Film Snail

7.2

A League of Their Own

PG·1992·128m

Comedy

Drama

Comedy

Drama

Summary

As America's stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by publicity-hungry candy maker Walter Harvey. Competitive sisters Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller spar with each other, scout Ernie Capadino and grumpy has-been coach Jimmy Dugan on their way to fame.

Cast

Tom Hanks

Jimmy Dugan

Geena Davis

Dottie Hinson (C)

Lori Petty

Kit Keller (P)

Madonna

Mae Mordabito (CF)

Rosie O'Donnell

Doris Murphy (3B)

Megan Cavanagh

Marla Hooch (2B)

Tracy Reiner

Betty Horn (LF/P)

Bitty Schram

Evelyn Gardner (RF)

Ann Cusack

Shirley Baker (LF)

Anne Ramsay

Helen Haley (1B)

Freddie Simpson

Ellen Sue Gotlander (SS/P)

Renée Coleman

Alice Gaspers (LF/C)

Robin Knight

'Beans' Babbitt (SS)

Patti Pelton

Marbleann Wilkenson (2B)

Kelli Simpkins

Beverly Dixon (OF)

Neezer Tarleton

Neezer Dalton (OF)

Connie Pounds-Taylor

Connie Calhoun (OF)

Kathleen Marshall

'Mumbles' Brockman (OF)

Sharon Szmidt

Vivian Ernst (2B)

Pauline Brailsford

Miss Cuthbert

David Strathairn

Ira Lowenstein

Garry Marshall

Walter Harvey

Jon Lovitz

Ernie Capadino

Bill Pullman

Bob Hinson

Justin Scheller

Stilwell

Eddie Jones

Dave Hooch

Alan Wilder

Nelson

Michael Haley

Empathetic Umpire

Don S. Davis

Racine Coach Charlie

Janet Jones

Racine Pitcher

Brenda Ferrari

Racine Catcher

Téa Leoni

Racine 1B

Laurel Cronin

Maida Gillespie

Wantland L. Sandel Jr.

Doctor

Joe Krowka

Heckler

Harry Shearer

Newsreel Announcer

Blaire Baron

Margaret

Ryan Howell

Jeffrey

Brian Boru Gleeson

Bobby

David Franks

Vacuum Salesman

Ryan Olsen

Dollbody Kid

Ellie Weingardt

Charm School Instructor

Larissa Collins

Charm School Assistant

Douglas Blakeslee

Doris' Fan #1

Joey Slotnick

Doris' Fan #2

Brian Flannery

Autograph Kid #1

Stephen Feagley

Autograph Kid #2

Rae Allen

Ma Keller

Gregory Sporleder

Mitch Swaley

Eddie Mekka

Mae's Guy in Bar

Stephen Mailer

Kit's Guy in Bar

Raymond L. Chapman

Ticket Scalper

Joette Hodgen

Opera Singer

Lynn Cartwright

Older Dottie

Kathleen Butler

Older Kit

Eunice Anderson

Older Mae

Vera Johnson

Older Doris

Patricia Wilson

Older Marla

Mark Holton

Older Stilwell

Barbara Erwin

Older Shirley

Betty Miller

Older Betty

Eugenia McLin

Older Ellen Sue

Barbara Pilavin

Older Helen

Marvin Einhorn

Older Ira

Shirley Burkovich

Older Alice

Dolores 'Pickles' Dries

Lady in Bleachers

Shelly Adlard

Additional Player

Vickie Buse

Additional Player

K.C. Carr

Additional Player

Julie Croteau

Additional Player

Tonya Gilles Koch

Additional Player

Kirsten Gretick

Additional Player

Stacey Gustaferro

Additional Player

Lisa Handirk

Additional Player

Cheryl Jones

Additional Player

Shelly Niemeyer

Additional Player

Sally Rutherford

Additional Player

Lita Schmitt

Additional Player

Amanda Walker

Additional Player

Brenda Watson

Additional Player

Clint Calvert

Baseball Fan with Boy (uncredited)

Del Close

Baseball Owner (uncredited)

Sarah Cosgrove-Gaumond

Charm School Assistant (uncredited)

Cris Cunningham

Soldier (uncredited)

Doug Decker

Photographer (uncredited)

Andrea Helene

Model (uncredited)

Gary Houston

Ray Foster (uncredited)

David L. Lander

Radio Sportscaster (uncredited)

Kindra Marra

Racine Pitcher (uncredited)

Megan McCarthy

Ballplayer (uncredited)

Ed Quinn

Mr. Murphy (uncredited)

Phil Russell

Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)

Keith Schrader

Umpire (uncredited)

Ray Toler

Loudmouth from Lukash (uncredited)

Robin Wyatt

Background Extra (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Penny Marshall

Screenplay

Lowell Ganz

Screenplay

Babaloo Mandel

Writer

Kim Wilson

Writer

Kelly Candaele

Reviews

John Chard

August 15, 2019

The Drunk and The Babes!

It's 1943 and Baseball in the states has been decimated by all the men being called up to join the services. Enter the ladies who themselves help to kick start a womens league to keep the Baseball fires burning.

The first thing any prospective first time viewer of this piece should note, is that it's not actually a film about Baseball. It's about friendships, challenges and differing off shoots to the complications of war, it just so happens that it's the game of Baseball that brings it all together!

Directed by Penny Marshall (Big), screenplay by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel (City Slickers/Parenthood) and featuring Tom Hanks (wonderful as drunken coach Dugan) as the leading male, it's no surprise that "A League Of Their Own" booms with sentiment and no little amount of comedy. It is to me a very rewarding picture, the sort that wants you to chuckle along with it whilst noting the need for human interaction during a troubled time.

The lady actors do great impressions of bona fide athletes, asked to parade in short skirts and entertain the watching public, these gals, led by the always engaging Geena Davis, deliver a sparky picture that never veers into maudlin territory. There are of course some sombre moments, but they are placed nicely by Marshall in the context of the films' events, never trite, they serve more as tender vignettes to run alongside the frivolity on offer.

Ultimately "A League Of Their Own" has achieved its aims come the final credits, its not taxing and its not purporting to be an intelligent look at a period in history. It's asking us the viewers to feel heartened by what we just watched, and just maybe to give those girls back in the 1940s a piece of our respect, job done. 7/10