Ratings: IMDB ― 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes ― 77%, ME ― 70%
[Ernie sees Dottie and Kit vigorously milking cows]
Ernie Capadino: Ow. Doesn't that hurt them?
Dottie Hinson: Doesn't seem to.
Ernie Capadino: Well, that would bruise the hell out of me.
Dottie Hinson:Who ARE you?
Ernie Capadino: I'm Ernie Capadino. I'm a baseball scout. I saw you playing today. Not bad, not bad. You ever heard of Walter Harvey, makes Harvey bars - you know, the candy?
Dottie Hinson: Yeah. We feed them to the cows when they're constipated.
Ernie Capadino: That's the guy. He's starting a girls' baseball league, so he can make a buck while the boys are overseas. Wanna play?
Dottie Hinson: Huh?
Ernie Capadino: Nice retort. Tryouts are in Chicago. It's a real league, professional.
Kit Keller: Professional - baseball?
Ernie Capadino: Mmm-hmm. They'll pay you 75 dollars a week.
Kit Keller: We only make 30 at the dairy.
Ernie Capadino: Well then, this would be more, wouldn't it?
John Lovitz as Ernie Capadino, Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson and Lori Petty as Kit Keller.
Trivia (From IMDB):
The "strawberry" bruise Renée Coleman received on her thigh while sliding into a base remained for over a year.
During filming of the World Series games, stars took turns entertaining the unpaid extras. Tom Hanks did puppet shows over the dugout, Rosie O'Donnell did stand-up comedy; and various actors pretended to be Madonna and sang her songs after the singer balked at performing for the fans.
All of the injuries and bruises in the film were real injuries that the actors received during filming.
When Rosie O'Donnell's character, Doris, asks "What are you a Genius?" to Dottie, Geena Davis actually has an IQ of 140. Having an IQ of 140 is actually considered the starting point for the "Genius" level.
Geena Davis joined the production as a late replacement for Debra Winger, days before filming was due to start. Davis's character was supposed to be one of the greatest female baseball players in America, and the cast had been doing baseball training for months. Within weeks, Davis had mastered the game, and was regularly beating all her co-stars.
Jon Lovitz had a more substantial role in the film's initial cut. During the extensive post-production editing and screening process, the filmmakers used only his meanest comments and most obvious punchlines and found the audience was roaring with laughter at everything he said. They decided to focus on those moments, cut out extraneous material, and ended up with one of the most popular elements of the final film.
For the famous split catch, Geena Davis had to have a stunt double slide into the split. Although Davis could do the splits, as shown, she couldn't slide into it.
Tom Hanks gained 30 pounds in preparation for his role. He attributed the weight he gained to a nearby Dairy Queen. All during filming, Penny Marshall encouraged Hanks to keep on eating. Meanwhile, she also told Rosie O'Donnell to eat as little as possible.
Lori Petty was, in reality, a faster runner than Geena Davis, and had to run slower while appearing she was running at full speed.
Dolores 'Pickles' Dries, the lady in the Cooperstown bleachers who referred to Dottie as "the best player in the league", was a pitcher for the Rockford Peaches in 1952, '53, and '54.
The storyline was inspired by the career of baseball legend Dottie Collins. During WWII, Collins played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and pitched 17 shutouts during her six-year career.
The movie's line "There's no crying in baseball." was voted as the #54 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).
The more mature Dottie and Kit are played by Lynn Cartwright and Kathleen Butler, but their voices are dubbed by Geena Davis and Lori Petty.
In 2012, was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry archives.
Actresses auditioning for the film had to prove they could play baseball. All the actresses cast in the film apart, except Davis, did their own baseball stunts. None of the performers wanted stunt doubles.
Director Penny Marshall cast her daughter Tracy Reiner as Betty Spaghetti and her brother Garry Marshall as Walter Harvey. Garry was cast at the last minute because Penny couldn't afford her original choice for the part, Christopher Walken.
The film portrays the league as initially unpopular and unprofitable, until demeaning gimmicks are used to attract male audiences. In reality, the league was popular and profitable from the start, largely because it played in towns in the upper Midwest that had no way of watching a live baseball game. Eventually, the league grew into a ten-team two-division league. The advent of televised baseball games in the early fifties, however, would lead to the demise in the popularity of the league.
After league tryouts were completed, all of the players were sent to "Charm and beauty school". This is factual, as the real AAGPBL players were sent to the Helena Rubenstein Beauty Salon to be made over, and they attended Helena Rubenstein's Evening Charm School after afternoon practices where proper etiquette, hygiene and the leagues dress code were taught and reinforced.
