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I love this movie. Summer 1961: Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle are on pace to break the most hallowed record in U.S. sports, Babe Ruth's single-season 60 home runs. It's a big story, and the intense, plain-spoken Maris is the bad guy: sports writers bait him and minimize his talent, fans cheer Mantle, the league's golden boy, and baseball's commissioner announces that Ruth's record stands unless it's broken within 154 games. Any record set after 154 games of the new 162-game schedule will have an asterisk. The film follows the boys of summer, on and off the field: their friendship, the stresses on Maris, his frustration with the negative attention, and his desire to play well, win, and go home Barry and Thomas are perfect for their rolls in this movie, you do truly believe they are Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. A must see for any baseball fan.Read full review
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This is an incredibly accurate depiction of the story of NY Yankees Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' race to the home run title during the 1961 baseball season. It's a factual account of the anti-hero rising above all odds to place their mark in history. Billy Crystal, a prolific baseball fan, did a marvelous job of directing, producing, researching and casting the film. The resemblances of actors Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper to Mantle and Maris is spot-on. The mannerisms and demeanor of both players is also accurately captured by Jane and Pepper - Mantle, the self proclaimed womanizing boozer and Maris, the soft-spoken mid-western boy next door. The film, as far as I can tell, is seemingly more fact than fiction. For those who may be unaware, the asterisk behind 61 was intentional (and controversial) as the record was broken in a longer playing season than the 1927 season in which Babe Ruth established the single-season record at 60 home runs - much like the asterisk Mark Ecko had affixed to Barry Bonds' record home run ball. (That's a sore spot with me but another subject entirely). The special features on the DVD are as captivating as the film itself and include a pre-steroid era interview with Mark McGwire. I highly recommend it as essential in any movie collection, but especially for any baseball fan.Read full review
you do not need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this biopic about the 1961 record breaking run of roger maris and mickey mantle. it shows the price that these two new york yankees paid as the pursued the single season homerun record set by babe ruth in in 1932. the two team mates fiercely competed for the title but emerged as friends. barry pepper and thomas jane make the two yankee legends likable and simpathetic.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
As a Yankees fan, it's nic eto see a tory bring to life the heroes that we idoloze daily. Part of being a great Yankees fan is appreciation of the history of the greatest pro sports franchise ever. Billy Crystal did an amazing job, I still can't believe how anyone can walk away from this film and not feel a part of the history. Authentic in appearance, very personal into the players private lives, moving, hearwarming, genuine. Strong story, great acting, Barry Pepper deserves an Oscar. An instant classic. Too bad "Pride Of the Yankees" was already taken, that would have been a great name for this one.
I was there. I attended the September series in Detroit and went to one of the games. My family stayed in the same hotel as the Yankee Team did and I have a baseball autographed by 20 of the team members. This film is MY history as well as baseball history. All the players in 1961 were gentlemen, wore coats and ties in public at all times and loved to sign autographs even in the hotel lobby. They were the real deal, not like today's primadonnas. Billy did a fabulous job with the movie and this 1 hour story about it all was incredible. I loved that almost better than the movie. When he sat next to Mickey on the Dinah Shore show that was tremendous. The way he tied the past with the present was incredible. Tiger Stadium was great for the movie. Thank you Billy. Thank you. BobRead full review
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