Film Snail

6.4

It Happens Every Spring

NR·1949·87m

Comedy

Summary

A scientist discovers a formula that makes a baseball which is repelled by wood. He promptly sets out to exploit his discovery.

Cast

Ray Milland

Vernon Simpson

Jean Peters

Deborah Greenleaf

Paul Douglas

Monk Lanigan

Ed Begley

Edgar Stone

Ted de Corsia

Jimmy Dolan

Ray Collins

Alfred Greenleaf

Jessie Royce Landis

Mrs. Greenleaf

Alan Hale Jr.

Schmidt

Kathleen Hughes

Sarah (uncredited)

Mae Marsh

Greenleaf's Maid (uncredited)

Debra Paget

Alice (uncredited)

Ray Teal

Mac (uncredited)

William Murphy

Tommy Isbell

Robert Adler

Reporter (uncredited)

Baird Allington

Baseball Player (uncredited)

Ward Brant

Baseball Player (uncredited)

John Butler

Fan Visiting with Debbie (uncredited)

Johnny Calkins

Boy Sitting Next to Debbie at Ballpark (uncredited)

Harry Carter

Baseball Fan in Stands (uncredited)

Bill Cartledge

Newsboy (uncredited)

Harry Cheshire

Team Doctor X-Raying King's Hand (uncredited)

Pat Combs

Telegram Delivery Boy (uncredited)

Al Eben

Parker - Team Trainer (uncredited)

Gene Evans

Batter Mueller (uncredited)

Sandra Gould

Mabel on Telephone (voice) (uncredited)

William E. Green

Prof. Joe Forsythe (uncredited)

Tom Hanlon

St. Louis Broadcaster (uncredited)

Sam Hayes

New York Broadcaster (uncredited)

Don Hicks

Assistant to New York Announcer (uncredited)

Edward Keane

Jack Bell (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Baseball Fan (uncredited)

Ruth Lee

Miss Collins - Prof. Greenleaf's Secretary (uncredited)

Joseph R. Liscio

Trainer (uncredited)

Lee MacGregor

Student (uncredited)

John McKee

Baseball Player (uncredited)

George Melford

Conductor (uncredited)

Billy Mitchell

Sweeper Outside Carob Hotel (uncredited)

Debra Paget

Alice - College Co-ed (uncredited)

Robert Patten

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Ed Randolph

Umpire (uncredited)

Grandon Rhodes

Professor (uncredited)

Harry Seymour

Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)

Mickey Simpson

Stadium Policeman (uncredited)

Douglas Spencer

Train Conductor (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Man in Train Station (uncredited)

Brick Sullivan

Umpire (uncredited)

Jane Van Duser

Miss Mengalstein - Dolan's Secretary (uncredited)

Max Wagner

Umpire (uncredited)

Robert B. Williams

Reporter (uncredited)

Charles Flynn

Reporter (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Lloyd Bacon

Screenplay, Story

Valentine Davies

Story

Shirley W. Smith

Reviews

Geronimo1967

December 6, 2023

Ray Milland looks like he's having a bit of fun in this light-hearted drama about a science professor ("Vernon") who, thanks to a rogue ball through his window, accidentally discovers a secret formula that makes him an huge success with the hitherto fairly unsuccessful St. Louis baseball team. Even the best pitchers cannot get the ball to hit the bat! His fortune is made. Except, of course, he is doing all this clandestinely and his gal "Deborah" (Jean Peters) and his increasingly frustrated boss "Prof. Stone" (Ed Begley) are reading about this "Kelly" person in the papers whilst wandering just what's happened to the unassuming and reliable "Vernon". An on-form Paul Douglas ("Monk"), meantime, tries to keep the initially sceptical team onside and help out our boffin as he tries to keep his identity under wraps and secure a coveted World Series game. Director Lloyd Bacon allows his star to enjoy this role and that's engaging to watch. He looks every the inch the scientist-cum-hapless sportsman who also has that traditional lab-coat ineptitude when it comes to dealing with the outside world. There a a few quite fun visual effects, the script is amiably presented and the film, though probably twenty minutes too long, flows nicely towards a conclusion that has to raise a smile. Perfectly watchable drive-in fayre, this.