According to a handwritten letter she wrote to photographer Steven Meisel, Madonnawas miserable. "I cannot suffer any more than I have in the past month, learning how to play baseball with a bunch of girls (yuk) in Chicago (double yuk). I have a tan, I'm dirty all day, and I hardly ever wear make up. Penny Marshall, Lavern (sic), Geena Davis is a Barbie Doll, and when God decided where the beautiful men were going to live in the world, he did not choose Chicago. I have made a few friends but they are athletes, not actresses. They have nothing on the house of extravaganza. I wish I could come to N.Y."
The red-orange house used as the team hotel (for the scene where Dottie leaves the team) is located in Henderson, Kentucky. It was on sale for $60,000 when it was used for filming.
In the film, the AAGPBL's 1943 World Series is between the Racine Belles and the Rockford Peaches. The Belles actually played the Kenosha Comets in the '43 World Series.
Although the film shows Evelyn bringing her son to the games, children were not allowed in the dugouts during games.
When the Rockford-Racine World Series game was filmed, it was over 100 degrees outside.
When Jimmy first "meets" the Peaches, he strolls right through them and heads to the urinal for a bit of relief. The girls whisper to each other to time him; the actual time of the activity is 53 seconds.
As the Peaches leave the locker room for the final game of the World Series, Jimmy says to the replacement catcher, "You're killing me, Alice, you're killing me." Hanks is paraphrasing one of the most famous sports quotes, "They're killing me, Whitey, they're killing me," said by Denver Broncos coach Lou Saban to an assistant. (Saban actually said, "They're killing me out there, Whitey," but the quote is frequently repeated with "out there" omitted.)
The soldier who did most of the dancing with Madonna in the bar scene was a recurring character on director Penny Marshall's Laverne & Shirley (1976) TV show. The actor, Eddie Mekka, was Shirley's boyfriend and his occupation was a dance teacher.
The Racine Belles home games were filmed at Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana. They retrofitted the entire stadium to look as it did in that era. "Support the Racine Belles" signs are still on display. The stadium is now used by the Evansville Otters, a Frontier League baseball team, and the ball girls wear the Belles uniforms.
Brooke Shields was offered the lead female role, but after the writer's strike in 1988, Shields was written out, to be replaced by Debra Winger. However, Winger also backed out, and the part then went to Geena Davis.
To lighten the mood on the set in between takes, Geena Davis suggested that the cast perform songs from "Jesus Christ Superstar". Tom Hanks was assigned the role of Caiaphas.
The characters at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and seen playing as the credits roll, are real original players from the league portrayed in the film.
The Peaches played at Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois. No place in Rockford could be used for filming because of Beyer Stadium's state of disrepair. It was eventually condemned; all that remained for many years was the original archway and a sign about the Peaches. Since 2010, a community group "Friends of Beyer Stadium" has been rebuilding the site and renovating the field.
Madonna's stand-in was Melissa Totten, who has performed as a Madonna impersonator in the Las Vegas stage show Legends In Concert for many years.
David L. Lander, who has an uncredited role as a game announcer, is a real-life baseball fanatic who later became a scout for the Anaheim Angels. He is also a veteran of director 'Penny Marshall''s Laverne & Shirley (1976) series.
When announcing the game the Peaches announcer (David L. Lander) uses the phrase "Oh Doctor!" during an exciting play. This phrase was made popular by 1940s and 50s Brooklyn Dodgers announcer Red Barber.
New York state trooper David Harding played one of Kit's adult sons in the Hall of Fame scene. Within months of the shooting, he was indicted for falsifying evidence in several cases, including a 1989 multiple murder in Ithaca.
Tom Hanks' character, Jimmy Dugan, is loosely based on real-life baseball sluggers Jimmie Foxx and Hack Wilson.
Megan Cavanagh and Tracy Reiner reprised their roles as Marla Hooch and "Betty Spaghetti" Horn in the short-lived A League of Their Own (1993) TV series.
During initial development, James Belushi was set to play Jimmy Dugan and Laura Dernwas cast in the role of Dottie Hinson.
The Rockford Peaches home games were filmed in Huntingburg, Indiana. The stadium was completely renovated, and named League Stadium after the movie crews left. In the movie, a barn in the background. The barn was two-sided, and covered a water slide.
All scenes on the train and at the railroad depot were filmed at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. The passenger train in the film is part of the its collection.
Moira Kelly was originally signed on to play the role of Kit, but she hurt her ankle while filming The Cutting Edge (1992) .
