Big Leaguer (1953) User Reviews

For baseball fans

[JohnSeal · 5/10 · 11 May 2002]

Edward G. Robinson buoys this fairly routine but thoroughly enjoyable baseball tale. The story follows a handful of youngsters as they try out for the New York Giants, including a Pennsylvania third basemen who was supposed to be going to college, the son of a former major leaguer, and a hot shot pitcher. There's also one of those exotic Cubans to represent the multicultural appeal of baseball---all the other players are white! Real life players Carl Hubbell and Al Campanis appear in cameos. We all know who's going to make it and who's going to get the girl from the get go, but never mind--this is one of those movies that fits like a comfortable old shoe. If you like baseball, try to catch Big Leaguer!

Who's going to make it to the Big Leagues?

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 22 March 2006]

For a film that is set in the New York Giants training camp of 1953, the biggest surprise for me is the fact that manager Leo Durocher did not appear in it. Leo at the time was married to Laraine Day and was quite at home in the movie colony. And he was a natural ham.

This is not spring training with the New York Giants. In fact the Giants down to today do their spring training in Arizona. This is a winter instructional school, something pioneered by the Giants across the Harlem River rivals, the Yankees. Here the school is run by veteran baseball coach Hans Lobert.

There was in fact a real Hans Lobert, a very good third baseman who played in the beginning and teen years of the last century for such teams as the Phillies and the Giants among others. His style of play in the field was very similar to baseball immortal Hans Wagner, hence John Lobert became popularly known as Hans Lobert. At third base he was the Brooks Robinson of his day and while he didn't hit in the same class as Hans Wagner(very few ever did)he was no easy out at the plate.

Edward G. Robinson plays the real life Hans Lobert who's dealing with some promising rookies like Jeff Richards, William Campbell, Richard Jaeckel among others. Robinson acts like a father confessor to all these kids as he deals with not just their playing skills, but a few personal problems as well. The real Lobert was known to do just that, he was a beloved figure in baseball.

Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell made an appearance in Big Leaguer, I suppose to lend authenticity. He was some pitcher in his day as well with a screwball that could practically turn a corner backwards.

Another reviewer made a comment about the players being all white at the school. Oddly enough the Giants had integrated at that point, becoming the second team in the National League to do so following the Dodgers. A star rookie from 1951 named Willie Mays was in the army at this time, but the Giants had Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson playing for them at the point in time Big Leaguer was filmed.

My guess would be that at this point in time the Giants like many other teams weren't signing black prospects fresh out of school. They were instead raiding the Negro Leagues for proved players. The Negro Leagues were in their last stages, in fact the last star player signed out of them was a man who played for the Indianapolis Clowns named Hank Aaron.

I have a funny feeling that Giant owner Horace Stoneham made this film in response to the success that the Dodgers enjoyed in 1950 with the Jackie Robinson Story. Big Leaguer is a much better film than that was.

This film isn't about stars, but about eager young prospects trying to make the grade. It's got a good baseball feel to it. Baseball fans will love it, hopefully it will come out one day on DVD and VHS.

And wasn't Hans Lobert one lucky fellow to have himself portrayed on the screen by an established movie star.

Enjoyable....and a lot like traveling back to Spring Training camp back in the good old days.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 23 April 2018]

The casting of Edward G. Robinson in "Big Leaguer" is very odd, as I cannot see how anyone would picture him as a coach for a major league team...even the coach in charge of try-outs during Spring Training. However odd this is, the film worked okay and it was much like taking a trip back through time to watch a group of young people try their luck in camp.

Is any of this life-changing and amazing? No...but it's all very pleasant and it's also nice to see Carl Hubbell (a Hall of Fame pitcher) playing, of all people, himself. Overall, a pleasant little film...worth seeing and kind of sentimentally sweet at times.

Hoping for DVD release

[geraldbottomley1 · 6 June 2009]

As a young boy I was one of the kids playing sandlot baseball in the closing scenes of the movie. I've never found a copy of the movie and I understand it's privately owned and stored in a basement somewhere. I can only hope that someday it will be released to the public. If anyone knows more about it, I would appreciate any information.

Watching the filming of the movie was an experience. A number of the local kids were hired for the sandlot scene. We each got paid $5 (I got my social security card with a California number because of that).

