“When it Was a Game” is a nostalgic look back at Major League Baseball from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The entire three hours of this original HBO made-for-television movie consists of 8mm and 16mm film shot by players, their families, and fans, mostly in color. Included are rare glimpses of famous ball players and ballparks, many no longer in existence, such as Ebbets Fields.
Some of the gems we get to view are the graceful swing of Lou Gehrig, the slow pitch and rapid delivery of Sandy Koufax, the larger-than-life persona of Babe Ruth, pitcher Don Drysdale beaning an opponent in the batter’s box, a joint appearance by Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium, and much more.
Celebrities lending their voices in narration are James Earl Jones, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, Rita Moreno, Jack Palance, and Kevin Costner. Other clips include Jackie Robinson stealing home plate, Tom Lasorda and Chuck Connors in the Dodger minor league system, and scenes from the 1934 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. “When it Was a Game” is a must-view for all baseball fans from HBO and producers David Harmon, George Roy, and Steven Stern, who was also the teleplay author.
When it Was a Game (1991)
cinema
My Review
“When it Was a Game” is a nostalgic look back at Major League Baseball from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The entire three hours of this original HBO made-for-television movie consists of 8mm and 16mm film shot by players, their families, and fans, mostly in color. Included are rare glimpses of famous ball players and ballparks, many no longer in existence, such as Ebbets Fields.
Some of the gems we get to view are the graceful swing of Lou Gehrig, the slow pitch and rapid delivery of Sandy Koufax, the larger-than-life persona of Babe Ruth, pitcher Don Drysdale beaning an opponent in the batter’s box, a joint appearance by Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium, and much more.
Celebrities lending their voices in narration are James Earl Jones, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, Rita Moreno, Jack Palance, and Kevin Costner. Other clips include Jackie Robinson stealing home plate, Tom Lasorda and Chuck Connors in the Dodger minor league system, and scenes from the 1934 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. “When it Was a Game” is a must-view for all baseball fans from HBO and producers David Harmon, George Roy, and Steven Stern, who was also the teleplay author.