The AAGPBL uniforms were originally designed by Mrs. Wrigley, art director Otis Shepard and softball star Ann Harnet. The uniform consisted of a one piece flared skirted tunic with silk shorts, knee high baseball socks and a baseball cap. The uniforms were based off figure skating, field hockey and tennis costumes of the period. The new uniform was later modeled to the new league players by Ann Harnet herself who was signed as the first player to join the league.
Debra Winger was originally going to star in the film, but backed out when Madonnawas signed. Winger also had suffered a back injury that forced her off the film. Lori Petty was cast with her resemblance to Winger in mind. When Geena Davis took over the part of Dottie, Petty's hair was dyed to match Davis' to make them look like sisters.
Geena Davis auditioned in Penny Marshall's backyard.
Although she is left-handed, Bitty Schram throws and bats right-handed in the film.
The bar scene, where the girls sneak away for a night on the town, was originally going to be filmed at The Hornet's Nest, a bar/restaurant in Evansville, IN. The owners of the Hornet's Nest did spontaneous renovations in preparation for filming. The producers decided the changes didn't fit with the setting they were going for, and found a new location.
Madonna co-wrote the theme song for the film "This Used To Be My Playground" for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
When Bill Pullman's character shows up in uniform, he is wearing the "T" patch of the 36th Division from Texas.
Lavonne Paire Davis, who died in February 2013 at age 88, served as an uncredited consultant to director Penny Marshall and was one of several real-life female ballplayers who helped inspire the fictional Dottie Hinson, played by Geena Davis.
Julie Croteau was a baseball double for actress Anne Ramsay, who played Helen Haley. Croteau was the first woman to play men's NCAA college baseball, for St. Mary's College of Maryland (Division III).
Kelly Candaele was one of the writers for this movie. His mother played in the league portrayed in the movie. Also, Kelly's brother, Casey, was a major league infielder from 1986 through 1997. His best season was 1991 (right before the movie was released) when he collected 121 hits and 50 RBI for the Houston Astros as their usual starting second baseman.
Harvey's house in Illinois is an actual house that was originally owned by Robert R. McCormick, a colonel in the Big Red One, the first Infantry, in WWII. He was also the owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune for decades. His home is now a museum along with a museum dedicated to the Big Red One.
The opening day lineup for the Rockford Peaches: 1) CF-#5-Mae Mordabito 2) 3B-#22-Doris Murphy 3) C-#8-Dottie Hinson 4) 2B-#32-Marla Hooch 5) LF-#11-Shirley Baker 6) 1B-#15-Helen Haley 7) SS-#1-Ellen Sue Gotlander 8) RF-#17-Evelyn Gardner 9) P-#23-Kit Keller
Singer k.d. lang was supposed to be in the film, but backed out due to her recording schedule.
Molly Ringwald was considered for the role of Kit.
Jennifer Jason Leigh turned down the role of Dottie Hinson.
Ellie Cornell had originally landed a role in the film but had to back out after learning she was pregnant.
Kelly McGillis was considered for the role of Dottie.
When Jon Lovitz found out Madonna had checked into their hotel under a pseudonym, he registered under one too: 'Edna Poo-a-dee-doo'.
Sean Young and Demi Moore were both considered for Dottie. Demi had to back out because she became pregnant.
Lindsay Frost was the original choice for "All the Way" Mae but couldn't take the part when her TV pilot got picked up.
Farrah Fawcett really wanted to take part and was physically able to play the game but according to Penny Marshall she was slightly too old.
Ally Sheedy was considered for the role of Dottie.
In her biography "My Mother Was Nuts" Penny Marshall recounts that Lori Singer would have been cast if she hadn't insisted on getting a bigger part.
Marisa Tomei filmed an audition tape of her playing baseball being coached by Joe Pesci on the set of My Cousin Vinny (1992) but according to Penny Marshall she just wasn't a ball player.
The famous line, "There's no crying in baseball" has some basis in fact. According to author Daniel Okrent, Rogers Hornsby (to whom Tom Hanks refers) was chewing out a line of minor league hitters he was instructing, when Ron Santo (toward the end of the line) was quoted as saying, "If he says that to me, I'll cry."
The character of Jimmy Dugan was originally on his 60s.
Spoilers ―
The scene where Betty Spaghetti learns her husband died took three days to film.
During the final scene in the film at the baseball hall of fame, older Dottie walks past a billboard honoring Jimmy Dugan. It reads, "Jimmy Dugan Hits 58 Home Runs in 1936. When Jimmy Dugan hit his 58th home run, he set a new record for his beloved Chicago Cubs. The club had not seen a similar hitting streak for two decades and Dugan's thrilling performance that season helped invigorate the team and set a new attendance record at Harvey Field as well. Jimmy Dugan's greatest year was also marked by his appearance at 3rd base in the 1936 All-Star Game, where he hit a low slider out of the park driving in the winning run. Born 1906, Died 1987."