I would also be interested in knowing what the other extras are doing these days.

Every Cliche in the Book - Big Leaguer

[arthur_tafero · 6/10 · 16 December 2021]

This film has every baseball cliche in the book. It is hackneyed stuff from beginning to end, and is corny as Kansas. But I still liked it because I am a sucker for baseball. If you're a sucker for baseball as well, then this film is for you.

Even for those of us who don't take Big League seriously.

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 10 November 2017]

Edward G. Robinson (John B. "Hans" Lobert), Vera-Ellen (Christy), Jeff Richards (Adam Polachuk), Richard Jaeckel (Bobby Bronson), William Campbell (Julie Davis), Carl Hubbell (himself), Paul Langton (Brian McLennan), Lalo Rios (Chuy Aguilar), Bill Crandall (Tippy Mitchell), Frank Ferguson (Wally Mitchell), Mario Siletti (Polachuk), John McKee (Dale Alexander), Robert Caldwell (Pomfret), Donald "Chippie" Hastings (Little Joe Polachuk), Al Campanis, Bob Trocolor, Tony Ravish (themselves), Bing Russell.

Narrated by Paul Langton.

Director: ROBERT ALDRICH. Screenplay: Herbert Baker. Story: John McNulty, Louis Morheim. Photography: William C. Mellor. Film editor: Ben Lewis. Art directors: Cedric Gibbons and Eddie Imazu. Set decorator: Edwin B. Willis. Make-up: Jack Dawn. Hair styles: Sydney Guilaroff. Music director: Alberto Colombo. Technical adviser: John B. "Hans" Lobert. Assistant director: Sid Sidman. Sound supervisor: Douglas Shearer. Producer: Matthew Rapf. Executive producer: Charles Schnee. Location scenes photographed at the New York Giants training farm in Melbourne, Florida.

Copyright 13 July 1953 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 21 August 1953. U.K. release (in a 53-minute version): January 1956. Australian release: 4 November 1953. 70 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Two weeks with young recruits in a big-league baseball training camp.

COMMENT: Although not highly regarded by connoisseurs, director Aldrich's first cinema feature has a lot to recommend it, not least the excellent performance of Edward G. Robinson as real-life baseball pro, "Hans" Lobert. In fact, with the exception of glumly stolid Jeff Richards, all the players (including of course the lovely Vera-Ellen and the talented Richard Jaeckel) are lively and likable.

Although constrained by a conventional plot, Aldrich's direction is never less than highly competent, occasionally even inventive.

Most of the film (if not all of it) has been attractively lensed on actual training camp locations by William C. Mellor, and the screenplay manages to arouse a fair amount of interest in both the characters and their background even for those of us who don't take Big League seriously.

sincere baseball

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 28 April 2024]

Adam Polachuk (Jeff Richards) recounts his dream of being a big leaguer. He's the narrator and the story teller. He arrives at the Florida training camp for the New York Giants. Over two hundred show up and only a handful make it to the end. John Lobert (Edward G. Robinson) runs the place. His niece Christy (Vera-Ellen) is a baseball expert who works in the front office.

At some point, I needed the constant narration to end. The actors need the room to do their work. The narration keeps interrupting. Robinson is the big name. Vera-Ellen is doing good work. I don't know much about the lead. Apparently, he's a baseball minor leaguer turned actor after an injury. I do recognize William Campbell but I couldn't place him. I look up his credits and Star Trek. He has one of the most iconic Star Trek guest roles. This movie incorporates lots of realistic stories. Yet, the tone is sincere idealism even for the 50's. It's definitely not daring enough to stand out.

Worth Watching

[pmtelefon · 6/10 · 28 April 2024]

I put on "Big Leaguer" this morning because I thought it was a comedy. It's not. Sure, there are some laughs here and there but "Big Leaguer" plays it mostly straight. And for the most part, it does a nice job. I could have done without the non-stop narration. Overall, it was a pretty good watch. It was a bit of a slow starter for me. Most of the dialogue consists of "attaboy" and stuff like that. The cast is fine, although Vera-Ellen didn't do much for me, with the standout being the always likeable Richard Jaeckel. "Big Leaguer" really shines towards the end once Polachuk's father shows up. "Big Leaguer" seems like the kind of movie that improves with each viewing. I'll find out the next time I watch it.

