big screen as witness
both "Cinderella Man" and "The Greatest Game Ever Played".
As you point out there are so many great subplots in the
1932 World Series just as there were with Jim Braddock
and Francis Ouimet.

Babe Ruth's entire life was so rich and interesting that
it deserves telling in full (just as you suggest) and only
a miniseries can do that.

Considering the rotten fiascos of both Bendix and Goodman,
the Babe is long, long overdue appropriate treatment on
film and I say the more the better on every front available.

Brownie31

[Captain Cold Nose]

Agreed, Pearl Harbor turned into a love story and the Titantic turned into the love Boat. JFK has some youn believing that vice president Johnson had something to do with the JFK assissination, love mr conspiracy Oliver stone. Leave it to hollywood to "ham" things up.

BTW, Oliver Stone is doing a sequal to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance."
Oliver's version,The Men Who Shot Liberty Valance."
Don't even joke about that. They remade High Noon and I've heard Shane might be next. They'll make them all comedies.
Ruth deserves better than what he has had, although I hear the made for cable version wasn't bad. Cobb certainly deserves beater than his sociopathic version with Tommy Lee Jones. Pride of the Yankees can be done without the Capra corn, same with Pete Alexander. As the greatest icon in baseball, Ruth is the first on a long list. The fact Hollywood is now churning out good stuff based on real people lately gives a glimmer of hope.

[brooklyndodger14]

Don't even joke about that. They remade High Noon and I've heard Shane might be next. They'll make them all comedies.
Ruth deserves better than what he has had, although I hear the made for cable version wasn't bad. Cobb certainly deserves beater than his sociopathic version with Tommy Lee Jones. Pride of the Yankees can be done without the Capra corn, same with Pete Alexander. As the greatest icon in baseball, Ruth is the first on a long list. The fact Hollywood is now churning out good stuff based on real people lately gives a glimmer of hope.

Does ANYBODY have a copy of either the 1991 TV-movie "Babe Ruth" starring Stephen Lang ("Crime Story", but maybe more remembered as the scandal-sheet reporter who met a "flaming" end in the original version of "Manhunter"), OR the cable-tv drama of the Babe I believe the Captain is referring to which starred Max Gail (Barney Miller's Wojo)?

Would be glad to trade for...

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[relic52]

Goodman was even better as Walter in The Big Lebowski.

Brownie31'The Big Lebowski' is a great movie! Goodman was terrific also in 'Barton Fink.'

The guy who plays the Bambino in 'The Sandlot' (Art La Fleur) grows on you.

[W_Marone]

I dont remember the bambino being in, wait, wait, I do slightly, time to get the ol' vcr out, I vaigly remember seeing Goodman as the babe, I dont think he did that bad of a job from what I recall, however its been years since ive seen it.

[skeletor]

I dont remember the bambino being in, wait, wait, I do slightly, time to get the ol' vcr out, I vaigly remember seeing Goodman as the babe, I dont think he did that bad of a job from what I recall, however its been years since ive seen it.

trust me..it was dreadful....add to the mix, crappy script...could have been
a lot better..some things, hollywood never gets right....

Have mixed feelings on the COBB film...don't think it was ever released on
DVD by Warners...it was based on Stump's book on Cobb...so blame
Stumpie ..Jones was interesting..look for Roger Clemens inna small part
as a pitcher trying to bait Cobb...with insults..
:grouchy

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Don't even joke about that. They remade High Noon and I've heard Shane might be next. They'll make them all comedies.
Ruth deserves better than what he has had, although I hear the made for cable version wasn't bad. Cobb certainly deserves beater than his sociopathic version with Tommy Lee Jones. Pride of the Yankees can be done without the Capra corn, same with Pete Alexander. As the greatest icon in baseball, Ruth is the first on a long list. The fact Hollywood is now churning out good stuff based on real people lately gives a glimmer of hope.

Seriously, did they remake "High Noon?" And let me guess.... He doesn't throw the badge in the dirt this time, does he? John Wayne, who HATED the movie for that reason, can sleep happily now.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I dont remember the bambino being in, wait, wait, I do slightly, time to get the ol' vcr out, I vaigly remember seeing Goodman as the babe, I dont think he did that bad of a job from what I recall, however its been years since ive seen it.

See pics in post #17.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Does ANYBODY have a copy of either the 1991 TV-movie "Babe Ruth" starring Stephen Lang ("Crime Story", but maybe more remembered as the scandal-sheet reporter who met a "flaming" end in the original version of "Manhunter"), OR the cable-tv drama of the Babe I believe the Captain is referring to which starred Max Gail (Barney Miller's Wojo)?

Would be glad to trade for...

