The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977)

Director:

Michael Pressman

Writers:

Paul Brickman (written by)
Bill Lancaster (characters)

Release Date:

8 July 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

They've fired their coach. They've "borrowed" a van. They're on their way to the Houston Astrodome...with girls on their minds, cops on their tails, and the game of their lives at stake.

Plot:

A troubled, rebellious teen drives his rambunctious baseball team out to Houston where they play an exhibition game and the boy meets his estranged father, and hires him as the teams coach.

Plot Keywords:

Astrodome | Houston Astrodome | Sequel | Little League | Baseball

Cast

William Devane	...	Mike Leak
Clifton James	...	Sy Orlansky
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Kelly Leak
Jimmy Baio	...	Carmen Ronzonni
Chris Barnes	...	Tanner Boyle
Erin Blunt	...	Ahmad Abdul Rahim
George Gonzales	...	Miguel Agilar
Jaime Escobedo	...	Jose Agilar (as Jaime O. Escobedo)
Alfred Lutter III	...	Ogilvie (as Alfred Lutter)
Brett Marx	...	Jimmie Feldman
David Pollock	...	Rudi Stein
Quinn Smith	...	Timmy Lupus - The Big Looper
David Stambaugh	...	Toby Whitewood
Jeffrey Louis Starr	...	Mike Engelberg
Lane Smith	...	Officer Mackie
Fred Stuthman	...	Lester Eastland
Dolph Sweet	...	Mr. Manning
Pat Corley	...	Morrie Slaytor
Ira Gilbert	...	Motel Manager
Gene Rader	...	Grocery Clerk
Ronnie Thomas	...	Indian Pitcher
Douglas Anderson	...	Carl Rutherford
Jerry Lawson	...	Chip Roberts
G.G. Lively	...	1st Patrolman
Martha Turner	...	Evonne
Maggie Burns	...	Ruth
Michelle Fruge	...	Janet
Leigh Manley	...	Janet's Girl Friend
Jason Cooper	...	Leon Waterson
Yvonne McCord	...	Sheila Lansing
Charles Krohn	...	Newscaster
Viki Kilstrom	...	Hitchhiker
John W. Goyen Jr.	...	Locker Room Official
Ted Dawson	...	Astrodome Announcer
Bob Watson	...	Houston Astros First Baseman
Joseph V. Ferguson	...	Houston Astros Catcher
Enos Cabell	...	Houston Astros Third Baseman
Ken Forsch	...	Houston Astros Relief Pitcher (as Kenneth R. Forsch)
Roger Metzger	...	Houston Astros Shortstop
William C. Virdon	...	Houston Astros Manager
James Richard	...	Houston Astros Starting Pitcher
César Cedeno	...	Houston Astros Outfielder (as Cesar Cedeno)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jake Messinger	...	Houston Toros Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Pressman

Writing credits
Paul Brickman		(written by)
Bill Lancaster		(characters)

Produced by
Fred T. Gallo	....	associate producer
Leonard Goldberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Safan

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John W. Wheeler

Art Direction by
Stephen Myles Berger		(as Steve Berger)

Set Decoration by
Fred Price		(as Fred R. Price)

Costume Design by
Jack Martell

Makeup Department
John Inzerella	....	makeup artist
Joan Phillips	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Fred T. Gallo	....	unit production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Daves	....	first assistant director
Kim Kurumada	....	second assistant director
David Nicksay	....	second assistant director (as Dave Nicksay)
Alain Silver	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Matt Springman	....	property master

Sound Department
Howard Beals	....	sound effects editor
Dominick Gaffey	....	sound mixer (as Nick Gaffey)
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John K. Wilkinson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	camera operator (as Michael Benson)
Norman Lang	....	electrician
John Murray	....	key grip (as John J. Murray)
Gene Stout	....	gaffer (as Eugene W. Stout)

Casting Department
Liz Keigley	....	location casting

Music Department
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Milton Lustig	....	music editor
Craig Safan	....	music adaptor
Craig Safan	....	music producer: "Lookin' Good"

Other crew
Douglas D. Anderson	....	dialogue coach
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	titles
Elise Ganz	....	studio teacher
Don Henry	....	production auditor
Adria Later	....	studio teacher (as Adria Licklider)
Michael Lehman	....	unit publicist
Louis Smallwood	....	studio teacher
Hope Williams	....	script supervisor
Dominic Jack Pizzo Sr.	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Glen Sanford	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Movielab Films Inc.  color timing (as Movielab)
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

"Breaking Training" - Philippines (English title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

2622 Galveston Road, Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The playboy magazine that Carmen gets is the February 1977 issue.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the Astrodome, the seats flanking the display board in the backfield change back and forth from being completely full to almost empty.

Quotes:

Mike Engelberg:Hey Kelly can we make another stop?
Kelly Leak:Engelberg can't you just...
Mike Engelberg:Look it happens I can't control things like this...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Puddle Cruiser (1996)

Soundtrack:

1812 Overture

The Best of the Bears

Can you name another movie that captured the 70's generation as well as the bond of friendship with the most diverse group of kids in the world. Forget comparing this film to the original or that piece of crap Japan flick that completed the trilogy. This is an amazing film that tells a decent story, but overall gives a funny and enjoyable film that you never get tired of. Even if you hate the Bears or some of the annoying characters, its a classic because it never gets old. The characters all seem too real. Since none of the actors made it big, it adds to how real the characters in the film are. For that, possible sad reason, the film can only be seen through the eyes of the young.