A newspaper story with moving images.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 22 May 2013]

Baseball fans, which are many, will not be the only ones to enjoy this light-hearted fare of a baseball rookie camp where the pro's are weeded out from the amateurs. Told through the narration of a sports columnist, this is slice-of-life drama at its most all American, almost Disney-esque in nature. Edward G. Robinson is a former professional player ("Your grandfathers used to watch me play third base", he tells the young men upon their arrival. Now one of the trainers who must stay on and who moves back home to attempt other ambitions, he is assisted by his pretty daughter, a non-dancing Vera-Ellen. She takes an interest in a strong but silent loner (Jeff Richards) while other players show ego, provide comic relief, or attempt to improve their English while dreaming of a future in the great American pastime.

It's nice to see a film like this that doesn't resort to any violence or sexual or romantic intrigue, or even show any back-stabbing in a very team-oriented sport. This is a film that doesn't try to be anything more than what it is, and it is a film that works through "moments", not through an over-stuffed plot. Comic moments include a not-so-attractive close-up of the middle-aged Robinson, hair askew, after a rookie yet cocky pitcher, almost knocks his lights out, and another where the team's comic mimes a slow-motion pitch. Richards is touching in his quite role, dealing with an indifferent father and a hero-worshiping younger brother whom you know will one day attend the same camp. So don't judge too harshly for being witness to a film almost sweet in its vision of hopeful youngsters becoming men by attempting to achieve the goals millions of kids have only dreamed of.

"They've come to play, and everything is baseball."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 4 May 2024]

You take a look at this picture and realize professional baseball has come a long way. What surprised me most was how all the would-be players arriving at the New York Giants tryout camp showed up for their first practice wearing the uniforms of their hometown travel teams. Not one wore civilian clothes, blue jeans or a t-shirt. This was somewhat of an odd vehicle for Edward G. Robinson, who made his mark in the Thirties and Forties in topflight gangster and tough guy roles. Cleared of associations with Communism by the House Unamerican Activities Committee before this picture was made, Robinson found himself in lesser roles the rest of his career, even when at the top of the bill. Playing against type here as the Giants tryout camp coach, his character, John 'Hans' Lobert, is a jack of all trades mentor, disciplinarian, and fatherly giver of advice to the young men who come under his leadership. Not to mention his expertise as a ball player, having played third base for the Giants himself. Which is why he takes a particular shine to the prospect for that position, the imposing and talented Adam Polachuk, portrayed by Jeff Richards. Polachuk also catches the eye of Lobert's niece Christy (Vera-Ellen), whose words of advice when he finds himself conflicted about remaining in camp help him make a life changing decision.

The picture would not have been complete without the typical game defining moment coming in the final inning of a crucial contest that would determine which players would go on to receive contracts to join the minor leagues at a hundred fifty dollars a month. The story offered the opportunity for one of the player's father to sell Polanchuk's own Dad (Mario Siletti) on the idea of Adam becoming a pro ball player. Mr. Polanchuk was dead set on Adam going to school to become a lawyer, but his superb play and Walter Mitchell's (Frank Ferguson) raves about his son helped seal the deal. The game winning homer by Adam helped as well.

Though the film isn't in the same league (no pun intended) as say, "Field of Dreams" or "The Natural", baseball fans will probably find something to like about this decades old flick. It's also a good chance to see Edward G. Robinson in an atypical role, and since he's one of my favorite old-time actors, I had a pretty good time with this one.

Freaky Baseball Film

[hsiegel-1 · 3/10 · 5 August 2006]

There are very few good baseball films and certainly this isn't one of them but Robert Aldrich somehow makes it all watchable. Edward G. Robinson is so good you actually believe he is baseball veteran Hans Lobert, who really lived and played ball for several teams in the early 20th century. Lobert's real name was Honus but everyone called him Hans, same as Honus Wagner, everyone called him Hans, too. The real Carl Hubbell and the real Al Campanis (who's next appearance was probably on the Nightline Show that cost him his job as Dodger general manager when he maligned African-Americans!)show up in this unknown and odd film which only runs 71 minutes. Richard Jaekel has one of his best parts and shows a real naturalness. It's nice to see him in something other than a war movie. And finally there's Vera Ellen, the smallest waist in Hollywood, doing a movie outside of her husband's, Herbert Yates, Republic Studios. An odd film for fanatical baseball fans only.

