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

Writers:

Valentine Davies (screen play), Shirley W. Smith (based on a story by),

Stars:

Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Prof. Vernon K. Simpson / King Kelly
Jean Peters	...	Deborah Greenleaf
Paul Douglas	...	Monk Lanigan
Ed Begley	...	Edgar Stone
Ted de Corsia	...	Manager Jimmy Dolan
Ray Collins	...	Prof. Alfred Greenleaf
Jessie Royce Landis	...	Mrs. Greenleaf
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Schmidt
William Murphy	...	Tommy Isbell (as Bill Murphy)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball | discovery | laboratory | world series | professor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Det händer varje år

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on Monday, October 3rd, 1949 with Ray Milland reprising his film role.

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Goofs

The position of the newspaper on the bed as Monk brushes his hair.

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Quotes

[after a janitor saw catcher, Monk Lanigan's hair "crackle"]
Janitor: Excuse me, boss, I need a drink!
[after his remark, he quickly left, as in extreme fear]

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Crazy Credits

After Deborah Greenleaf's mother coincidentally saw Vernon K. Simpson, aka King Kelly get on to a train she called home and told Deborah that Vernon was among thieves. The phone call was shortly after Vernon K. Simpson purchased a ring and sent it to Deborah, as a gift. Later, Deborah sees a newspaper column of a Chicago gang had just robbed a store, leading her to think the ring was stolen, then Deborah takes the ring off, throw it away and looks at a photograph of Professor, Vernon K. Simpson, the photograph changes to one of Vernon K. Simpson, with an evil look on his face, as a criminal and with a gun in his right hand, pointing it at her, as she looked at it.

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Connections

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover"
(1927) (uncredited)
Music by Harry M. Woods
Played when St. Louis takes the field after Monk hurts his finger

User Reviews

One of the best baseball flicks

A hilarious comedy as well as one of the best baseball films. Ray Milland has one of his best roles as Vernon/King Kelly, and there are great supporting turns from the likes of Paul Douglas. What I truly enjoy about "It Happens Every Spring" is that it celebrates, tongue in cheek, one of the great "unspoken" traditions of the Great American Game -- cheating! (Spitballs, corked bats, steroids -- they all fall into the same category as Kelly's wood-repellant serum.) What other baseball movie does that? Good goofy fun.