The red-orange house used as the team hotel (for the scene where Dottie leaves the team) is located in Henderson, Kentucky. It was on sale for $60,000 when it was used for filming.
In the film, the AAGPBL's 1943 World Series is between the Racine Belles and the Rockford Peaches. The Belles actually played the Kenosha Comets in the '43 World Series.
Although the film shows Evelyn bringing her son to the games, children were not allowed in the dugouts during games.
When the Rockford-Racine World Series game was filmed, it was over 100 degrees outside.
When Jimmy first "meets" the Peaches, he strolls right through them and heads to the urinal for a bit of relief. The girls whisper to each other to time him; the actual time of the activity is 53 seconds.
As the Peaches leave the locker room for the final game of the World Series, Jimmy says to the replacement catcher, "You're killing me, Alice, you're killing me." Hanks is paraphrasing one of the most famous sports quotes, "They're killing me, Whitey, they're killing me," said by Denver Broncos coach Lou Saban to an assistant. (Saban actually said, "They're killing me out there, Whitey," but the quote is frequently repeated with "out there" omitted.)
The soldier who did most of the dancing with Madonna in the bar scene was a recurring character on director Penny Marshall's Laverne & Shirley (1976) TV show. The actor, Eddie Mekka, was Shirley's boyfriend and his occupation was a dance teacher.
The Racine Belles home games were filmed at Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana. They retrofitted the entire stadium to look as it did in that era. "Support the Racine Belles" signs are still on display. The stadium is now used by the Evansville Otters, a Frontier League baseball team, and the ball girls wear the Belles uniforms.
Brooke Shields was offered the lead female role, but after the writer's strike in 1988, Shields was written out, to be replaced by Debra Winger. However, Winger also backed out, and the part then went to Geena Davis.
To lighten the mood on the set in between takes, Geena Davis suggested that the cast perform songs from "Jesus Christ Superstar". Tom Hanks was assigned the role of Caiaphas.
The characters at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and seen playing as the credits roll, are real original players from the league portrayed in the film.
The Peaches played at Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois. No place in Rockford could be used for filming because of Beyer Stadium's state of disrepair. It was eventually condemned; all that remained for many years was the original archway and a sign about the Peaches. Since 2010, a community group "Friends of Beyer Stadium" has been rebuilding the site and renovating the field.
Madonna's stand-in was Melissa Totten, who has performed as a Madonna impersonator in the Las Vegas stage show Legends In Concert for many years.
David L. Lander, who has an uncredited role as a game announcer, is a real-life baseball fanatic who later became a scout for the Anaheim Angels. He is also a veteran of director 'Penny Marshall''s Laverne & Shirley (1976) series.
When announcing the game the Peaches announcer (David L. Lander) uses the phrase "Oh Doctor!" during an exciting play. This phrase was made popular by 1940s and 50s Brooklyn Dodgers announcer Red Barber.
New York state trooper David Harding played one of Kit's adult sons in the Hall of Fame scene. Within months of the shooting, he was indicted for falsifying evidence in several cases, including a 1989 multiple murder in Ithaca.
Tom Hanks' character, Jimmy Dugan, is loosely based on real-life baseball sluggers Jimmie Foxx and Hack Wilson.
Megan Cavanagh and Tracy Reiner reprised their roles as Marla Hooch and "Betty Spaghetti" Horn in the short-lived A League of Their Own (1993) TV series.
During initial development, James Belushi was set to play Jimmy Dugan and Laura Dernwas cast in the role of Dottie Hinson.
The Rockford Peaches home games were filmed in Huntingburg, Indiana. The stadium was completely renovated, and named League Stadium after the movie crews left. In the movie, a barn in the background. The barn was two-sided, and covered a water slide.
All scenes on the train and at the railroad depot were filmed at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. The passenger train in the film is part of the its collection.
Moira Kelly was originally signed on to play the role of Kit, but she hurt her ankle while filming The Cutting Edge (1992) .
The AAGPBL uniforms were originally designed by Mrs. Wrigley, art director Otis Shepard and softball star Ann Harnet. The uniform consisted of a one piece flared skirted tunic with silk shorts, knee high baseball socks and a baseball cap. The uniforms were based off figure skating, field hockey and tennis costumes of the period. The new uniform was later modeled to the new league players by Ann Harnet herself who was signed as the first player to join the league.