Big Leaguer Hits the Majors ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 11 May 2013]

No wonder the beginning scenes shows Bobby Thompson's dramatic home run in 1951 to lead the Giants against the Dodgers.

Vera-Ellen did not dance in this film, but rather played the niece of Edward G. Robinson, a Giant scout, evaluating prospective players for minor league contracts. Robinson gives a subdued, but still another good performance in this film.

The guys arrive at training camp and begin a regimen of activities to prove their dexterity for the game.

Jeff Richards is one of those players who Ellen shows an interest for outside of baseball. Working at the front office, the Ellen character strongly hints to Robinson that the office may be calling for his retirement. While this is never further discussed in the film, the end of the movie seems to explain what would occur.

Truly a heartwarming tale of what prospective players have to go through. Certainly an inspiration for aspiring young stars, especially children.

An OK debut for Robert Aldrich

[brynjolfur-00878 · 5/10 · 26 February 2023]

Big Leaguer * US 1953 b/w 71m MGM (Matthew Rapf) A coach, who runs a baseball training camp for the New York Giants in Florida, helps young hopefuls get a shot in the major league.

Dir Robert Aldrich Edward G. Robinson as John B. ´Hans´ Lobert Vera-Ellen as Christy Jeff Richards as Adam Polachuk, Richard Jaeckel as Bobby Bronson, William Campbell as Julie Davis, Carl Hummell as himself, Paul Langton as Brian McLennan A mildly interesting baseball drama for sport fans, but for all others a no-hitter with a predictable plot and rather too slow-paced. DRAMA/SPORT (U) Released: August, 1953.

1. In 1952, the head of MGM, Dore Schary, announced the formation of a new unit that would concentrate on low-budget films. Producers, many of them sons of men who had helped Louis B. Mayer in the early years, were contracted, one was Matthew Rapf (son of Harry Rapf).

2. Matthew Rapf bought a story that was based in part on Hans Lobert (1881-1968), a baseball player, later a scout and coach (he appears in two scenes).

3. Rapf hired Herbert Baker to write the screenplay. Baker, who had struck up friendship with sport-fan Robert Aldrich during the filming of ´So This is New York´ (1948), suggested him as director.

4. Edward G. Robinson signed on to star. Vera-Ellen (1921-1980), a noted MGM-dancer and Jeff Richards (1924-1989), a former baseball player, were also cast.

5. Filming started in March of 1953 to take advantage of the spring training season. Shot in 17 days in Melbourne, Florida.

6. Cost $500.000, the film did poorly at the box office.

+ The film was not a success, and Aldrich returned to television.

Credits: w-Herbert Baker, based on a story by John McNulty, Lou Morheim ph-William C. Mellor m-Alberto Colombo ed-Ben Lewis ad-Cedric Gibbons, Eddie Imazu.

Robinson's great in this one

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 9 September 2022]

Edward G. Robinson always gives an exceptional performance, even in a routine programmer like this one. He has a certain way of spinning a line without overdoing things, which puts his character across with flair without detracting from the overall aim of the story. In this case he's playing Hans Lobert, a real-life ex-third baseman turned scout for the NY Giants.

Robinson always does well bonding with the younger cast. We see this in his work with Allene Roberts in THE RED HOUSE and in how he collaborates with Burt Lancaster in ALL MY SONS. He establishes a paternal connection to these newer stars and seems to be offering guidance to them on screen, both in character and as a fellow actor.

That sort of mentoring is advantageous in this type of film. Mostly because he's supposed to function as a surrogate father figure, encouraging these hopefuls towards their goal of becoming good professional ball players. Not all of them will make the cut at a training camp in Florida, but they will try hard with Robinson pushing them every step of the way.

Some of the supporting cast fare better than others. Richard Jaeckel is wonderful as a brash pitcher. Robinson drops him from the roster then regrets it-- especially when Jaeckel joins a rival team and goes up against them in a playoff. It's easy to see why Mr. Jaeckel had a long career in Hollywood.

