The Slugger's Wife (1985)

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writer:

Neil Simon (written by)

Release Date:

29 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

How can a woman walk out on a love like this? Just Watch!

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Baseball Psychopath | Beautiful Woman | Superstition

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael O'Keefe	...	Darryl Palmer
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Debby (Huston) Palmer
Martin Ritt	...	Burly DeVito, Braves Manager
Randy Quaid	...	Moose Granger
Cleavant Derricks	...	Manny Alvarado
Lisa Langlois	...	Aline Cooper
Loudon Wainwright III	...	Gary
Georgann Johnson	...	Marie DeVito
Danny Tucker	...	Coach O'Brien
Lynn Whitfield	...	Tina Alvarado
Al Garrison	...	Guard
NiCandra Hood	...	Nurse (as Nicandra Hood)
Ginger Taylor	...	Sherry, Hired Date
Kay McClelland	...	Peggy, Hired Date
Julie Kemp	...	Paloma, Hired Date

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's The Slugger's Wife (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

The film was taken away from director Hal Ashby in post production because Ashby had turned in too many scenes without the dialog written by 'Neil Simon'.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right before Palmer his 62nd home run, the announcer says "Everyone is standing here in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium." We then see a full stadium with a very unexcited and seated crowd (although it could just be announcer's hyperbole).

Quotes:

Burly DeVito: I'm a manager, not a pimp!

Movie Connections:

References Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Soundtrack:

STRAY CAT STRUT

Bush league.

What happened here?? Take Neil Simon, maybe the most successful playwright alive who has turned many scripts into popular and acclaimed movies; and Hal Ashby, also highly acclaimed director of a diverse group of films. What do you get? It turns out not only to be less than the sum of its parts, but arguably the worst work either man has done.

It wouldn't be much of an argument, either. Filming was done in and around Atlanta and word soon spread that the new picture was a real dud. Word was right. This movie is flatter than 3-day old soda. The main culprit here is Simon. In the past he's been known for his trademark snappy and witty dialog. There's none of that here. The story line is DOA and full of uninteresting, dislikable characters. I'm sure none of the actors involved put this item very high on their resumes, either.

Fortunately Simon recovered from what can only be seen as an aberration. Ashby only made one more film before his death, but thankfully his reputation is built on other, much better work than this.