“61*” is a sports drama telling the true story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle on their pursuit to break Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs during the 1961 season of the New York Yankees. Director Billy Crystal (“Mr. Saturday Night” 1992) put together this comprehensive look at one of baseball’s most exciting contests. The 129-minute running time flew by thanks to Crystal’s professional job at the helm of this made-for-television movie, and a well-written teleplay by Hank Steinberg.
The superb cast is headed by Barry Pepper as Maris and Thomas Jane as Mantle. Co-stars include Bruce McGill as manager Ralph Houk, Donald Moffat as MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, Jennifer Crystal Foley (the director’s daughter) as Pat Maris (1961), Patricia Crowley as Pat Maris (1998), Renee Taylor as Claire Ruth, Christopher McDonald as Yankee announcer Mel Allen, Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford, Michael Nouri as Joe DiMaggio, Paul Borghese as Yogi Bera, Tom Candiotti as Hoyt Wilhelm, as well as Richard Masur, Seymour Cassel, Peter Jacobson, Chris Bauer, Robert Joy, and Bobby Hosea.
“61*” was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Wards, winning one for Outstanding Casting. The loses were for Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, and Director. Much of the baseball action was actually filmed at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, doubling for New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium. “61*” was first aired on April 28, 2001, on HBO, from executive producers Billy Crystal and Ross Greenburg, HBO Films, and Face Productions.
61* (2001)
cinema
My Review
“61*” is a sports drama telling the true story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle on their pursuit to break Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs during the 1961 season of the New York Yankees. Director Billy Crystal (“Mr. Saturday Night” 1992) put together this comprehensive look at one of baseball’s most exciting contests. The 129-minute running time flew by thanks to Crystal’s professional job at the helm of this made-for-television movie, and a well-written teleplay by Hank Steinberg.
The superb cast is headed by Barry Pepper as Maris and Thomas Jane as Mantle. Co-stars include Bruce McGill as manager Ralph Houk, Donald Moffat as MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, Jennifer Crystal Foley (the director’s daughter) as Pat Maris (1961), Patricia Crowley as Pat Maris (1998), Renee Taylor as Claire Ruth, Christopher McDonald as Yankee announcer Mel Allen, Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford, Michael Nouri as Joe DiMaggio, Paul Borghese as Yogi Bera, Tom Candiotti as Hoyt Wilhelm, as well as Richard Masur, Seymour Cassel, Peter Jacobson, Chris Bauer, Robert Joy, and Bobby Hosea.
“61*” was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Wards, winning one for Outstanding Casting. The loses were for Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, and Director. Much of the baseball action was actually filmed at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, doubling for New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium. “61*” was first aired on April 28, 2001, on HBO, from executive producers Billy Crystal and Ross Greenburg, HBO Films, and Face Productions.