mark.waltz Baseball fans, which are many, will not be the only ones to enjoy this light-hearted fare of a baseball rookie camp where the pro's are weeded out from the amateurs. Told through the narration of a sports columnist, this is slice-of-life drama at its most all American, almost Disney-esque in nature. Edward G. Robinson is a former professional player ("Your grandfathers used to watch me play third base", he tells the young men upon their arrival. Now one of the trainers who must stay on and who moves back home to attempt other ambitions, he is assisted by his pretty daughter, a non-dancing Vera-Ellen. She takes an interest in a strong but silent loner (Jeff Richards) while other players show ego, provide comic relief, or attempt to improve their English while dreaming of a future in the great American pastime.It's nice to see a film like this that doesn't resort to any violence or sexual or romantic intrigue, or even show any back-stabbing in a very team-oriented sport. This is a film that doesn't try to be anything more than what it is, and it is a film that works through "moments", not through an over-stuffed plot. Comic moments include a not-so-attractive close-up of the middle-aged Robinson, hair askew, after a rookie yet cocky pitcher, almost knocks his lights out, and another where the team's comic mimes a slow-motion pitch. Richards is touching in his quite role, dealing with an indifferent father and a hero-worshiping younger brother whom you know will one day attend the same camp. So don't judge too harshly for being witness to a film almost sweet in its vision of hopeful youngsters becoming men by attempting to achieve the goals millions of kids have only dreamed of.

edwagreen No wonder the beginning scenes shows Bobby Thompson's dramatic home run in 1951 to lead the Giants against the Dodgers.Vera-Ellen did not dance in this film, but rather played the niece of Edward G. Robinson, a Giant scout, evaluating prospective players for minor league contracts. Robinson gives a subdued, but still another good performance in this film.The guys arrive at training camp and begin a regimen of activities to prove their dexterity for the game.Jeff Richards is one of those players who Ellen shows an interest for outside of baseball. Working at the front office, the Ellen character strongly hints to Robinson that the office may be calling for his retirement. While this is never further discussed in the film, the end of the movie seems to explain what would occur.Truly a heartwarming tale of what prospective players have to go through. Certainly an inspiration for aspiring young stars, especially children.

geraldbottomley1 As a young boy I was one of the kids playing sandlot baseball in the closing scenes of the movie. I've never found a copy of the movie and I understand it's privately owned and stored in a basement somewhere. I can only hope that someday it will be released to the public. If anyone knows more about it, I would appreciate any information.Watching the filming of the movie was an experience. A number of the local kids were hired for the sandlot scene. We each got paid $5 (I got my social security card with a California number because of that).I would also be interested in knowing what the other extras are doing these days.

hsiegel-1 There are very few good baseball films and certainly this isn't one of them but Robert Aldrich somehow makes it all watchable. Edward G. Robinson is so good you actually believe he is baseball veteran Hans Lobert, who really lived and played ball for several teams in the early 20th century. Lobert's real name was Honus but everyone called him Hans, same as Honus Wagner, everyone called him Hans, too. The real Carl Hubbell and the real Al Campanis (who's next appearance was probably on the Nightline Show that cost him his job as Dodger general manager when he maligned African-Americans!)show up in this unknown and odd film which only runs 71 minutes. Richard Jaekel has one of his best parts and shows a real naturalness. It's nice to see him in something other than a war movie. And finally there's Vera Ellen, the smallest waist in Hollywood, doing a movie outside of her husband's, Herbert Yates, Republic Studios. An odd film for fanatical baseball fans only.