An early, pre-'Psycho', role for Anthony Perkins and the debut film for director Robert Mulligan. It's especially since I saw his (Mulligan) 'The nickel ride' (1974), a terrific crime drama, that I've been wanting to see everything that he ever made. And why not start with his debut? I also saw his classic film 'To kill a mockingbird', and this one is much like that one, in a sense: a heartfelt drama with a good amount of social issues addressed.
Perkins does a terrific job playing Jim Piersall, the son of an almost obsessed (but still well-meaning) father who wants his son to play for the Boston Red Sox one day, as does Karl Malden as the father. Perry Wilson has considerable less screen time as the mother, but does a good job nonetheless, and Norma Moore does an admirable job as Jim Piersall's charming sweetheart and later on wife and mother of his child.
I must admit I'd never heard of this true story before, but then again, I am no particular fan of baseball or any other sports. The story goes pretty fast, from one pivotal moment to the other, leaving not much room to take in any atmosphere or just get acquainted with the characters. But it's still a pretty good drama, and some particular scenes are dramatically pretty near perfect.
A good 7 out of 10.
Perkins does a terrific job playing Jim Piersall, the son of an almost obsessed (but still well-meaning) father who wants his son to play for the Boston Red Sox one day, as does Karl Malden as the father. Perry Wilson has considerable less screen time as the mother, but does a good job nonetheless, and Norma Moore does an admirable job as Jim Piersall's charming sweetheart and later on wife and mother of his child.
I must admit I'd never heard of this true story before, but then again, I am no particular fan of baseball or any other sports. The story goes pretty fast, from one pivotal moment to the other, leaving not much room to take in any atmosphere or just get acquainted with the characters. But it's still a pretty good drama, and some particular scenes are dramatically pretty near perfect.
A good 7 out of 10.