Meanwhile Jeff Richards, whom MGM was grooming for big things, is just mediocre and somewhat bland...unfortunate, since he'd been a minor league ball player before getting into the movie business.

In addition to Jaeckel and Richards, there are lesser known faces that reflect casting diversity. One is a farm boy handed standard comic relief duties. One is a hood from a rough neighborhood who listens to tunes on the jukebox. And one represents Latino athletes-- specifically Cubans in the world of baseball. Much is made about his learning English. The cast is all male except for one person.

MGM star Vera-Ellen appears as Robinson's niece. We are told she knows quite a lot about the sport, though she never really demonstrates this with her actions. I guess she's too busy falling for Richards. To my knowledge this was Vera-Ellen's only non-musical role.

The final sequence of the film is particularly good. It's a playoff game, before Robinson and his bosses announce which guys are being offered contracts with the Giants' organization. It's nearly as fun as watching a World Series game, because each one has a lot to prove knowing it's their last chance to make a solid impression.

When they get on the bus to go home, I admit I was a bit teary-eyed. Their time with Robinson meant a lot to them, because they learned so much from him.

MGM's long standing relationship with Edward G Robinson does not make this a film worth watching

[Ed-Shullivan · 5/10 · 5 May 2021]

I have never been a big fan of the pint sized Edward G Robinson and so MGM's veiled attempt to warm up their film goers to Edward G. Robinson by supplanting him in America's favorite past time a baseball film, as the Manager named John Lobert who runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants it was difficult for me to visualize this ever happening. I would have believed Edward G Robinson more as a Ballet instructor flirting around the stage in a tutu rather than in a baseball cap and a baseball film.

I know the film was released in 1953 and the lovely actress Vera Ellen would be the only reason I would have watched this in the first place. Awww but who doesn't love a good sports film on a baseball training camp in the springtime injected with a romantic undertow?

I give the film a mere passing grade of 5 out of 10 IMDB rating and this is based on Ms. Vera Ellen's fine performance.

This movie emphasizes the importance of the U.S. . . .

[pixrox1 · 8/10 · 11 March 2021]

. . . Postal Service. Adam P. is a beleaguered coal miner's son (which is even more challenging than being a coal miner's daughter). Though his dad wants him to go to college and become a lawyer, Adam wants to see his mug shot on baseball cards. Through a series of miscommunications, Adam's dad loses track of his oldest offspring. (Either the youngster forgot to recharge his Smart Phone, or he's staying in a backwater lacking any cell towers.) Fortunately, a girl named Chris is sweet on Adam, so she purchases some Forever Stamps and reestablishes a grapevine link between father and son. Then, of course, everyone lives happily ever after.

Good Performance by Robinson

[Michael_Elliott · 6 November 2010]

Big Leaguer (1953)

** (out of 4)

There have been quite a few good baseball films over the years but sadly this isn't one of them even though we do get a fine performance from Edward G. Robinson. In the film he plays John Lobert, a former baseball player who currently runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants. Each year he judges new talent trying to find the next great player but the team is getting a little fed up with him not finding any All Stars so the pressure is on to find someone to save his job. BIG LEAGUER has a few good moments in it but in the end you can't help but feel rather bored and letdown. I'm sure there could have been a very good movie made about these young kids who come to this camp to try and fulfill their dreams but this film is so child like that you can't help but feel you're watching something fake. The ball players are all stereotypes as you have one whose father was a baseball great and of course he can't live up to his father. You have another who thinks he's the greatest thing on Earth yet he's not. You have another who doesn't want his hard working father to know he's missing college to try and play ball. All the stereotypes are on hand here and not one of them comes across as a real character. Robinson at least keeps the film moving as he has that great energy that only he could get across. There was a quick scene where I thought we were going to get to see him bat but that ended up not happening. Vera-Ellen appears as his niece and makes for the love interest to one of the players played by Jeff Richards. I really wasn't overly impressed with either of them but apparently Vera-Ellen was a very big name back in the day but I really couldn't see why. Frank Ferguson, Richard Jaeckel and William Campbell also star. Carl Hubbell plays himself in a quick cameo.