The Bad News Bears (1976)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Bill Lancaster (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

...together they make it happen!

Plot:

An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.

Plot Keywords:

Obscene Finger Gesture | Gay Slur | Pitcher | Harley Davidson | Alcoholic

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Coach Morris Buttermaker
Chris Barnes	...	Tanner Boyle
Tatum O'Neal	...	Amanda Whurlitzer
Ben Piazza	...	Councilman Whitewood
Vic Morrow	...	Coach Roy Turner
Erin Blunt	...	Ahmad Abdul Rahim
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Kelly Leak
Gary Lee Cavagnaro	...	Engelberg
Joyce Van Patten	...	Cleveland
Jaime Escobedo	...	Jose Agilar
Scott Firestone	...	Regi Tower
George Gonzales	...	Miguel Agilar
Alfred Lutter III	...	Ogilvie (as Alfred W. Lutter)
Brett Marx	...	Jimmy Feldman
David Pollock	...	Rudi Stein

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | West Germany:6 | Finland:S | USA:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Throughout the film, Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) is constantly drinking beer, yet he is never seen drinking the same brand. Buttermaker is seen at various times in the film drinking Budweiser, Miller High Life, Schlitz "Kingers", Pabst Blue Ribbon, and original Coors.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rudi Stein is first asked by Buttermaker to let himself get hit by a pitch, he is following Kelly Leak in the batting order (Kelly had just been walked intentionally). When he's asked the second time, he's following Ogilvie in the batting order.

Quotes:

[after the Bears lose 18-0]
Coach Morris Buttermaker: Come on, fellas. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Ogilvie: Yeah, it took several hundred years.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "My Gym Partner's a Monkey: Lyon of Scrimmage/Bad News Bear (#1.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Carmen

Single Greatest Kids and Sports Movie EVER!

I know that is an exaggeration, but I truly believe that this movie sets the standard by which all other "kids and sports" movies will be measured.

What it does that is unique is that it keeps the swearing and fighting where it belongs: on the field. This movie does not even try to make anyone look good, for the sake of making them look good. It just shows the kids at their very essence: booger-eating morons, just out to have a good time trying to play baseball.