Debra Winger was originally going to star in the film, but backed out when Madonnawas signed. Winger also had suffered a back injury that forced her off the film. Lori Petty was cast with her resemblance to Winger in mind. When Geena Davis took over the part of Dottie, Petty's hair was dyed to match Davis' to make them look like sisters.
Geena Davis auditioned in Penny Marshall's backyard.
Although she is left-handed, Bitty Schram throws and bats right-handed in the film.
The bar scene, where the girls sneak away for a night on the town, was originally going to be filmed at The Hornet's Nest, a bar/restaurant in Evansville, IN. The owners of the Hornet's Nest did spontaneous renovations in preparation for filming. The producers decided the changes didn't fit with the setting they were going for, and found a new location.
Madonna co-wrote the theme song for the film "This Used To Be My Playground" for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
When Bill Pullman's character shows up in uniform, he is wearing the "T" patch of the 36th Division from Texas.
Lavonne Paire Davis, who died in February 2013 at age 88, served as an uncredited consultant to director Penny Marshall and was one of several real-life female ballplayers who helped inspire the fictional Dottie Hinson, played by Geena Davis.
Julie Croteau was a baseball double for actress Anne Ramsay, who played Helen Haley. Croteau was the first woman to play men's NCAA college baseball, for St. Mary's College of Maryland (Division III).
Kelly Candaele was one of the writers for this movie. His mother played in the league portrayed in the movie. Also, Kelly's brother, Casey, was a major league infielder from 1986 through 1997. His best season was 1991 (right before the movie was released) when he collected 121 hits and 50 RBI for the Houston Astros as their usual starting second baseman.
Harvey's house in Illinois is an actual house that was originally owned by Robert R. McCormick, a colonel in the Big Red One, the first Infantry, in WWII. He was also the owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune for decades. His home is now a museum along with a museum dedicated to the Big Red One.
The opening day lineup for the Rockford Peaches: 1) CF-#5-Mae Mordabito 2) 3B-#22-Doris Murphy 3) C-#8-Dottie Hinson 4) 2B-#32-Marla Hooch 5) LF-#11-Shirley Baker 6) 1B-#15-Helen Haley 7) SS-#1-Ellen Sue Gotlander 8) RF-#17-Evelyn Gardner 9) P-#23-Kit Keller
Singer k.d. lang was supposed to be in the film, but backed out due to her recording schedule.
Molly Ringwald was considered for the role of Kit.
Jennifer Jason Leigh turned down the role of Dottie Hinson.
Ellie Cornell had originally landed a role in the film but had to back out after learning she was pregnant.
Kelly McGillis was considered for the role of Dottie.
When Jon Lovitz found out Madonna had checked into their hotel under a pseudonym, he registered under one too: 'Edna Poo-a-dee-doo'.
Sean Young and Demi Moore were both considered for Dottie. Demi had to back out because she became pregnant.
Lindsay Frost was the original choice for "All the Way" Mae but couldn't take the part when her TV pilot got picked up.
Farrah Fawcett really wanted to take part and was physically able to play the game but according to Penny Marshall she was slightly too old.
Ally Sheedy was considered for the role of Dottie.
In her biography "My Mother Was Nuts" Penny Marshall recounts that Lori Singer would have been cast if she hadn't insisted on getting a bigger part.
Marisa Tomei filmed an audition tape of her playing baseball being coached by Joe Pesci on the set of My Cousin Vinny (1992) but according to Penny Marshall she just wasn't a ball player.
The famous line, "There's no crying in baseball" has some basis in fact. According to author Daniel Okrent, Rogers Hornsby (to whom Tom Hanks refers) was chewing out a line of minor league hitters he was instructing, when Ron Santo (toward the end of the line) was quoted as saying, "If he says that to me, I'll cry."
The character of Jimmy Dugan was originally on his 60s.
Spoilers ―
The scene where Betty Spaghetti learns her husband died took three days to film.
During the final scene in the film at the baseball hall of fame, older Dottie walks past a billboard honoring Jimmy Dugan. It reads, "Jimmy Dugan Hits 58 Home Runs in 1936. When Jimmy Dugan hit his 58th home run, he set a new record for his beloved Chicago Cubs. The club had not seen a similar hitting streak for two decades and Dugan's thrilling performance that season helped invigorate the team and set a new attendance record at Harvey Field as well. Jimmy Dugan's greatest year was also marked by his appearance at 3rd base in the 1936 All-Star Game, where he hit a low slider out of the park driving in the winning run. Born 1906, Died 1987."
No comments:
Post a Comment