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14
I was referring to the Lang movie. I had no idea Max Gail did a version. Was that around Barney Miller or in later years? Did he just star in it?
Lang will always be Gen. George Pickett ("Gettysburg") or Ike Clanton ("Tombstone") to me. He won't get a chance to act in the third movie of the Shaaras' Civil War trilogy, (he was Stonewall Jackson in "Gods and Generals", which he domnated) as it won't be made.
"High Noon" was remade for the cable channel TNT. I can't remember who played Marshall Kane, maybe Tom Skerritt, but Maria Conchita Alonso played Helen, and before the movie was shown, she said the new version was superior to the original, even though she didn't see it. So I didn't watch the new version.

[wamby]

Seriously, did they remake "High Noon?" And let me guess.... He doesn't throw the badge in the dirt this time, does he? John Wayne, who HATED the movie for that reason, can sleep happily now.

I don't know if it was a remake but there was a High Noon sequel of sorts that had Lee Majors (I think) in the title role. I don't believe that I've actually watched it though.

[wamby]

I was referring to the Lang movie. I had no idea Max Gail did a version. Was that around Barney Miller or in later years? Did he just star in it?
Lang will always be Gen. George Pickett ("Gettysburg") or Ike Clanton ("Tombstone") to me. He won't get a chance to act in the third movie of the Shaaras' Civil War trilogy, (he was Stonewall Jackson in "Gods and Generals", which he domnated) as it won't be made.
"High Noon" was remade for the cable channel TNT. I can't remember who played Marshall Kane, maybe Tom Skerritt, but Maria Conchita Alonso played Helen, and before the movie was shown, she said the new version was superior to the original, even though she didn't see it. So I didn't watch the new version.

Stephen Lang also had a memorable performance in Last Exit to Brooklyn, which can't really be described in this particular forum.

Lang was really good as both Pickett and Jackson. I thought his performance as Babe Ruth was pretty good. A couple scenes in that movie were filmed near my house.

[brooklyndodger14]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9912&stc=1&d=1149611675
http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9913&stc=1&d=1149611731

I was referring to the Lang movie. I had no idea Max Gail did a version. Was that around Barney Miller or in later years? Did he just star in it?

Hello Captain,

I had only remembered the Lang/"Babe Ruth" as an NBC movie shown once in '91..

I remember the Max Gail version as being done in the mid-to-late 80's (Post-Barney Miller). It was a one-man show, I believe, and shown on cable (hence the belief that THAT was what you were referring to..)

I'm trying to scrape any Internet references to Gail's version. From what I do remember seeing, it was pretty good.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[Sultan_1895-1948]

The problem with making a 5 part movie would be the details, especially toward the beginning. The author of "Big Bam" touches on this quite a bit when trying to describe Ruth's early years. The lack of details or in some cases, none at all, leave us to wonder exactly what happened. So in those early years, how do you go about telling the story. Do you completely leave out what we don't know and just touch on what we do know?

Babe's Early Years - We see what the Baltimore area was like. We get a glimpse of the life of Ruth's parents even before young George is born. Once he's born, we're right along side Kate and George through the hectic chores of running a business and trying to raise children. His mom having seven more kids, all who died in their infancy, except for one daughter (Mamie). The mom emotionally torn apart, always stressed out, depressed. Raising a daughter while always pregnant and sick. Never time to look after Babe, and George had the tavern to look after. Details, details. What do we show.

Him skipping school, roaming the streets, playing stickball early on. A roughhousing little s*it for sure. Him experiencing the shady Baltimore streets as a 5, 6, 7 year old, experimenting with liquor and tobacco. Showing disrespect toward cops, truckers and merchants. An animal who found other animals to be hang with. No parental supervision. So why do his parents decide to send him to St. Mary's. Because of bad behavior, or were they basically ordered to because their environment/situation was deemed unfit to raise a kid, due to a brawl and a gunshot incident at the saloon. Who knows. Either way, somehow Ruth ended up on a trolly headed toward St. Mary's. The structured life of St. Mary's would be a focul point. The no-nonsense schedule. Up at 6, to bed at 8, the all day classes, the workshops, the mass, and of course, the recreation time in the "big yard."

To me, this first of the five part series, would be the most crucial. It can and should be used later to not excuse, but to explain some of Babe's behavior as an adult. The impact of his youth cannot be overlooked. Get this first part right, and the rest will fall in place.

[Captain Cold Nose]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9912&stc=1&d=1149611675
http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9913&stc=1&d=1149611731



Hello Captain,

I had only remembered the Lang/"Babe Ruth" as an NBC movie shown once in '91..

I remember the Max Gail version as being done in the mid-to-late 80's (Post-Barney Miller). It was a one-man show, I believe, and shown on cable (hence the belief that THAT was what you were referring to..)

I'm trying to scrape any Internet references to Gail's version. From what I do remember seeing, it was pretty good.

Dennis
BrooklynDodger14
Ah. For some reason I always thought the Lang movie was a cable entry. Encore used to show it every now and then on their True Stories channel, which is now the Drama channel. I'm not sure if they'e shown it since the change.