Angels in the Outfield *** (1951, Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn) – Classic Movie Review 10,347

Director Clarence Brown’s 1951 black and white sports drama and family fantasy comedy Angels in the Outfield [Angels and the Pirates] is a sweet and strange slice of MGM religious fantasy with Paul Douglas as grumpy old manager Aloysius X ‘Guffy’ McGovern, supposedly gaining angelic assistance in successfully running his flop baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The nice cast (Janet Leigh as the young reporter Jennifer Paige, Keenan Wynn as Fred Bayles, Donna Corcoran as orphan girl Bridget White, Spring Byington and Ellen Corby as nuns running the orphanage, Lewis Stone and Bruce Bennett) does extremely well, but sport and religion make strange bedfellows.

The reporter blames the team’s losing streak on the abusive rough guy manager and tries to uncover stuff about him for her column. But Guffy begins hearing an angel’s voice promising to help the team if he reforms. And Pirates fan Bridget sees angels on the pitch after praying for the team.

Angels in the Outfield is entertaining though, despite its awkward moments and unconvincing romance, and it is often fondly remembered.

It is remade by Disney as Angels in the Outfield [Angels] (1994) without the religious scenes.

Also in the cast are Marvin Kaplan, Jeff Richards, King Donovan, Don Haggerty, John Gallaudet, Paul Salata, and Fred Graham.

Angels in the Outfield [Angels and the Pirates] is directed by Clarence Brown, runs 99 minutes, is made by MGM, is released by MGM, is written by Dorothy Kingsley and George Wells based on a story by Richard Conlin, is shot in black and white by Paul C Vogel, is produced by Clarence Brown, is scored by Daniele Amfitheatrof, and designed by Edward C Carfagno and Cedric Gibbons.

It is shot at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios – 10202 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City, California; Forbes Field, Boquet and Sennott Streets, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Comiskey Park I, 324 W. 35th Street, Armour Square, Chicago (Polo Grounds); Wrigley Field, 42nd Place and Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles (closeups).

Donna Corcoran (born 29 September 1942) is the sister of popular Disney child star Kevin Corcoran (1949–2015).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,347

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