It Happens Every Spring (1949)A scientist discovers a formula that makes a baseball which is repelled by wood. He promptly sets out to exploit his discovery. Director:Lloyd Bacon |
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It Happens Every Spring (1949)A scientist discovers a formula that makes a baseball which is repelled by wood. He promptly sets out to exploit his discovery. Director:Lloyd Bacon |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Ray Milland | ... |
Prof. Vernon K. Simpson /
King Kelly
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| Jean Peters | ... |
Deborah Greenleaf
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| Paul Douglas | ... |
Monk Lanigan
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| Ed Begley | ... |
Edgar Stone
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| Ted de Corsia | ... |
Manager Jimmy Dolan
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| Ray Collins | ... |
Prof. Alfred Greenleaf
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| Jessie Royce Landis | ... |
Mrs. Greenleaf
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| Alan Hale Jr. | ... |
Schmidt
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William Murphy | ... |
Tommy Isbell
(as Bill Murphy)
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A college professor is working on a long term experiment when a baseball comes through the window destroying all his glassware. The resultant fluid causes the baseball to be repelled by wood. Suddenly he realizes the possibilities and takes a leave of absence to go to St. Louis to pitch in the big leagues where he becomes a star and propels the team to a World Series appearance. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
This is a great comedy. The fact that a college professor uses a chemistry formula (that makes most things repel wood) to win the World Baseball Championship actually makes it funnier. And it's wholesome fun, despite what some moralists may think. The premise that Ray Milland can't actually pitch too well is what makes this a true screwball comedy - and he is redeemed at the end (I won't say how so I won't spoil the fun of watching it). Absurd situations is what makes funny films. This definitely has the formula for comedy: Witty, lots of jokes, madcap romantic situations, and abundant twists and turns. Milland chose to star in this flick right after his Best Actor Oscar for a reason -it became a top comedy of the era. Paul Douglas is outrageously funny as his bemused catcher (the scene where he rubs Milland's wood-repelling formula into his hair is priceless). And the gorgeous Jean Peters comes across with top honors -she can actually do comedy and it's a shame Fox didn't assign her to more of these. Some other Fox actresses without a knack for comedy, were persistently featured in comedies that could have been much funnier if Miss Peters or Marilyn Monroe had been assigned the female lead. See this film. Like "Some Like it Hot" or "It Should Happen to You" (two films featuring Jack Lemmon), this one's full of fun and you'll laugh every other minute. It should have been selected as one of the 50 top comedies ever, but you know how critics love films with a message (which should never be the case with comedies).