61*

[runningshoes]

I just saw it for the first time last night.

Besides the fact that Billy Crystal couldn't direct a snake towards a rat, what did everyone think of it?

[ichiro262]

I thought it was a great movie, but I do agree that the directing was questionable. I thought Barry Pepper played a fairly accurate Maris (from everything I've ever read about him).

[64Cards]

I just saw it for the first time last night.

Besides the fact that Billy Crystal couldn't direct a snake towards a rat, what did everyone think of it?

That's a hilarious line, rs53, but I thought it was rather well-directed, certainly one of the best bb movies ever, although I realize that's a pretty short list. I thought the guys playing M&M were terrific as were some of the supporting cast, the guys who played Houk [was in Animal House & My Cousin Vinny, 2 of my favorite comedies] Ford, Yogi, Allen and Rizzuto. Excellent authenticity, especially with the uniforms. Seen it many a time on HBO.

[ElCaminoSS]

I really liked it. The actors they found really did look like they players they were supposed to be, especially Maris.

[runningshoes]

I enjoyed the story and the era duplication. It wasn't the worst Baseball movie by any means. I thought Pepper and Jane did a good job, given the script, but I wasn't overly impressed with the direction.

[tmorss9]

Excellent authenticity, especially with the uniforms. Seen it many a time on HBO.

The uniforms were great, except the Tigers and Yankees hats had the Jersey logos on them, when both teams actually use 2 different logos for hats and jerseys. I'm sure the film was quite accurate, as the remaining players from that team served as technical directors. Even as a Red Sox fan, this is a really good movie.

[Bluesteve32]

One error was Bob Cerv being on the Yankees the whole season when in fact, Cerv started the season on the Los Angeles Angels.

[DTF955]

I got the DVD for Christmas. I liked the movie, but the making of the movie was the most sensational part of it.

I think they chose Crystal because he was a baseball fan - I mean, the man seemed to know everything about every little nuance of the game, from that DVD extra. it talked about how he knew every lineup (obviously a little inaccurate, if he forgot about Cerv, but that's Hollywood :-), how Crystal and others had helped to increase the authenticity of it, and even showed how they turned Tiger Stadiuma into Old Yankee Stadium. That was really cool

[Myankee4life]

I haven't seen the movie......is it still on HBO?

[bhss89]

I haven't seen the movie......is it still on HBO?

Nope, you'll have to go rent this one.

Can't understand why everyone has such a problem with Crystal's direction; I thought it was just fine, and he obviously put his heart and soul into the piece. Both actors were dead ringers for M & M, and overall I thought it was a very good movie.

[Bluesteve32]

I actually have the DVD for about $6 at Circuit City. My kids like the movie, as well. Back when it was on HBO, I saw Billy Crystal's "Making of 61*" which was quite interesting and really showed it to be a labor of love.

[efin98]

I just saw the movie. Not bad, but I think it draws out too much. It could have been much shorter with no great loss of quality.

They did a great job with Tiger Stadium, painting it the old colors worked out really well for the digital effects team.

The other ballparks didn't quite look right. Fenway Park and Memorial Stadium didn't look right. I think Tiger Stadium was not quite right, almost like it wasn't even the same stadium.

And is it me or did it look like they screwed up on the shots of dead centerfield? It look way too round, almost symetrical yet not curved to left.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Was that the guy who played Bob Rooney on Married with Children as "Babe Ruth"?
I liked 61*. I think it accomplished what it was trying to do, letting us see what Maris was really going through and putting down the whole rivalry notion.

[efin98]

Was that the guy who played Bob Rooney on Married with Children as "Babe Ruth"?

That was the same actor.

Interesting notes from the "making of" featurette: Billy Crystal and his production partner(his name escapes me) had cameos in the movie. Billy was digitally added to the third deck, his partner was the fan who ran onto the field to shake Maris's hand after hitting #61.

They also got Maris's grandson in the movie as well, saying "wow" at the very begining(after the McGuire bit)

[tmorss9]

Good catch on Tiger Stadium, efin. In 1961, the stadium seating and facades were predominantly green, In the movie, they were shown in it's current blue. I think the shot the Tiger Stadium scenes after they had torn down and repainted all the Yankee Stadium stuff. The other stadiums don't look like themselves because they were filmed at the LA coliseum.